[LeeCoUKFan]

Glad to see that the Blackcats were able to bounce back and pic up a dominating win over SC!!

Congrats Prestonsburg!

[Darth Vader]

Congrats pburg, SC needs to pull it together or its gonna be a long season

[paulcssi]

I'm still trying to believe what I saw last night at Cardinal Stadium. But, surprisingly, after recalling some of the things I saw last year, I thought, it is just worse this year, that's all. I am talking about play calling. But I definitely don't know how it could get any worse than last night.

Why would you try the long bomb when it had failed three times previously, especially when your team was moving the ball on the ground and you had adequate time to get back into the game, since, at that time, you were down by only two touch downs.

I also noticed that one of the best running backs in Eastern Kentucky carried the ball very little in the second half; I didn't count the times, but I heard he carried only twice. Unbelievable! Who was calling the plays? Well, whoever it was, I guess they just forgot to call KP's number.

SC must make some dramatic changes if they plan to have the semblance of a decent season.

[hawkeye]

Maybe Pike Central knew more than people give them credit for.

[cardsfan98]

I said it 8 yrs ago or ever how many it was...SC football will never be the same as it was when Jim Matney was there. They got the field and the weight room and all the amenities for a top notch program and would have still had Jim Matney if the board would have allowed all this back then. Yes Im kicking on Hager. Same boring play over and over and over and by the sound of it things have spiraled out of control with that same boring play. My 4 year old could would know to expect whats coming. He has had some success because he has had talent. But he is letting his talent now be ignored and its disgusting. :devilflam

[The Contrarian]

It was surely not Sheldon Clark's night; the young men played better than against Rockcastle, but maybe Rockcastle was a much better team than Prestonsburg. Two totally different styles, so maybe that's the difference. I am not disrespecting Prestonsburg in any manner, they just play a different style than Rockcastle. They most assuredly are a well coached team. Congratulations on the win, Prestonsburg!

I watched the game and find it hard to believe what I saw. SC has a great deal of work ahead if they are going to be competitive this year. One strong point, I think, is they have some very good athletes. Let's utilize them to the fullest.

I saw confusion out there on the field, questionable play calling, in MO, and underutilization of some players. But, obviously, I'm not a coach and maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. I am just stating an opinion, and we all know what that's worth. Nothing!

So, SC, let's get it together, coaches and team, and I think things will improve dramatically.

[92PantherAlumni]

Congrats to the blackcats!!!

[UKFootball]

What are you people talking about, Skyles had to most carries in the game, and had limited production against a very good team, and he fumbled 5 times in the game.

Stats for the PBurg Game:

KP Skyles - 17 carries for 62 yards
Tim Smith - 14 carries for 147 yards
BJ Jarrell - 9 carries for 30 yards

BJ 9 - 15 passing with 158 yards 1 TD 2 INTS

Tim Smith had 5 catches for 90 yards and a TD
Lafferty has 2 catches for 32 yards
KP had one catch for 35 yards.

This was a 14 point game with one min to play. Pburg scored with 45 seconds to play in the game , and sheldon clark had 8 turnovers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KP Skyles - 18 touches = 92 yards - 0 touchdowns
Tim Smith 19 touches 237 yards - 2 touchdowns (also had a 30 yard TD called back)

[Cardinalfootballguy]

What are you people talking about, Skyles had to most carries in the game, and had limited production against a very good team, and he fumbled 5 times in the game.

Stats for the PBurg Game:

KP Skyles - 17 carries for 62 yards
Tim Smith - 14 carries for 147 yards
BJ Jarrell - 9 carries for 30 yards

BJ 9 - 15 passing with 158 yards 1 TD 2 INTS

Tim Smith had 5 catches for 90 yards and a TD
Lafferty has 2 catches for 32 yards
KP had one catch for 35 yards.

This was a 14 point game with one min to play. Pburg scored with 45 seconds to play in the game , and sheldon clark had 8 turnovers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KP Skyles - 18 touches = 92 yards - 0 touchdowns
Tim Smith 19 touches 237 yards - 2 touchdowns (also had a 30 yard TD called back)

These weeks paper said KP only had 14 carries

[#1 Blackcat Fan]

Congrats Blackcats. Very good game from sophmore Grant Anderson. And good to see Senior Kain Collins close out the game as strong as he did. In the final minutes we just handed the ball to him & man was he load to bring down.
Good luck the rest of the season Cards.

