[Bull got out!]

Paintsville will travel to Pikeville this Friday. 

Paintsville (6-5)
Aug 19, 22 Floyd Central away (W) 21 - 14 
Aug 26, 22 Beechwood away (L) 7 - 46 
Sep 2, 22 Pikeville home (L) 0 - 36 
Sep 9, 22 Somerset home (L) 34 - 35 (OT) 
Sep 16, 22 Knox Central home (W) 35 - 30 
Sep 30, 22 Perry County Central away (L) 25 - 27 
Oct 7, 22 Fairview home (W) 44 - 0 
Oct 14, 22 Betsy Layne away (W) 42 - 20 
Oct 21, 22 Raceland away (L) 14 - 38 
Nov 4, 22 Bracken County home (W) 36 - 14  Class 1A 2022 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals 
Nov 11, 22 Bishop Brossart away (W) 42 - 16  Class 1A 2022 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals


Pikeville (9-2)
Aug 19, 22 Corbin away (L) 19 - 24  Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic 
Aug 27, 22 Covington Catholic home (L) 19 - 27 Pike County Bowl 
Sep 2, 22 Paintsville away (W) 36 - 0 
Sep 16, 22 Belfry home (W) 48 - 13 
Sep 23, 22 Lexington Christian home (W) 60 - 21 
Sep 30, 22 Madison Central home (W) 50 - 14 
Oct 7, 22 Sayre away (W) 44 - 15 
Oct 15, 22 Russellville at Somerset (W) 42 - 7 
Oct 21, 22 Hazard home (W) 52 - 7 
Nov 4, 22 Lynn Camp home (W) 63 - 0  Class 1A 2022 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals 
Nov 11, 22 Harlan home (W) 43 - 8  Class 1A 2022 UK HealthCare Sports Medicine State Football Finals


Thoughts?

[Patriot1]

I am going to fool you guys this time but I am taking ????? Pikeville

[64SUR]

Last game was 36-0………This time around

Pikeville 49
Painstville 00

[Micro-Brew]

Paintsville is much much better than their first game with Pikeville
But
So is Pikeville
I could see a couple diff scenarios in this game.
One this game being similar to the Raceland/Paintsville game where Paintsville might hit a decent drive or even a big play and hang around a while but eventually just get worn down by Pikeville, and Pikeville still win by 3-4 TDs
Or two this being very similar to the first matchup and Pikeville pretty much just dominating.
I just don’t think Paintsville can score enough to win but they’re def dangerous enough to.
I’m already looking forward to it.
Everyone likes to talk about the 2020 Hazard playoff debacle but this group of seniors were all sophomores and many of them starting and when you have a large group of young and inexperienced players playing in a big game they are subject to games like that. But I just don’t see this group of seniors letting a meltdown like that occur.
But hey what do I know

[Slic Ric]

Pikeville by 4+ scores.

[Vols0528]

Pikeville by a bunch

[Deuce8]

Pikeville names the score

[jetpilot]

Might be the first Pikeville non running clock in months
Going to give Paintsville credit they are much improved
Pikeville 42
Paintsville 14

No running clock

[jetpilot]

I want to see Pikeville go 7-0 with no scores on first team defense.
Paintsville can do it so will be fun to watch this battle.

[pirateforlife]

Well Lynn Camp was running clock first quarter. Harlan wasn’t until second qtr. I think Paintsville does a little better and doesn’t let this get to a running clock til 3rd quarter.

---

I do think this matchup has a similar feel as the 2020 Hazard game Pikeville lost. Playing a rival who you already beat easily in the playoffs and playing them again. I’m sure Paintsville will have a different game plan than the first matchup.

[Old School Hound]

Even the clock feels bad for Painstville. It's already started to run.

[Spud6]

Paintsville has improved drastically from their first game against Floyd Central to now. But Pikeville will be too much for them

[Hound05]

I want to see Pikeville go 7-0 with no scores on first team defense.
Paintsville can do it so will be fun to watch this battle.

If you were 4A school you could go 7-0 with no scores when your JV is in too.

[2000PHS]

Paintsville has improved drastically from their first game against Floyd Central to now. But Pikeville will be too much for them

I think that’s going to be the general thought. Regardless of what happens Friday, I am impressed with the progress this team made over the season. Hopefully this gives everyone from the staff to the players to the fans some positive energy going forward.

All that’s left to do is shock the world Friday.

[TheStickyBandit]

Pikeville rather easily.

Pikeville- 42
Paintsville- 7

[rookie57]

Pikeville y eleventy million

[BlackcatAlum]

Paintsville truly has gotten a lot better offensively since the beginning of the season, but like another poster mentioned, so has Pikeville. Just don’t think the Tigers have enough to keep this game competitive.

Panthers win, 49-7.

[Scotty_Bronson]

If this game isnt a running clock again or close to it, I will be suprised. Paintsville has definitely improved from their first meeting with Pikeville. But, Raceland played arguably their worst defensive game of the season against Paintsville and still won comfortably. Just dont see this one being close beyond a quarter.

Panthers 48
Paintsville 6

[pirateforlife]

Paintsville may be the 3rd best team in 1A but there is a big gap from 1-2 and everyone else.

[RTruth]

Panthers 42-14

[jetpilot]

Hoping for a statement game. Another shutout by the first team D.
Then same thing next week vs NCC.
This nasty d can be talked about with the greats.
Offense will get theirs for sure.

