[i82much]

RAD, I'm not sure who you were referring to but I don't think anyone is implying that he administration at Raceland ever said they were going to hold back an entire class so we could have a good football team.  But....there definitely was a class that a few initially held back and then the floodgate opened. No one was behind it, it just happened. And no, there is nothing to be ashamed of but I still wouldn't get on a public forum and give names of  particular students. That would be like getting on here and starting to swear to make my point. On a side note, I could care less how many took advantage of the covid year by holding back or how many students transfer into our school system. Kids should be able to attend any school they want, I'm not a fan of holding back for sports but if they do it's not my business and I'll still support them. I do have a little different perspective, even though I've lived in Raceland for around 30 years I have strong connections to multiple schools in our area. I'm a 16th region fan but I am partial to a few schools, Raceland is one of them. None of the schools in our area are perfect, but we're still blessed with some of the best. And on a side note, I've never "blasted" our coaching staff and never said one bad thing about any student athlete, ever, at our school or any school for that matter, so I hope your comments were not directed at me.

Dang I wish I could comment on this.

Plantmanky, brother you can comment on anything you want.

[RAMDAD50]

I look for Hazard to be even another level better than last year. Chandler was able to wonders his first season and now with a full offseason he will be able to do even more. Football at Hazard has its edge again and people are excited about it. Not saying state champs but also saying they just may make a run for it. They do lose some big role guys from this year but they return a nucleus of good young talent that will be ready to go.

I have to disagree with this. We seen Hazard up close and personal last year twice and i believe they are at least two years away from being back in the thick of things again. They do have some nice young talent but I feel the gap is big between what they lost and that young talent being ready to be play at a higher level. Class A needs Hazard back in a bad way. I’m hoping that they make it back in a few years and that they are able to stay at the top for awhile

[Bluecat]

I look for Hazard to be even another level better than last year. Chandler was able to wonders his first season and now with a full offseason he will be able to do even more. Football at Hazard has its edge again and people are excited about it. Not saying state champs but also saying they just may make a run for it. They do lose some big role guys from this year but they return a nucleus of good young talent that will be ready to go.

I have to disagree with this. We seen Hazard up close and personal last year twice and i believe they are at least two years away from being back in the thick of things again. They do have some nice young talent but I feel the gap is big between what they lost and that young talent being ready to be play at a higher level. Class A needs Hazard back in a bad way. I’m hoping that they make it back in a few years and that they are able to stay at the top for awhile

I respect that and in a way that is sort of what I was saying. I don't see a state championship this next season but I do think they take another step forward towards that goal. Of course when it comes to relying on younger talent you never know. Either way you will be surprised. They either they will step up and go above expectations or falter and not be as good as thought. Either way I feel Hazard will be better next season than this year.

[Oakcrest18]

I look for Hazard to be even another level better than last year. Chandler was able to wonders his first season and now with a full offseason he will be able to do even more. Football at Hazard has its edge again and people are excited about it. Not saying state champs but also saying they just may make a run for it. They do lose some big role guys from this year but they return a nucleus of good young talent that will be ready to go.

I have to disagree with this. We seen Hazard up close and personal last year twice and i believe they are at least two years away from being back in the thick of things again. They do have some nice young talent but I feel the gap is big between what they lost and that young talent being ready to be play at a higher level. Class A needs Hazard back in a bad way. I’m hoping that they make it back in a few years and that they are able to stay at the top for awhile

I respect that and in a way that is sort of what I was saying. I don't see a state championship this next season but I do think they take another step forward towards that goal. Of course when it comes to relying on younger talent you never know. Either way you will be surprised. They either they will step up and go above expectations or falter and not be as good as thought. Either way I feel Hazard will be better next season than this year.

I think hazard up sets a lot of teams this year may be a hot take but a chance they don’t lose a game all year got some good weapons and a qb who can really sling that pigskin and guys to go up and make plays for him

[Old School 18]

If middlesboro can develop 3-4 solid guards. Don't count them out in taking the district back from Williamsburg. All our skill kids should be very improved if they take the off season serious considering most where freshman or sophomore's this year. Also Williamsburg losing Goodin is a bigger loss than any of our senior's we had this previous year.

[Cledog30]

I think with the departure of Paris head coach you will see Paris fall off…

[ArmChairHC]

^^^agree 100%. He was the reason the Bourbon Co kids started coming back to Paris in MS. They will head back I’m afraid. I look for Paris to be right there with Nicholas Co in the district. That district was at one time super competitive. Now it’s a waste of time for the most part. But it’s getting hard to schedule games. Good teams can’t get big schools to play them bc there’s nothing to gain by the big school beating them and it hurts them if they lose. Flip side, the better small schools can’t find games either…goina be tougher and tougher every year

[bac2369]

^^^agree 100%. He was the reason the Bourbon Co kids started coming back to Paris in MS. They will head back I’m afraid. I look for Paris to be right there with Nicholas Co in the district. That district was at one time super competitive. Now it’s a waste of time for the most part. But it’s getting hard to schedule games. Good teams can’t get big schools to play them bc there’s nothing to gain by the big school beating them and it hurts them if they lose. Flip side, the better small schools can’t find games either…goina be tougher and tougher every year

If Paris could make the right hire, it could be sustained. My opinion is if they could nab Coach Davis from Frankfort I think it be a good hire/steal. Keeping kids from Bourbon and surrounding would be heck of a lot easier than keeping kids from Western Hills and Franklin County.

