[MiddlesboroAlumni]

Okay, here is how Shelby Valley can win.

- The running game needs to be superb and almost flawless. B.J. Roberts and Dillion Hughes really have to be the one-two punch that they have shown that they can be. Both have to hold onto the ball, see the gaps, and block for the other when necessary.

- The offensive line has to hold their blocks. So far this season, they have done a good job with that. Problem is, this is going to be the fastest defense will see possibly all year. They can't let players like Griffith and McKinney get in the backfield. From what I've seen on TV, the Wildcats line is big enough and have done a nice job most of the season at this. If Roberts and Hughes can't even get out of the backfield the majority of the time, then the Wildcats will be in for a long, long night.

- Cody Varney has got to keep cool under pressure. The reason I say that is because Prestonsburg will put intense pressure on him, there's no doubt about that. Varney can't be turning the ball over (I don't even think SV can afford one turnover to win this one). I don't think SV's O-Line will be able to keep Griffith, McKinney, Max Turner, and Cameron Tincher out of the backfield. I understand Varney is best when he is on the move. This means that Varney is going to have to make good decisions all night for the Wildcats to have any kind of chance at stealing this one.

- The SV secondary have to stay on the Blackcat receivers. Michael Burchett will probably thread the needle most of the time and will be putting the ball right on the money as usual. That's a given. If I were SV, I would accept that and just do my best to stay with the receivers. Try some man coverage, zone coverage, just whatever works best. Jamerson, Craynon, Blackburn, Hall, and McKinney will be tough to cover is the other problem. No one has been able to do it all season.

- Last, SV has to understand they are playing on the road and understand how fired up Prestonsburg will be after the scare the Wildcats gave them last year. The Blackcats will not be taking them lightly in any way, they will actually be more than ready. SV needs to understand that this Blackcat team isn't overlooking them like some on this thread are. Coach DeRossett will have his troops ready and SV, I'm sure, already knows this.

I really expect a good game overall, but unless Shelby Valley does all of these things, I just don't see how they can win the game. Especially it being at Josh Francis Field. There are just many things going the Blackcats way right now for Shelby Valley to come in and steal it all away.

I have to agree will all these points ODM.

I don't see how Shelby Valley can accomplish all of these either, that is why they will lose this game.

[LeeCoUKFan]

This is gonna be a really good game but home team wins just for the simple fact that they're home! Prestonsburg is one of the toughest if not THE toughest place to come and play in eastern kentucky and maybe even the entire state if you're the away team because they have some of the craziest fans in the state of kentucky! Prestonsburg wins!!
Prestonsburg-2
Shelby Valley-17

[SPORTS FAN 101]

I thing it will be a good game...
P-burg 20
SV 14

[hypersport]

Maybe Shelby Valley will win.
Kentucky beat Auburn at Auburn yesterday. It would be that kind of upset for SV to win.

Offensively both teams can score however SV must win the match up on the O and D Lines. This is where Prestonsburg has the advantage.
SV run blocks very well, but in the passing area Varney is off to run way to quick because of pressure. This will greatly expose SV to problems if they are forced into passing downs.

Give the next big advantage to Prestonsburg in the Special Teams. Outside of a consistent kicker on extra points SV has made special teams play an adventure. You cannot give teams of Prestonsburg's caliber a short field.

Last and certainly not least when is the last time that SV upset a higher ranked opponent on the road.

Good Luck Wildcats! Make me eat these words.

[LeeCoUKFan]

This is gonna be a really good game but home team wins just for the simple fact that they're home! Prestonsburg is one of the toughest if not THE toughest place to come and play in eastern kentucky and maybe even the entire state if you're the away team because they have some of the craziest fans in the state of kentucky! Prestonsburg wins!!
Prestonsburg-2
Shelby Valley-17

Pretonsburg-21
Shelby Valley-17

[AnalysisKing]

Prestonsburg is a tough place to play, but even if it was @ valley id have too go with the black cats

P-Burg-28
Valley-16

[ScottsvillePatriot]

Allencopride was going to miss the ACS/Russell Couty game for this. Is this really going to be that good of a matchup? I've heard from a few people that Pburg is the real deal and could beat anyone in 2a except for Ft Campbell. I don't know anything about either team but I say Pburg wins by 3 td's at home. How are people saying that shelby valley is going to beat pburg when Pburg is number 2 in the state in 2a?? To beat it all, the game is at pburg! You gotta go with pburg in this game..