[Wildcat FB Parent]

Congrats to Prestonsburg their coaching staff proved once again that SC's staff is not very good. SC has too much in fighting among the coaches and players and this is squarely on the head coaches shoulders! Coach Hager has turned his back on the core of this team in the 4 year seniors and that is sad, KP,Taylor and BJ played very hard . I guess Shelby Valley and Pike Central knew what they were doing when they released the Norman coach, because up until Smith was ruled eligible SC had unity and played like a team, now SC is just on the field no team effort. Example of that was last night; Smith fumbles inside of Pburgs 5 yard line in the 1st quarter and nothing said to him , and the Skyles kid tries to handle a bad pitch in the 4 th quarter and is taken out and berated on the sideline. Skyles is a 4 year starter and Smith has been there 3 weeks, something totally wrong here! Also heard Hager fired Norman at halftime but we will see.

Curious to see how that plays out IF Norman was truly fired or if rumor?

[F.N.L.]

Curious to see how that plays out IF Norman was truly fired or if rumor?

Why on earth would you fire a coach at half-time???:lame:

[F.N.L.]

Congrats to Prestonsburg their coaching staff proved once again that SC's staff is not very good. SC has too much in fighting among the coaches and players and this is squarely on the head coaches shoulders! Coach Hager has turned his back on the core of this team in the 4 year seniors and that is sad, KP,Taylor and BJ played very hard . I guess Shelby Valley and Pike Central knew what they were doing when they released the Norman coach, because up until Smith was ruled eligible SC had unity and played like a team, now SC is just on the field no team effort. Example of that was last night; Smith fumbles inside of Pburgs 5 yard line in the 1st quarter and nothing said to him , and the Skyles kid tries to handle a bad pitch in the 4 th quarter and is taken out and berated on the sideline. Skyles is a 4 year starter and Smith has been there 3 weeks, something totally wrong here! Also heard Hager fired Norman at halftime but we will see.

This sounds like a mess:HitWall: In all honesty all Tim Smith could do is help your team. He's a tremendous athlete. Sounds like a whole lot of jealousy issues going on. No need to blame Norman, he's not the head coach.

[BlackcatAlum]

From my where I was standing at the game, Tim Smith was just getting it done for Sheldon Clark. Seemed like everytime KP touched the ball he fumbled it. If Sheldon Clark doesn't turn the ball over so many times in this game, then we probably would've seen a dandy of a game. But credit has to be given to Prestonsburg because they created the turnovers, it's not like SC just handed them the ball.

Sheldon Clark looked real good out of shotgun on the draws and off tackle running plays. Mix in some short pass routes and screens then SC has a new offense and it spreads the field and gives them the chance to utilize their speed.

Best of luck to Sheldon Clark on the rest of the season!

[Accountant]

Good game for Pburg after losing to PCC

[The Contrarian]

The Cards and KP need to put this game behind them. It's over! Correct, get together, and move on!

[Card2000]

Ok I have been reading this site for a few years and have always had high expectations for the cards. The last few weeks and the finger pointing that is going on has prompted me to finally join and express my opinion. First of all the biggest thing that sc falls victim to is all the hype.. Sheldon Clark from what I have witnessed has a pretty good team they are just waiting for things to click. As far as the skyles kid is concerned I have heard the hype fOr the last 2 years about how good of a back he is going to be and i am still waiting for that to happen.. All this talk about how is going to be a major d1 prospect has got me scratching my head. The kid appears to be very strong I'll give him that. But I have heard a hundred times that he can run a 4.3 or a 4.5 40 time from what I have seen if he can run that time then their are at least a dozen NFL prospects running the ball In eastern Kentucky. To adress the issue of the play calling skyles had many touches of the ball but was only gaining a yard or two a carry and correct me if I'm wrong but had 3 fumbles.. Not to mention p burg throwing a pass over the middle where he got absolutely scorched by a pburg back who apparently runs a 4 flat...bottom line Tom what I've seen the smith boy is just more elusive and has a better perception of the field.. Hager done the same thing I would have done if I or anyone else were the coach, something I learned when I was a kid, when someone is hot give them the ball.

[The Contrarian]

The previous poster is correct in that SC had too much hype going early on. But on some of the other points are, just maybe, subjective. However, that's alright, for this is a venue where one can state his or her opinion freely, and any and all are certainly welcome to their opinion.

As far as the criticism of the "Skyles kid," many that have watched him perform from youth league, middle school and three prior years of varsity @ Sheldon Clark, would probably say that one can't make an accurate assessment based upon the two games played this season.

Two games played as a sophomore, after sitting out five games due to an injury, he was outstanding in the Pike Central win, which gave the Cards a regional championship. Moreover, the very next game, he rendered another standout performance in a losing cause against Somerset, with numerous gains, capped off with a 60+ yard TD run and another long gainer; thus in many peoples opinion, the outstanding back, for that game, on the Cardinal team.

Moving on to last year, he had a great game against Belfry, which SC won, and was definitely the underdog. Skyles had a long TD run and numerous 8 to 20 yard gains.

