[Hoot Gibson]

Before Belfry and Johnson Central both blasted HC, most people who were familiar with the team that the Black Bears returned thought that HC was better than Pulaski County.

Do those of you who thought so, or even saw HC as the No. 2 team in your neck of the woods think that there is any chance that a game between Harlan County and Pulaski County will end with a running clock? I just don't see that happening myself. Harlan County won its match-up with PC 46-12 last season. Pulaski may beat HC this season, but it will be a competitive game either way.

The best team in the Mountains is JC, with Belfry at No. 2 this week. With both teams at full strength (which JC is and Belfry is not) on a neutral field, I would rate the game between Belfry and JC a toss-up, but they will meet at Belfry this year. Both teams clearly should be ranked ahead of Pulaski County. No one-man team would hold either of those teams to 21 points. Watch what happens when JC plays a one-man show in a couple of weeks.