[SmashMouth17]

With the season all but over after tomorrow for the 2024 season everyone will be looking ahead to 2025.
Rockcastle county Rockets will be heading in to year 4 under new head coach Chris Larkey. Chris took over the head coaching job as Rockets head coach in 2022. While his first year saw little success finishing only 4-7 and a first round playoff loss the following two years saw Rock make big improvements. Year two the Rockets finish the regular season 9-1 but with the win at Bell the Rockets won their first district regular season title for the first time in several years. The Rockets season would end in their first region final appearance in over a decade and the team finished with a 11-2 overall record. This season was almost as successful as year two with Rockets finishing the regular season again at 9-1 but the one loss was against Bell and that would have Rock finish 2nd in the district this time around. Rock would come up on the loosing side of a big matchup on the road in round two against Belfry 21-13 to end the season 10-2 overall. Rockets will open 2025 with a brand new facility and with a lot of aspirations as only 4 players have graduated off the squad that finished 10-2 on the year. Of those 4 seniors they loose running back Powell and FG kicker Brenda on the offense side of the ball and on defense side they lose edge rusher Gabbard who lead team in sacks with 12 while Powell also played on the defensive side with over 40 tackles and 5 sacks. Rockets will be looking to compete for district and make a run at Kroger field considering they only lose one player on each side of the ball will 2025 be the best year yet for head coach Chris Larkey?

[Walt Longmire]

Any idea on if they are going to try and schedule any actual competition since it will be a new contract cycle? 21-4 is a pretty record. But the teams that they restarted defeated had a combined record of 90-130. There were a lot of empty wins and padded stats the past 2 seasons. I understand that they were rebuilding when the last set of schedules were made. But that shouldn't be the case now. If the Rockets want to be considered a legitimate threat in 3A, they need to put a schedule together that challenges them.

[Senters_93]

With Lex Cath moving to the west, Belfry dropping out of 3A
The regional should be up for grabs by a few different competitors.
I say Bell will be favorite going into the regular season, with Rock right behind them, I'd say Letche central will have a run at something, but I'm really focused on how my Bulldogs develop this year!!
With Cavin Williams coming back after a devastating injury, with only getting 2 games of play time. Should be a really fun year in Louisa!! That boy is a absolute machine on the field!! Smart, whitty, and don't care to hit a freight train

[Gridiron_Raid]

Rock should be very good next year, but QB play is the only thing that held them back last season. They completely changed their philosophy from what gave them success in 2023, and they have the athletes to play in the spread, it’s just the distributor. Gotta have a guy to spread the wealth. They got a transfer from north laurel for 2023 and it lead to 11-2 and a win at bell. If something happens and they have a halfway decent QB where they can go back to spread, i think rock is dangerous with the athleticism and pretty decent play up front. RPI can always do something weird, so rock needs to play the RPI game in scheduling where even if they go 9-1 they can host through round 4.

[Gunslinger33]

The rock is on the right path. Coach larkey has them back on track and will have them looking like teams his dad had there years ago in a couple more seasons.

[OutlawJoseyWales]

Rock will have a nice season once again , while playing a less than stellar schedule probably. Get into the playoffs , lose…and blame it all in the officiating. Wash, rinse and repeat

[oldschool77]

Let's deal with the scheduling and offense issues. The schedule was what it was for a coach that inherited a sluggish program. Wins begat excitement, which begats enthusiasm of community and students, which begats players, which begats more wins etc. Rock doesn't have a lot and opportunities to draw in transfers like some other programs. When Coach Larkey took over it was hard enough to recruit the players in the school system to play, much less add transfers to the mix. The next scheduling cycle will reflect where the program is now in comparison to where it was when the first 2 year cycle of games were scheduled. Despite the " weak" schedule as is constantly mentioned, this team held Belfry to less points than any team to that point in the season, and if not stopped on the goal line and a 4th down near the 20, may have come out with a win. . That brings us to the second issue. The "QB problem" is somewhat related to the total "offense problem". The offense needs to be tailored to put the QB in situations that are easier to be successful. I'm not being critical of anyone, but it is hard to be successful throwing go routes on 3rd and 8. I do believe the scheduling and the offense will be addressed and both will give the Rock a "chance" for a deep run possibly to Kroger field.

[plantmanky]

Any idea on if they are going to try and schedule any actual competition since it will be a new contract cycle?  21-4 is a pretty record.  But the teams that they restarted defeated had a combined record of 90-130.  There were a lot of empty wins and padded stats the past 2 seasons.  I understand that they were rebuilding when the last set of schedules were made. But that shouldn't be the case now. If the Rockets want to be considered a legitimate threat in 3A, they need to put a schedule together that challenges them.

Sayre and Paducah disagree with you.

[ROCKSOLID69]

I know there was rumblings of geting the rivalery game back with madison Southern. Also heard something about Dunbar but dont really know any truth to that

[ROCKSOLID69]

Anyone have the scoop on the schedule