[BlackcatAlum]

The attention a Prestonsburg thread draws just goes to show you that this program has improved leaps and bounds from previous seasons. Prestonsburg folks are excited and while I don't agree with everything posted, I do understand that it comes from a place of pride and excitement.

I do love the back and forth banter with the Pikeville folks. I do hope these two programs can get back to playing one another very soon. I know it won't be in 2025 unless Prestonsburg has someone pull out of their contract. I hope at least they can scrimmage one another. Do I think Prestonsburg can win? I doubt it, but I don't think it's impossible. I think Pikeville's off season strength program has been a well oiled machine for over a decade now and their nearly 365 day commitment to football under Mac is why they're the favorite in 1A every year and winning rings. Prestonsburg is building toward that same level of commitment and understanding from players and their families. I think it's getting there at a rapid rate, which is where a lot of excitement and confidence is coming from at Pburg.

Facts are, Prestonsburg is well ahead of schedule in the rebuilding process. NO ONE expected this past 2024 season to go as well as it did, but here we are and this team is returning 20/22 starters and just added Alex Johnson to the team. This team will be loaded in all 4 classes next season. Expectations are going to be high and I do think Prestonsburg is going to field a team capable of giving Breathitt County and Belfry fits if given the opportunity in the playoffs. Securing a RPI that helps Pburg host that potential game will be highly beneficial as well.

The only reason pburg may not be able to compete against great teams despite having great skill position talent is their big guys. Most of them are way undersized. They have good lineman but the strength and size is not really all the way there yet. If they can add size up front i could look for pburg to shock even more people. If not most likely a season like last year which is nothing to hang your head about

I agree 100%

Adding a healthy Daniel Adams (6'5 280lbs) helps, but still Prestonsburg is a bit undersized at 2 positions on the OL and they don't have for sure run stopper on the DL right now either that can take up a ton of space and disrupt the interior part of the opposing offensive line. I do think for the most part, the Blackcats have guys that make up for their lack of size with effort, technique, and speed. If most of those linemen didn't have to play both ways so much, it would help late in games when someone with size of say Somerset this past season, that just started leaning on Pburg late in the game and our guys were wore down at that point and just couldn't physically handle that size play after play.

Size and depth are the advantages Breathitt and Belfry have on Prestonsburg right now. I think with a solid off season and maturation of some younger guys, I think Prestonsburg can definitely close the gap some, but without adding a linemen or two via transfer that can come in and play, I think Prestonsburg will again have to figure out ways to make up for their overall lack of size and physicality with speed, preperation, and effort.