[oneijoe]

So, if Saint Xavier were playing Shelby Valley then you would pick the Wildcats? That's called love for your team right there.

How can you pick a team to win when you believe they "will definitely be outcoached"? You have one thing right, Shelby Valley will definitely be outcoached. When you're an underdog in football (basketball, or any sport for that matter), the key element to beating the opponent is to outcoach them. Whether it be on at home or on the road, outcoaching your opponent is always the first step to put yourself in position to knock off the higher favored team.

I'm not even sure who the new coach is for Shelby Valley is. Obviously he has done a soild job in his first year looking at Shelby Valley's record. One thing is for sure though, he is no John DeRossett. Coach DeRossett is one of the finest coaches in the Mountains and to back him up, has recently put together one of the finer staffs in this area as well. You people have to understand who you're dealing with here. This is not some schmo team with some schmo coach, this is Prestonsburg (who, by the way, is having their best season so far since 1993). The game is at Prestonsburg, where the Blackcats always are at their best. The Blackcats have the best quarterback in the Mountains and one of the best in the school's history. The defense is as fast and strong as has been in recent memory. The list goes on and on. There are just too many things in the favor of Prestonsburg for Shelby Valley to pull off this major upset.

Call me whatever you want, but I call it realistic.

I'm as solid a Blackcat fan as you'll find and even I think you're laying it on a little thick. Comparisons to the '93 (or even '01 or '03) team(s) are completely out of place at this point in time.

All it takes for the Wildcats to be in the driver's seat in this one is one solid scoring drive to go along with one defensive stop (or P-burg TO) at the beginning of the game. If Shelby Valley can get a lead, its offense is ideally suited to protect it.

It'll take a number of things to go right for the Wildcats to win, but I've seen far crazier things happen.

Prestonsburg should approach this (and next) game in a workmanlike manner. Learn the assignments, execute the gameplan, and move on.