[ArmChairHC]

There’s also the added allure now of Sayre in that area. Paris always has really good athletes. They just don’t ever seem to have the best coaching. Not that Rice didn’t do a good enough job, but Paris could have/should have beaten Raceland in ‘24. They had playmakers all over the place. Just horribly disciplined and unprepared, lots of timeouts for getting plays in, etc. that’s on the staff. Anyone within ear shot (30 mins or so) of Sayre has got to be considering it, especially with financial assistance on the table for many of them.

[bac2369]

There’s also the added allure now of Sayre in that area. Paris always has really good athletes. They just don’t ever seem to have the best coaching. Not that Rice didn’t do a good enough job, but Paris could have/should have beaten Raceland in ‘24. They had playmakers all over the place. Just horribly disciplined and unprepared, lots of timeouts for getting plays in, etc. that’s on the staff. Anyone within ear shot (30 mins or so) of Sayre has got to be considering it, especially with financial assistance on the table for many of them.

What kind of assistance can they get? I’m not familiar with private schools on that matter.

[ArmChairHC]

There are grants, help from boosters. merit based scholarships, and a lot of different ways. Private schools all have “funding” out there for the right kid. I’m not saying they straight up pay kids to play, but there are things that are set aside to help a bad situation a kid may be in financially. I’m all for it. I think any kid should be able to go wherever they want. That’s the trickle down from the college portal. Even if it is a private school. If a kid can get an opportunity to better themselves let them.

[jetpilot]

There are grants, help from boosters. merit based scholarships, and a lot of different ways. Private schools all have “funding” out there for the right kid. I’m not saying they straight up pay kids to play, but there are things that are set aside to help a bad situation a kid may be in financially. I’m all for it. I think any kid should be able to go wherever they want. That’s the trickle down from the college portal. Even if it is a private school. If a kid can get an opportunity to better themselves let them.

In what universe do you come out ahead dollar-wise attending a $30k/year and up private school over free public school? Time to stop making excuses every time a private school wins anything.

[ArmChairHC]

Where was an excuse made? Hell, even said I’m all for it! And in what universe did I ever said you came out ahead dollar-wise? Pikeville needs to get back to Kroger next year…JP is getting anxious…

[bac2369]

There are grants, help from boosters. merit based scholarships, and a lot of different ways. Private schools all have “funding” out there for the right kid. I’m not saying they straight up pay kids to play, but there are things that are set aside to help a bad situation a kid may be in financially. I’m all for it. I think any kid should be able to go wherever they want. That’s the trickle down from the college portal. Even if it is a private school. If a kid can get an opportunity to better themselves let them.

If Sayre tuition was close to LCAs, I’d say LCA might lose to kids to Sayre. But Sayre winning the title though did put the Lexington area on notice so who knows how it will go.

[ArmChairHC]

I was looking this morning and I didn’t realize how much higher Sayres tuition was than LCAs. That’s surprising.

[Belichick]

Where was an excuse made? Hell, even said I’m all for it! And in what universe did I ever said you came out ahead dollar-wise? Pikeville needs to get back to Kroger next year…JP is getting anxious…

Nobody talking about Pikeville. By everyone’s early preseason rankings they lost too much and won’t be a factor.

[ArmChairHC]

Pikeville will be better next year

[Cledog30]

Heard that former Paris Coach is taking a new job. Don’t know where just yet. But taking his whole coaching staff and bunch of kids are to follow him. This could be really bad for Paris…

[ArmChairHC]

I’ve heard similar things. But have also heard that he is stepping back from coaching for awhile for family reasons. Either way I wish him the best of luck. As for the Greyhounds, if they lose a bulk of the young talent he had cultivated it will be tough for them to maintain where they have been the last few years.

[Oakcrest18]

Where was an excuse made? Hell, even said I’m all for it! And in what universe did I ever said you came out ahead dollar-wise? Pikeville needs to get back to Kroger next year…JP is getting anxious…

Nobody talking about Pikeville. By everyone’s early preseason rankings they lost too much and won’t be a factor.

disagree lost big time players

[ArmChairHC]

They lost big time players, but they will be more balanced next year once they get it all sorted out. Panthers are still a top 3 or 4 team and have to be in the conversation as a team that can make it to Kroger.