[WildDawg]

Allencopride was going to miss the ACS/Russell Couty game for this. Is this really going to be that good of a matchup? I've heard from a few people that Pburg is the real deal and could beat anyone in 2a except for Ft Campbell. I don't know anything about either team but I say Pburg wins by 3 td's at home. How are people saying that shelby valley is going to beat pburg when Pburg is number 2 in the state in 2a?? To beat it all, the game is at pburg! You gotta go with pburg in this game..

Anything could happen. Shelby Valley has a nice running game. If they can get the ground game going and sustain long drives, they can play keep away from Prestonsburg. Obviously, you gotta go with Pburg but Shelby Valley is a solid team. They are capable of making the upset.

[kyrifle]

SV has played one team with a winning record,Lawrence Co, and got a really bad beating 49-14. A lot of people are picking SV to win this contest and I can't see how. If SV plays within 3 TD's of P-Burg this would show a chink in P-Burg's armor. I will say 42-6 P-Burg.

[all-or-nothing]

Prestonsburg is a hard place to play, but I'm going with my Wildcats on this one. Simply put, I will NEVER pick against the CATS. P-burg is difficult place to play, and I believe Norman will definitely be out-coached, but it is POSSIBLE for this Wildcat team to win. It's not like we're the bottom team in the district. It's not like we have no talent. Anytime these guys take the field, they have a chance. And, they have to believe that!

Like someone posted earlier, if they can take care of the ball and not have penalties called (like UK against Auburn), that goes a LONG WAY in this game.


Go BLUE!!!!!!

[MiddlesboroAlumni]

Prestonsburg is a hard place to play, but I'm going with my Wildcats on this one. Simply put, I will NEVER pick against the CATS. P-burg is difficult place to play, and I believe Norman will definitely be out-coached, but it is POSSIBLE for this Wildcat team to win. It's not like we're the bottom team in the district. It's not like we have no talent. Anytime these guys take the field, they have a chance. And, they have to believe that!

Like someone posted earlier, if they can take care of the ball and not have penalties called (like UK against Auburn), that goes a LONG WAY in this game.


Go BLUE!!!!!!

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.

[Saratoga_86]

P-burg in this one the undefeated season continues !!!!!!!

[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.

[BlackcatAlum]

^Like always, good post!

[OldTymer]

Comparisons to the '93 (or even '01 or '03) team(s) are completely out of place at this point in time.

I wouldn't say the comparison is completely out of place. I personally don't think this team is better then the 01 team, but their record at this point in the season, can only be matched by one Prestonsburg team in recent memory and that is of course the 93 team. I honestly think that had Prestonsburg had the coaching staff they do now , that there would have been a few more undefeated teams to discuss in the "All-Time Great" talks.

[cat86]

Yep. Solid insight as always from oneijoe.

The one thing I have been impressed with this year (except maybe even for the second half of the Belfry game...but more on that in a minute) is the weekly game plan, execution, and play calling for the Blackcats this year. There have been a couple of games similar to the upcoming SV contest in that Pburg has faced some offenses capable of controlling the clock, sustaining long drives, and possibly putting the Cats in the hole early. But somehow, Pburg has found ways to stop the opposing offenses, score points early, and make the other teams play catch up.

In the second half against Belfry when Prestonsburg got really conservative, we have to keep in mind that the play calling there kept the clock running. There was a possibility of incomplete passes, drops, etc that could have stopped the clock. So while I would have liked to have seen the Cats keep airing it out and putting points on the board, running the ball and keeping the clock running contributed to the win as much as anything.

All this points to an outstanding job by the coaching staff this year. Everything from preparation, play calling, clock management, etc. has been superb. This year has been the cleanest, best executed, and well called/played as any in recent memory. Very few penalties, very few busted plays, and very few instances where Pburg didn't look in control (first half of the Breathitt County game notwithstanding...).

[cat86]

I wouldn't say the comparison is completely out of place. I personally don't think this team is better then the 01 team, but their record at this point in the season, can only be matched by one Prestonsburg team in recent memory and that is of course the 93 team. I honestly think that had Prestonsburg had the coaching staff they do now , that there would have been a few more undefeated teams to discuss in the "All-Time Great" talks.

Agree with this. This coaching staff does as good a job of coaching kids up as any maybe in the state. Plus, the addition of Coach Allen and Coach Chirico has been immeasurable.

[winner]

i say this will be a great game.....probably one of the best games all season. pburg had a hard time last year at valley and it took a last second touchdown to win the game, and comparing this years team to last years team valley is better in all aspects so look for valley to come out ready to roll and prove to people that their team is not a joke and that they can compete with the best teams in the state.

SVHS-21
PBURG-16




:thatsfunn

[EKUAlum05]

I see this being one of those games were SV comes out like gangbusters and scores an early TD to take a quick lead, they may even hold Pburg to a 3 and Out or force a turnover. After which they drive deep into Pburg territory again. That's when the Blackcats take a timeout, get lit into, and come back on the field and take control from that moment moving forward.