[bac2369]

Paintsville may be the 3rd best team in 1A but there is a big gap from 1-2 and everyone else.

Paintsville isn’t even close to 3rd best team. NCC gets that nod but not by much. After that I’d put Hazard and Louisville Holy Cross. Paintsville would be next after that.

[2000PHS]

Paintsville may be the 3rd best team in 1A but there is a big gap from 1-2 and everyone else.

Paintsville isn’t even close to 3rd best team. NCC gets that nod but not by much. After that I’d put Hazard and Louisville Holy Cross. Paintsville would be next after that.

I have to see a non- EKY team do something before I put any of them ahead of the EKY 4. 

I completely dispute we aren’t “even close to 3rd” we could get be by those teams you mentioned but I think after Raceland and Pikeville, Paintsville would at worst be a slight underdog vs anyone else in 1A.

[jetpilot]

I would put Hazard 3rd but gosh they have looked awful at times. I don’t think Paintsville would have lost to SV and I don’t expect Paintsville to be down to Pikeville 52-0 in the 3rd like Hazard was. Jury out on if NCC can hang with the East but I vote no. And I wouldn’t give a nickel for all the rest of the teams.

[Micro-Brew]

I agree. Not sure what to make of Hazard. And I guarantee that Paintsville plays Pikeville closer than Hazard did.
I’ll be honest this game scares me more than it should. It’s been a long time since Pikeville’s been behind or even tied in a game. If Paintsville hits a big play offensively or Pikeville turns one over and gives Paintsville a really short field or the Tigers hit a big special teams play then how do the Panthers react? Do they panic or do they just keep focus and realize they are the better team? Senior leadership is key if that were to happen, and I like Pikeville’s seniors. Is it only Tuesday? Haha

[jetpilot]

Have to be concerned with Paintsville. Stranger things have happened, like 2020 for instance. Having said that Paintsville hasn’t beaten a team that can play and this Pikeville team is 28 points better than 2020.
I don’t think if these teams played 25 times Paintsville would win once but common sense says there is a crazy set of circumstances where it’s possible and you sure don’t want it happening 2 weeks before the state championship. Pikeville has to show up ready to put a beat down on the Tigers and never let up.

[bac2369]

What have things taught us over the years when Hazard and Pikeville plays.. one team usually gets the upper hand and later in the playoffs they sometimes lose. Hazard has more than once been run off the field against Pikeville in the regular season to upset them later. Same goes for Pikeville if they lost in the regular season, they’d beat Hazard later in the playoffs.

Raceland and Paintsville always play each other tough no matter what round or when. But sometimes in the playoffs the win margin in bigger. There series are the complete opposite of Hazard and Pikeville. I remember in 2016 Paintsville was the favorite after beating Pikeville at Pikeville, and beating Paintsville by a touchdown. People said it was Paintsville, Raceland, Pikeville and then Hazard. Hazard ended up being the rep that year. Then in 2017 came and Hazard was the favorite, then lost its star running back Corey Smith, then Hazard wasn’t any more. Paintsville then beat Hazard. Hazard beat Pikeville, to only lose in the playoff later to them and Raceland lost to Paintsville regular season to flip it in the playoffs and then Pikeville and Raceland play with Raceland winning that matchup and being the rep that year.

Things are crazy in the playoff and that’s why things are wild.. Did I see Hazard losing that big to Pikeville in the regular season. Heck no I didn’t after last year. Was it possible it could happen? Damn right it was. There is one thing I know for sure, Max Johnson will not just have 5 carries in a game the rest of the way. He will get 15-20 + carries.

Pikeville will have to come out focus and take care of business, as stated 2020 is and will be reminded to the Panthers. I agree it should because Paintsville is having a similar season that Hazard did in 2020 except it’s from a 2 year head coach instead of his first year. So yes they need to be weary. Harris Phelps is more so dangerous than Max Johnson, he will need to be contained or bad things can happen for the opposing defenses.

[bac2369]

Paintsville may be the 3rd best team in 1A but there is a big gap from 1-2 and everyone else.

Paintsville isn’t even close to 3rd best team. NCC gets that nod but not by much. After that I’d put Hazard and Louisville Holy Cross. Paintsville would be next after that.

I have to see a non- EKY team do something before I put any of them ahead of the EKY 4. 

I completely dispute we aren’t “even close to 3rd” we could get be by those teams you mentioned but I think after Raceland and Pikeville, Paintsville would at worst be a slight underdog vs anyone else in 1A.

Paintsville versus the rest would be toss ups. My point as to why I think so is a common opponent in Somerset. Paintsville lost a heartbreaker to Somerset 35-34. Somerset loses to Hazard at home 30-13. Yes game was close until the 4th, but Hazard controlled everything basically in the game and it never felt like they was threatened.

The reason I give NCC at 3rd is the way Hazard has played as of late, and NCC playing Beechwood tough, even though Beechwoods best player never even played. But NCC has taken care of business like it was supposed too. Hazard finally had its whole team back last week against Williamsburg, who hadn’t been whole since the Ashland game. Smith tried to go against Pikeville but was taken out the first series with a dislocated shoulder.

[jetpilot]

I understand that Johnson will get more touches but
1. Won’t matter much vs Pikeville
2. Awful Hazard defense will get them killed

[jetpilot]

Raceland will score 38 on Hazard and not half as talented as Pikeville O
They will stack the line to stop Johnson and make Hazard pass.
Hazard better be working on their passing schemes all week