[Buffs19]

Corbin at Corbin
GRC (Pike Co Bowl)
at LCA
at Raceland
Belfry
Open
Open
Open
at Paintsville
Hazard
at Boyd Co

They are looking to fill 2 of 3 open dates.  This is 2nd and 3rd hand info so could be incorrect.

Corbin, LCA, and Boyd were all away games last season. Shouldn't they be home games this season?

The Corbin and LCA games are bowl games hosted at those respective sites, so that's why Pikeville is going back there next season.  Boyd County only agreed to play Pikeville if both games were at their place, so Pikeville will go there again next year.

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I look for #11 Slone and #12 Warren to be the next ups in Pikeville's wide receivers.

Don't forget about #4 Muncy, he got reps with the first team this year.

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Imo, and in no particular order, the best returning players are Anthony RB/LB, Caudill LB/RB, Stephens DB/ATH, StanleyLB/DE/RB, Hurt LB and Anderson LB. Defensively that’s a huge catalyst coming back. But, Pikeville loses a good group of seniors. Where do you feel Pikeville improves at on both sides of the ball with the kids coming in? I say that simply because many of us see Pikeville being better next year than this year. Imo, it’s simply the fact that they return their ground and pound offensive production and their LBs. But what are the improvements based on personnel that the Pikeville faithful believe makes them better next year?

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Not just in games against Raceland, but as a hole, I don’t feel like Duty changed much from his Soph to jr year. Solid QB, but just never seemed to get into a grove like the last couple Pikeville QBs.

For Pikeville to be better next season, their passing game has to improve.  Teams will definitely stack the box to try and stop the run, but defenses tried that this year and we all saw how that turned out.  Still, Duty and maybe Reynolds have to be able to stretch the field to open the running game more.  Pikeville had a really good receiving core this year, and will definitely have another good crew next year, but it all depends on the QB play.  If the Panthers can be a legitimate threat to throw the ball, the running game will be even more effective next season.  

Defensively, Pikeville will have to replace 5 starters (Wright, Boykins, Bevins, and both Wilkersons).  But they'll return all 4 LBs who started in the state title game and two players in the secondary who started nearly all games (Stephens and Hall).  I think they'll be better defensively next year, which is scary.

But as with any team with state championship aspirations, the games will be won upfront on both sides of the ball.  Pikeville loses a lot of experience, but also returns a lot of playmakers upfront.  If a couple of young guys can step up and fill those holes, there's a legitimate shot that the Panthers 4-peat.