SV's early season success and competitiveness against Pburg in recent years actually works against them Friday. Valley will not enter this game under the radar like in year's past.

I see this thing being close for a half, bu Pburg takes control, forces a few turnovers, breaks SV's spirit, and ends up winning going away.

P'burg 34-14

[Salimander]

Prestonsburg 42

Shelby Valley 12

[MiddlesboroAlumni]

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.

All I said was that this season the Blackcats have gotten off to their best start since 1993. Who knows where they will end up? I didn't say anything about this team being good as the '93 or '01 teams. Where did that come from?

As for approaching this game in a workmanlike manner, I believe the Blackcats will do that. Prestonsburg will not underestimate this Shelby Valley team. That's just another reason why the Blackcats will win. Once again for everyone that thinks I don't think Shelby Valley should even show up, I have said that the Wildcats running game will be effective and the game may even start out like EKU said (SV with an early lead). But do I think SV has a real shot at winning? No, I don't.

[NYY10]

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.

pretty nice post!

[Bad Mother Flanker]

SV has played one team with a winning record,Lawrence Co, and got a really bad beating 49-14.

they've also played Clintwood (VA), 5-1 this year and state runner-up the last two years. a good, tough team with a winning tradition. SV lost 24-11. so, SV has lost to the only two solid teams they've played. but, at times, they ran the ball fairly effective on both (and as i understand it, pretty fast and swarming defenses too). SV must continue to run the ball, control the clock, and keep P-burg's offense off the field. perhaps they can win a low scoring, smashmouth game. you never know. should be a good'n.

[all-or-nothing]

If I remember correctly, things went south for Valley last year after the WYMT camera showed up. So, if you guys could please be absent on Friday night, I'd appreciate it. :igiveup: hahhahahhahaaa

I'm a little superstitious when it comes to these things, and I don't care if every poster on BGR makes fun of this post and says it wouldn't make a difference in this game either way, but I'd feel a whole lot better if this game didn't make the highlights on Sports Overtime. :biggrin:

Counting down.......

[BlackcatAlum]

If I remember correctly, things went south for Valley last year after the WYMT camera showed up. So, if you guys could please be absent on Friday night, I'd appreciate it. :igiveup: hahhahahhahaaa

I'm a little superstitious when it comes to these things, and I don't care if every poster on BGR makes fun of this post and says it wouldn't make a difference in this game either way, but I'd feel a whole lot better if this game didn't make the highlights on Sports Overtime. :biggrin:

Counting down.......

I don't think anyone will make fun of your post - everyone has their superstitions. Completely understandable.

As for the score of the game, I've thought about it and I say... Prestonsburg wins, 35-14.

[dortonite]

i think its funny how only about 2 ppl think we will win..besides the few that pretty much said we would get lucky. Yes it will be hard to beat p-burg but not impossible at all. And dont count on seeing the same secondary you have been seeing for this game cause alot of changes will be made. I dont think p-burg will stop our running game, so with us keeping the clock running all game, and if we make some big plays on d with some int's i think it will be a very close game.
Note:blefry beat pc by 10 in a very close game and we ran it all over them(not saying anything twards the p-burg game. But if belfry only beats them by 10 wheres our credit for beating them by 22 points??

i have been impressed all year by the effort shelby valley has given every game, i am sure if you canvassed the opinion of the two teams that beat valley so far this year they will attest to the effort. That is all that can be expected by any high school team. You have to go into the game thinking you can win or don't show up. Just make us proud of your effort, shelby valley, bj, tanner, hughs, varney,and down the line. Go wildcats, go sv.

[central fan]

p-burg will score at will through the air as they have don all season which is why im praying for a muddy rainy cold night which favors the wildcats even though they play on turf they've played in rain and held on to the ball very well.

if its clear P-burg-42 SV-35 in a real shootout
it it is sloppy and rainy ill say SV-12 P-burg-8

[all-or-nothing]

:yikes:Gah! I was watching the news last night, and it looks like SV/P-burg is the stupid game of the week! So much for me not wanting the WYMT camera there! Okay, so now, just don't show up at half-time, please. Get there early and stay for the whole game!

[MiddlesboroAlumni]

:yikes:Gah! I was watching the news last night, and it looks like SV/P-burg is the stupid game of the week! So much for me not wanting the WYMT camera there! Okay, so now, just don't show up at half-time, please. Get there early and stay for the whole game!

I don't see why. :biggrin:

[BCF4L]

I don't see why. :biggrin:

Me either honestly.