[LClion4life]

Thoughts/predictions? Below I have listed the teams in each district and how they would have finished (by head-to-head; if no head-to-head games, by record) in 2014 if in the same district, along with potential first round matchups.

District 5:
1- Russell (11-3 in 2014; Lost in State Semifinals)
2- Fleming County (7-4; Lost in first round of playoffs)
3- West Carter (5-6; Lost in first round of playoffs)
4- Lewis County (5-5)
5- Pendleton County (3-7)
6- Bath County (2-8)

District 6:
1- Belfry (13-2; State Champions)
2- Lawrence County (9-4; Lost in Regional Finals)
3- Pike County Central (6-6; Lost in second round of playoffs)
4- Sheldon Clark (1-10; Lost in first round of playoffs)

This would have resulted in the following playoff match-ups:

(D5;4) Lewis County at (D6;1) Belfry
(D6;3) Pike County Central at (D5;2) Fleming County

(D5;3) West Carter at (D6;2) Lawrence County
(D6;4) Sheldon Clark at (D5;1) Russell


How does everyone think it will shape up in 2015? Same? Similar? Some major changes? Remember the above is just a hypothetical projection based on how the teams finished in 2014.

[EKUAlum05]

Pike Central and Fleming will be a toss-up next year.

Think Lawrence County and Russell will be very equally matched teams.

Belfry the prohibitive favorite to advance.

[LClion4life]

I like West Carter or Lewis County to swoop in and grab the 2-seed from the Panthers.

[Scotty_Bronson]

Same song dofferent verse. Russell and Belfry get a rematch.

[WILDCAT NATION]

You can probably flip Bath County's 2-8 from last season to 8-2 in 2015. They will be MUCH improved with basically the entire team back including a large Senior and Junior class. Only had 4 Seniors that played at all last season and one of them played less than 100% healthy the whole year. The rest that played were Sophomores and Juniors. Entire Offensive and Defensive Lines should be Seniors with returning starters. Sr. QB, FB, HB, and 2 WR's with a Jr backup/ sub at every position as well. Defense will be a mix of the same.

But bottom line is that the district road still runs thru Russell until someone steps up.

[LClion4life]

Glad to hear from someone on how Bath will be next year. Sounds like those last 3 playoff spots could go anyway. District 5 will be interesting in 2015. I know absolutely nothing about Pendleton, anyone have some insight on them?

[WILDCAT NATION]

Glad to hear from someone on how Bath will be next year. Sounds like those last 3 playoff spots could go anyway. District 5 will be interesting in 2015. I know absolutely nothing about Pendleton, anyone have some insight on them?

Pendleton Co was 3-7 but those (some very close) wins came over opponents with a combined record of 4-27. I see Fleming Co and Lewis Co suffering some growing pains with the number of seniors graduating. West will still have the whole Brown family but replacing Mitchell, Travis, McGlone and a couple of other seniors starters will be tough. District 5 will depend upon who is playing the best when district play comes around. The season is along way off but in my opinion:

D5
1. Russell
2. Bath Co
3. West Carter
4. Lewis/ Fleming toss up

D6
1. Belfry
2. Lawrence Co
3. PCC
4. Sheldon Clark

[Real Badman]

Why is district 5 a 6 team district? Couldn't they have put Bath or WC in district 6?

[WILDCAT NATION]

Why is district 5 a 6 team district? Couldn't they have put Bath or WC in district 6?

Guess who would have been the logical choice to join based on geography?....that would be Russell. The school is just off US 23 and would have easy access to Lawrence, SC, PCC, and Belfry. That would have made 2 - 5 teams districts. Now raise your hand if you thought that would happen.....yeah me neither.

[Real Badman]

Just looks silly to have a 6 team district and a 4 team district in the same region.

[LClion4life]

That district has been a 6 team district since 2011. Before the current realignment that goes into affect next year, it was Russell, Mason, Lewis, Fleming, West, and East Carters. Plus, when the original alignment for this season came out, West and Bath were placed in 2A. Neither are geographically close to any other 2A schools so they both asked to play up in 3A in a district that geographically makes sense for both of them.

[EKUAlum05]

Guess who would have been the logical choice to join based on geography?....that would be Russell. The school is just off US 23 and would have easy access to Lawrence, SC, PCC, and Belfry. That would have made 2 - 5 teams districts. Now raise your hand if you thought that would happen.....yeah me neither.

Russell is still a 2 hour trip to Belfry and PC.

It is over 2 hours to Pendleton County from Russell, but everyone else is well with an hour or less drive.

Pendleton County is the outlier of the entire class.

KHSAA should have allowed/made them to play in 2A in District 6.

[LClion4life]

I see next year going this way.

District 5:
1- Russell
2- West Carter
3- Lewis County
4- Bath County

5-Fleming County
6- Pendleton County

District 6:
1- Belfry
2- Lawrence County
3- Pike Central
4- Sheldon Clark

Belfry beats Bath in the first round, Pike Central beats West, Lawrence beats Lewis, and Russell beats Sheldon Clark. Belfry beats Pike Central and Russell beats Lawrence in the second round leading up to a rematch of this seasons semifinal matchup. Belfry walks away region champs yet again.

