[Pulp Fiction]

Imo the 6 class system has benifited 1A more than any other class. If you look at 1A in the 4 class system it was basically what is now 2A with a few exceptions. I know whenever I played at Raceland making it to the title game was never in the conversation simply because it was so top heavy and we also played in a very strong NKY region which limited our success in the playoffs. In those days if we just won the district that was considered a good year and winning a playoff game was a great year.

Several good EKY teams got knocked out by the NKY powers before the six class system.

EKY owns 7-8 more state titles had the six class system been adopted about ten years sooner.

Playing against Highlands and CovCath every year for sure didn’t help you guys much but I do think those experiences did pay off long term in regards to the level you are at now.

Off the top of my head.

2000 JC - 4A; 10-0 regular season, lost to Tates Creek in the 2nd round.
2001 Paintsville - 1A; lost to NewCath in the state semi-finals.
2006 JC - 3A; 10-0 regular season, lost to Cov Cath in the semi-finals.

I'm pretty sure Pikeville & Paintsville lost to some NKY powers (Beechwood, NewCath) in the 80's & 90s.