[FCREMSFC]

Who’s expected to do well this season? 

Does Northern Pulaski take a big step back with GJ being gone? 

Favorites for 8th grade D1, 2 and 3? 

Expected strong 7th grade teams? 

Can Elkhorn 3 peat?

[MFL57]

Who’s expected to do well this season? 

Does Northern Pulaski take a big step back with GJ being gone? 

Favorites for 8th grade D1, 2 and 3? 

Expected strong 7th grade teams? 

Can Elkhorn 3 peat?

Northern Pulaski will be the same way it has always been. People said the same thing when Foley left.

[VICTORY FORMATION]

Who will be the top teams in D3

[FCREMSFC]

Who’s expected to do well this season? 

Does Northern Pulaski take a big step back with GJ being gone? 

Favorites for 8th grade D1, 2 and 3? 

Expected strong 7th grade teams? 

Can Elkhorn 3 peat?

Northern Pulaski will be the same way it has always been. People said the same thing when Foley left.

had heard several players left when GJ left, any truth to that?

[ArmChairHC]

D3 Pikeville, Belfry, CAL, LCA, Raceland
D2 no clue
D1 Elkorn N Pulaski

[plantmanky]

Might be a sleeper team in D3 this year, and in 7th grade.

[ArmChairHC]

Who you thinking about Plantman?

[jetpilot]

Pikeville JH got rings.

https://x.com/PanthersJH/status/1925717323928707189

[plantmanky]

Pikeville JH got rings.

https://x.com/PanthersJH/status/1925717323928707189

Teams do a really great job with their designs on these rings, love them.

[Golden_ Predator]

Surprise there hasn’t been any talk of JC dropping to D2

[FCREMSFC]

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=182...8602498010

Back to Back, undefeated look.

[Bluecat]

Legit question, which MS programs truly pass along their success to their HS feeder team? HS programs need a good feeder system, and I was just curious how many of the MS teams do good at that level, and it escalates up into their HS program.

[FCREMSFC]

can only speak for ours at EMS/FC.... Starting with our youth program (Rams) which feeds into our middle school. We end up adding kids from other youth programs at the middle school level, then almost all of them feed into our high school, FC. For us, the success they have from youth levels and through middle school is carrying over to success at the high school level as well. Still trying to bring home the big one, but we like the path we are on.

[ArmChairHC]

I think the success that Belfry, Pikeville, CAL, JC, Etc in the smaller divisions speaks for itself. Raceland has also made solid playoff runs over the last few years. I think it’s a bit harder to track the larger school programs, as they have so many different feeder programs. Some schools having 3 or 4 middle schools feeding into the HS makes it hard to tell sometimes who is coming from where. A lot of movement from MS to HS in the The Lex/Lou areas. NKY as well.

[Golden_ Predator]

It is definitely easier to see the success translate in the smaller areas.

[plantmanky]

should I chime in or just keep quiet?

[Golden_ Predator]

Why yeah plantmanky

[ArmChairHC]

Do tell PlantMan! You seem to always have an inside scoop on the MS football

[Micro-Brew]

If he’s speaking about D3, my bet is he’s talking about Meece.

[DangerMouse]

Don’t know much but Meece was a load as a 6th grade squad. Could very well repeat in 7th.

D3 will be the usual suspects. CAL, Pikeville, Meece and some other squad like a OCath

D2 - Corbin, probably

D1 - McCreary or Bowlkng Green (why not)

[plantmanky]

Don’t know much but Meece was a load as a 6th grade squad. Could very well repeat in 7th.

D3 will be the usual suspects. CAL, Pikeville, Meece and some other squad like a OCath

D2 - Corbin, probably

D1 - McCreary or Bowlkng Green (why not)

McCreary is D2.

[DangerMouse]

Don’t know much but Meece was a load as a 6th grade squad. Could very well repeat in 7th.

D3 will be the usual suspects. CAL, Pikeville, Meece and some other squad like a OCath

D2 - Corbin, probably

D1 - McCreary or Bowlkng Green (why not)

McCreary is D2.

fair enough. 
what’s your big news?

[Golden_ Predator]

No one mentioning JC dropping to D2 and no one listing them as a contender is wild to me. They have been deep in the playoffs every year in D1 and now dropping to D2 they are irrelevant.

[ArmChairHC]

JCs 8th grade will be tough. They were much improved from the begin of the year last year to when Raceland played them again towards the end of the season. I didn’t realize they dropped down. They should be in the thick of things in the playoffs I would think.

[Golden_ Predator]

JCs 8th grade will be tough. They were much improved from the begin of the year last year to when Raceland played them again towards the end of the season. I didn’t realize they dropped down. They should be in the thick of things in the playoffs I would think.

With JC dropping to D2, it looks to have become 4a of middle school. Corbin, Boyle and JC 

[ArmChairHC]

The middle school classification is very strange. I would say a lot of it comes down to logistics, but having 3 classes in MS while the HS has 6 makes it very hard for smaller schools to consistently compete. That’s why Pikevilles run with the incoming Frosh class was so impressive to me. Raceland doesn’t participate in the 7th grade division, but the 8th grade Rams have good size upfront, size, speed, and skill at WR, solid QB play, and a very explosive backfield. They could make a run back to the championship game this year if we can stay healthy. Really tough schedule.

[Golden_ Predator]

The middle school classification is very strange. I would say a lot of it comes down to logistics, but having 3 classes in MS while the HS has 6 makes it very hard for smaller schools to consistently compete. That’s why Pikevilles run with the incoming Frosh class was so impressive to me. Raceland doesn’t participate in the 7th grade division, but the 8th grade Rams have good size upfront, size, speed, and skill at WR, solid QB play, and a very explosive backfield. They could make a run back to the championship game this year if we can stay healthy. Really tough schedule.

It’s based on enrollment. The Rams always have a good team. They are very tough at the end of the season.

[plantmanky]

The middle school classification is very strange. I would say a lot of it comes down to logistics, but having 3 classes in MS while the HS has 6 makes it very hard for smaller schools to consistently compete. That’s why Pikevilles run with the incoming Frosh class was so impressive to me. Raceland doesn’t participate in the 7th grade division, but the 8th grade Rams have good size upfront, size, speed, and skill at WR, solid QB play, and a very explosive backfield. They could make a run back to the championship game this year if we can stay healthy. Really tough schedule.

Addressing the bolded (and its a common comment)

Middle school classification is done the same as the High School classification (enrollment).  Keep in mind there are just under 300 middle schools in Kentucky, and just under 200 High schools in Kentucky (that play football). 

So in theory, there should be more middle school classes right?  The issue because actual participation, only about 1/3rd of middle schools participate in the state playoffs or as members, because of that more classes would be too many obviously.


This topic is discussed every year during the seeding meeting by the playoff committee when we look at participating teams for that season and do the math, and every year it ends up that the three 8th grade divisions, splits the field in thirds pretty close, not always exact, but pretty close, and why the divisional #'s havent been adjusted since 8th grade went from two divisions, to three.

[ArmChairHC]

Appreciate the insight Plantman! Always wondered how it was all set up. It makes more sense to me now.