[Hoot Gibson]

I would think a better indicator for Ashlands season would be their new district game with Johnson Central…

Yes for sure Ashland Johnson Central the next couple of years will most likely battle it out for 1st and 2nd place in the district but that game will be near if not the last game of the season. Raceland game is almost always the 1st of the season.

There most likely will be no battle for 1st place during the next couple of seasons. Since the 2005 season, Ashland's record against Johnson Central is 3-15 and JC returns nearly all of its starters from last season.

Hmmmm. JC no doubt probably during that span with the teams they have had wouldn’t lose many games. I guess the games they did lose was to a team who probably won a title. After the rebuild of last season, does JC steam roll Ashland or does Ashland make it a game. I thought Ashland had a good season last year.

My understanding is that Ashland returns a lot of talent and is expected to be better than last season. Ashland plays at Johnson Central and is capable of an upset if JC turns the ball over more than the Tomcats. If Johnson Central plays up to its capabilities against the best teams on its schedule, including Ashland, Pikeville, and Corbin, then the Golden Eagles have a great shot at an undefeated regular season. They will not be unbeatable but they will be very good.

From what I understand, some of the other teams in the district are also expected to be much better than last season, including Greenup County and Rowan County. JC and Ashland may not have the early running clocks that they had the last time that they were in the same district but I expect that the district title will be a two-team battle decided in the last regular season game.