[WILDCAT NATION]

Russell is still a 2 hour trip to Belfry and PC.

It is over 2 hours to Pendleton County from Russell, but everyone else is well with an hour or less drive.

Pendleton County is the outlier of the entire class.

KHSAA should have allowed/made them to play in 2A in District 6.

I know it wasn't possible by the rules but I will have to say it's a good idea and should have been a discussion. A program that has not been in district competition trying to build up the program plus it is already playing teams in that district. Much more geographically sound.

[0ff The Chain]

Same song dofferent verse. Russell and Belfry get a rematch.

I dunno man, I don't see Russell getting past LC. I know you can't take a heck of alot from pre-season scrimmages but every 2 or 3 plays LC was breaking off long td's. Was very one sided but yeah I know a lot changes throughout the season. Still though...I don't see it. LC will get knocked out by Belfry again more than likely , just hope we can close the gap a little bit and actually make the Pirates break a sweat. I guess im just saying that the Red Devils just didn't seem to match up well against LC's speed.

[devilbacker]

That's was a scrimmage. Running a new offense and defense. It would of been a different outcome later in the season. But it really doesn't matter. Belfry is the team to beat.

[EKUAlum05]

FWIW I thought LC and Russell were about even teams but slight edge to Russell.

LC had more offensive playmakers w/ gamebreaking speed and ability on offense, but IMO Russell was a much better team defensively and had more depth on their Oline.

If the two played at the end of the year I would say Russell was about a TD better and win a game somewhere in the range of 28-21

[Fly Like a Duck]

I wonder if Lawrence snd Russell are still scrimmage ng this year?

[samson81]

Russell scrimmages Mason Co. and Rowan Co. next year.

If Russell and Lawrence Co. both perform as expected next year, they'll meet in Flatwoods in the second round of the playoffs. How far behind Lawrence is PCC? Any chance they rearrange the expected order of District 6?

District 5 is a toss up after Russell. Based on what I know at this point, I'll say....

1. Russell
2. West Carter
3. Lewis Co.
4. Bath Co.
5. Fleming Co.
6. Pendleton Co.

Fleming is the wild card, IMO. The Panthers are a proven winner year in and year out, but they lose a ton of offensive production and upwards of 20 seniors. Still though, I'm not very confident picking them to miss the playoffs.

[thecoacher]

Bath and Pendleton are new to the district and I don't know much about them. Fleming and Lewis lost a lot from this past season. I think Russell is the favorite by far. West returns enough to be dangerous. I think the 2-4 spots will be a battle. I might be wrong, but I will be surprised if Fleming is not in the playoffs.

[LClion4life]

Bath and Pendleton are new to the district and I don't know much about them. Fleming and Lewis lost a lot from this past season. I think Russell is the favorite by far. West returns enough to be dangerous. I think the 2-4 spots will be a battle. I might be wrong, but I will be surprised if Fleming is not in the playoffs.

What does Fleming return? I seem to think all of their impact players and even most of their proven role players to be seniors.

[thecoacher]

They return their best offensive lineman and 2 others that started or played every game on the Offensive line. They return their top 2 defensive linemen and another that played some. They return TJ Miller that played Fb/HB some and started outside lb.
They don't return a ton of varsity experience but they have a really good young group that will be moving up. I assume Clayton Browning will be the QB. He started JV and had a great year. He also played the entire second half against Russell this year throwing for over 100 yards and a Td in that half.
They will have to grow up some, but I just think they will be good enough to find their way in the mix and make the playoffs.

[LClion4life]

They return their best offensive lineman and 2 others that started or played every game on the Offensive line. They return their top 2 defensive linemen and another that played some. They return TJ Miller that played Fb/HB some and started outside lb.
They don't return a ton of varsity experience but they have a really good young group that will be moving up. I assume Clayton Browning will be the QB. He started JV and had a great year. He also played the entire second half against Russell this year throwing for over 100 yards and a Td in that half.
They will have to grow up some, but I just think they will be good enough to find their way in the mix and make the playoffs.

Sounds like you all are in the same boat as us then, we may have a few more linemen returning but that's it. Good luck to the Panthers in 2015.

[EKUAlum05]

How far behind Lawrence is PCC? Any chance they rearrange the expected order of District 6?
.

I am not real high on Pike Central's fortunes in 2015.

I think PC has a ncie crop of talent that will Sophomores and Freshman... but losing Mac Justice, their starting RB, and by far their 2nd best offensive weapon in Elkins I think you see PC's best case scenario being they equal this year's team...but most likely they will take a step back.

Seth Conn will most likely move from WR to QB and by his Junior or Season year will be an outstanding player, but as for next year they will need to develop some playmakers.

What I will say is PC will be good enough that the 2 seed from District 5 will have a dogfight.

[topnotch]

Merry Christmas to all.

[topnotch]

Happy new year.

[LClion4life]

Merry Christmas!!

[topnotch]

Merry Christmas to All even Mayfield.

[topnotch]

Happy New Year.