But unfortunately a "bad" game nullifies the good games, and that's the way many seem to see this situation.

Therefore, I, as a Card fan, am not giving up on KP, for he is an extremely dedicated, hard working young man, and whats more, based upon what I know, he has character. So, let's wait and see what transpires going forward.

[cardsfan98]

I want to publicly apologize to Coach Hager for my uncalled for rant. I am embarrassed of the words I said. Let me clarify my partiality to Coach Matney. I will always think of him when I think of SC football for this reason. He was coach long ago when I went to school and was very kinds and helpful to my family in out time of need. Thats it. He will always have a supporter in me in all that he does. As a community, we need to support our team and their Coaches and I for one am guilty of being very rude and mean. I wish I had never said those things. Bottom Line. Coach Hager has done a FINE job with the Cards. His success has proven it over the years. I am going to eat crow and admit, I never followed SC football until their success under Hager. I was WRONG. In the heat of the "argument" I said things I shouldnt. I do not know Coach Hager personally but from things I hear. He is a wonderful man and a great Coach. I hope that he accepts my apologies and we need to pull together as a community and never speak such mean words as I did.

[The Contrarian]

Cards fan 98, don't be too hard on yourself, for I'm sure Coach Hager accepts your apology. Unfortunately, sometimes we get caught up in the moment, and say things we wish we hadn't. You are to be admired for stepping up and offering an apology.

Many of us have been critical of Coach Hager's play calling, but I've stopped and thought, would we be critical if SC were winning? Probably not. Shawn is human and subject to mistakes, just like you and I. So, let us focus on the positive. I am supporting Coach Hager 110%, and if he makes a mistake (IMO) in his play calling, so be it. He doesn't have a crystal ball!

Recently I've head a few things about Coach Hager that makes, no demands, my respect. I consider him a man of principle and honor.

Good luck to Coach Hager and the Cards, and God bless.

[roots rod]

Ok I have been reading this site for a few years and have always had high expectations for the cards. The last few weeks and the finger pointing that is going on has prompted me to finally join and express my opinion. First of all the biggest thing that sc falls victim to is all the hype.. Sheldon Clark from what I have witnessed has a pretty good team they are just waiting for things to click. As far as the skyles kid is concerned I have heard the hype fOr the last 2 years about how good of a back he is going to be and i am still waiting for that to happen.. All this talk about how is going to be a major d1 prospect has got me scratching my head. The kid appears to be very strong I'll give him that. But I have heard a hundred times that he can run a 4.3 or a 4.5 40 time from what I have seen if he can run that time then their are at least a dozen NFL prospects running the ball In eastern Kentucky. To adress the issue of the play calling skyles had many touches of the ball but was only gaining a yard or two a carry and correct me if I'm wrong but had 3 fumbles.. Not to mention p burg throwing a pass over the middle where he got absolutely scorched by a pburg back who apparently runs a 4 flat...bottom line Tom what I've seen the smith boy is just more elusive and has a better perception of the field.. Hager done the same thing I would have done if I or anyone else were the coach, something I learned when I was a kid, when someone is hot give them the ball.

Tim Smith is a good back and was moving the ball and therefor was the one to go to that night. No excuses for KP he did fumble on nice hits from the Pburg D, and was not as productive as he usually is , but I think you have to realize the Pburg D was scheming or spying KP all night even coach Derossett stated that to KP after the game and little did anyone know KP wasn't 100% comming into the game, he suffered an injury during the Rockcastle game, a hip pointer I believe, but he played and tried . Luckily for KP and the Cards he didn't re-injure the hip and looked a lot better against Franfort, I think he ran for 190 yards, Tim also ran very well 140. SC just needs to stop the turnovers . Talked to KPs dad and he stated that frustration set in and this team just didn't handle it well, including myself. I for one need to apologise to the SC team, the coaches and to KPs family for things I stated about the team, coach Hager, and making comments to split the team apart. The Skyles family has been very good to me and our family, and I think KP IS a great football player and a great young man. I believe KP started listening to all the hype and tried so hard to make a big play everytime he touched the ball that he lost focus. Well all the hype is gone now and the SC team has to fight every down and hold onto the football to even get a win, for their season is very difficult.

[cardsfan98]

Thank You "The Contrarian". I hate hurt feelings and in hindsight I realize my harsh and critical words may have hurt feelings. This is not the person I am. Regardless of anyones downfalls, it is not my job to point out someones mistakes. I am just a fan and get disappointed. I should have not said this for many reasons. 1. at this time team moral could not be any lower 2. Coach Hager is a human being and I know that this team is his #1 concern behind his family. 3. We need to show Love and Support as a community. So I am going to move on from this and show support to our Coach and team from here on out.