[Patriot1]

Panthers are the #1 team again and the rest are still chasing and before you posters start the lost a lot of players but also in my prospective a lot of their problems but will be back to Kroger now you guys can say you heard it first from old P1 and Jet i saw the light and RAMDAD no trade here

[ArmChairHC]

I was waiting on a Pikeville poster to say it bc I didn’t wanna come across as “bashing” HS kids or talking bad about them. But this senior class that Pikeville had just seemed to lack something. It wasn’t talent, strength, speed, or anything like that, but it seemed to lack that one or two guys that could lead the way in the locker room and when the chips were down. Granted, this group hadn’t seen the chip count get very low in the past. I have a feeling that a loss in the Regional Championship round for the first time in a decade or so will have them refocused.

Onto other teams…KCD returns a ton and so does Cville. KCD returns the house it looks like. I think any preseason ranking of Raceland, Cville, KCD, and Pikeville is right. Regardless of who is where. 1A is going to be really interesting next year.

[CitySlicker]

State Championship game will be between the Rams and Panthers. No other schools are changing enough to reach the standard.

[bac2369]

State Championship game will be between the Rams and Panthers. No other schools are changing enough to reach the standard.

Just like it was in 2024. Raceland proved doubters wrong including myself last season with what they loss to graduation. Rams have a real good shot at getting back. The Panthers in 2025 are gonna have to come back with an edge and prove something. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying they aren’t gonna be good because they are and have the kids to do so, but those kids are gonna have to show it. I think coming into 2025 anyone could beat anyone. I think the class has leveled out.

[jetpilot]

State Championship game will be between the Rams and Panthers. No other schools are changing enough to reach the standard.

Just like it was in 2024. Raceland proved doubters wrong including myself last season with what they loss to graduation. Rams have a real good shot at getting back. The Panthers in 2025 are gonna have to come back with an edge and prove something. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying they aren’t gonna be good because they are and have the kids to do so, but those kids are gonna have to show it. I think coming into 2025 anyone could beat anyone. I think the class has leveled out.

Pikeville does have to prove they are the Pikeville of old in 2025 for sure, but Pikeville still beat Hazard by several scores in a down year and Raceland drilled them twice. So we aren't close to anybody can beat anybody just yet. Actually it's up to Hazard and everybody else to prove that.

[bac2369]

State Championship game will be between the Rams and Panthers. No other schools are changing enough to reach the standard.

Just like it was in 2024. Raceland proved doubters wrong including myself last season with what they loss to graduation. Rams have a real good shot at getting back. The Panthers in 2025 are gonna have to come back with an edge and prove something. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying they aren’t gonna be good because they are and have the kids to do so, but those kids are gonna have to show it. I think coming into 2025 anyone could beat anyone. I think the class has leveled out.

Pikeville does have to prove they are the Pikeville of old in 2025 for sure, but Pikeville still beat Hazard by several scores in a down year and Raceland drilled them twice. So we aren't close to anybody can beat anybody just yet. Actually it's up to Hazard and everybody else to prove that.

Yes Pikeville did beat Hazard by several scores, but Hazard moved the ball and had plenty of potential to make it much more of a game than it was. So yes Hazard has to prove they can beat Pikeville. This will be the first year in some time where Pikeville isn’t returning that ONE DUDE that can do it all ( an Anthony, a Birchfield, A Hensley, a Pugh). They most definitely need to prove they can play with Raceland with two of the worst offensive performances all season against the same team. I do feel if Hazard would have had Johnson for the rematch they game could have been a little different. ( You don’t win ball games when u can’t move the ball.

To me Hazard needs to prove they can play with Raceland after what happen last season. The world of football is funny sometimes though as Hazard smoked Paris by 24, Raceland spanks Hazard, Raceland only beats by 14. So make it make sense. The game should have been to me atleast no more than 1-7 point difference either way.

2024 was closer than whatcha think because Louisville Holy Cross could of beat KCD, and Bethlehem lost in overtime to KCD, while Louisville Holy Cross beat them 19. Campbellsville worked both Holy Cross and Bethlehem. Campbellsville lost to KCD by 2 points.
So it’s all about matchups and it will be that way in 2025.

2025 Hazard gets chances to prove it against
Campbellsville , Raceland, and Pikeville. All will be top 5 teams.

[bac2369]

Here’s a little test for anyone looking and please give ur opinion and order. I’m gonna give some numbers and stats and u want u to rank them 1-4.

Team A- Returns 1248 yards offensively. The defense returns its #2,7,9,10, tacklers from last season with 8 INTs. There quarterback returns as well with 3- Oline starters

Team B- Returns 2605 yards offensively. The defense returns its #1,3,6,8,9,11, tacklers from last year with 5 INTs. New Quarterback to start with experience with 5 starters on the O-line.

Team C- Returns close to 1400 yards offensively. Defense returns its # 2,4,5,7,11 tacklers from last year with 8 INTs. New Quarterback with limited snaps and 3 starters back on the 0-line.

Team D- Returns over 3500 yards offensively. Defense returns its # 2,4,7,10,11 tacklers from last season with 3 INTS. Quarterback returns with 5 O-line starters back.