[Chopdatwood]

The schedule had nothing to do with the injuries. Zero. It’s football and they had some bad luck. A kid got hurt first day of practice in pads. Another had a hamstring issue all year. Another had a non contact knee injury. Two got hurt on kickoff teams late in the year and not against the gauntlet. All starters who are playmakers. Just bad luck. Anthony was hurt against JC and stayed hurt all year but that was Pike County Bowl and Pikeville usually plays someone tough that game. Two linemen were hurt including their best DE early in the game against Sayre. Those were most of the big ones. Pikeville played poorly this year. Not because of a schedule or a dip in talent but due to a lot of factors that have been regurgitated or suggested repeatedly. They had 2-3 more wins on the schedule. They will be good next year. I really think people are going to be surprised and I also think there may be transfers in that could help. Even with the roster they have, they are going to be a handful. I say that assuming the offense gets fixed.

At CAL may be the first game. Cabell Midland maybe for Pike County Bowl. I would guess Belfry away and Raceland at home are still on there and their district games against Hazard away and Paintsville at home. Haven’t heard for sure about JC or LCA.  Also not sure if they discussed a return game to GRC because they agreed to come play at Pikeville last minute this year. That’s still a difficult schedule. I look for them to try to get another winnable 2A, 3A, or 4A team on there. Personally, I’d like to see any of Prestonsburg, Somerset, Letcher Central, Breathitt, Ashland, Bell, Corbin, Sayre come to Pikeville. There was mention of a game at a neutral site halfway with Mayfield last year. That would be fun. I don’t think Pikeville cares about manipulating RPI. Maybe they should but I expect another challenging schedule.

I heard #0 Mikey Hager will never be the same. Inside information tells me he his dad, Jamey Hager, wants him to quit over being scared of reinjury.