[EKUAlum05]

BGR continues to try and be the fore-runner for High School Football Discussion throughout the State of Kentucky. With this in mind, we are unveiling a new feature updated weekly to better serve all areas of the State from Pikeville to Paducah and elicit more discussion in the process.

These are the inaugural Bluegrass Rivals Regional Power Rankings!

We will rank the Top 5 in each region of the stat, based on a "pound for pound" basis. We will take into account Strength of Schedule, margin of victory/defeat, magnitude of games, and come to a conclusion.

Rankings are meant for discussion, and your feedback is what we want to hear whether you agree or not. Make your case for your team!


EKY
1. Bell County Bobcats- Bell County tops the list as they have the top win of any EKY team with their defeat of Lex. Bryan Station. Bobcats sole loss was playing up vs. a very good LexCath, they have also defeated Whitley County playing up.

2. Ashland Tomcats- Ashland suffered their first loss to a very good Ironton, OH this wee. The Tomcats have a win over the top team in WV, and quality wins playing down vs. Raceland and Russel in blowout fashion.

3. Knox Central- The Panthers have carried the Bluegrass banner as they have taken over the State of Tennessee defeating some quality larger classification schools. Their sole KY win was a good one as they had an impressive win over Johnson Central.

4. Harlan County- The Black Bears continued their winning ways by humbling a pair of lower classification VA teams the past couple weeks. The lone blemish is a loss to a strong 6A TN school, while they have a nice win playing up vs. 6A Tates Creek.

5. Belfry- The knock on the Pirates is lack of playing up, their lone matchup against a quality larger classification school resulted in a 3 TD loss to Henry Clay, though the game was a bit closer than the score indicated. Belfry has dismantled the teams they should, but it will be tough to make a move unless they equate themselves well against Ashland and Johnson Central.

[tomcatfan722000]

Man this is tough. I feel Johnson central belongs but who do you take out. I agree with bell and Ashland I wish they would play each other.

[Panther Thunder]

Man this is tough. I feel Johnson central belongs but who do you take out. I agree with bell and Ashland I wish they would play each other.

I have to disagree. I am not impressed with Johnson Central this season to date.

[bucslover68]

JC is still good, but maybe not as good as the last few years. Their real tests come in the last five games.

[Observing]

This list is problematic to me. Ashkland and Johnson Central for example seem to be very
overvalued. And as for Harlan Co., you just CAN'T make valid extrapolations yet with
teir sschedule of 3 out of state teams. And I fail to see how this poll or YMT can
continue to rank Bell at the top. 3-2 with no win being particularly impressive
(though Whitley maybe moreso than some people will grant.)

1. Belfry
2. Bell
3. Breathitt
4. Harlan Co.
5. Knox Central
and I can probably pretty quickly be persuaded to move 4-5 up
if they pound Ky. opponents going forward.

[Observing]

This list is problematic to me. Ashkland and Johnson Central for example seem to be very
overvalued. And as for Harlan Co., you just CAN'T make valid extrapolations yet with
teir sschedule of 3 out of state teams. And I fail to see how this poll or YMT can
continue to rank Bell at the top. 3-2 with no win being particularly impressive
(though Whitley maybe moreso than some people will grant.)

1. Belfry
2. Bell
3. Breathitt
4. Harlan Co.
5. Knox Central
and I can probably pretty quickly be persuaded to move 4-5 up
if they pound Ky. opponents going forward.

that should read Bell 3-1, no top 5 typist list will I make.

[bucslover68]

As for team 5, I cannot disagree with their ranking. I believe they are the favorite in the East to be in BG.
SOS...Overall good, not great...Harrison, Pikeville, and Pburg, on a bad night, do not help. JC and Ashland will.
Offensive Strength...offensive line is really good and potentially great. QB spot is solid and the passing game will continue to develop. Versatility of backs and interchangeable parts is a big plus. Holding on to the football is key.
Defensive strength...D line has been impressive and depth is really good. LBs and DEs are solid...Secondary has been good and bad...They hit hard but sometimes don't wrap up...Improvement needed...Experience is a big plus...Pass coverage has been iffy, but the talent is there and should solidify...Overall this defense, when it gets healthy, can be real stingy.
Intangibles and coaching...Potential home field in playoffs is big...overall depth, size, and speed is impressive...Haywood will constantly demand improvement, and IMO, the interior lines will carry this team...Playing only 3-4 players both ways will help...Warren being healthy will be big and Johnson becoming a premier back is IMO inevitable.

[tomcatfan722000]

This list is problematic to me. Ashkland and Johnson Central for example seem to be very
overvalued. And as for Harlan Co., you just CAN'T make valid extrapolations yet with
teir sschedule of 3 out of state teams. And I fail to see how this poll or YMT can
continue to rank Bell at the top. 3-2 with no win being particularly impressive
(though Whitley maybe moreso than some people will grant.)

1. Belfry
2. Bell
3. Breathitt
4. Harlan Co.
5. Knox Central
and I can probably pretty quickly be persuaded to move 4-5 up
if they pound Ky. opponents going forward.

Ashland woul beat every team on that list not named bell co.

[EKUAlum05]

Some other questions to debate:

- Does Breathitt belong in the Top 5? If so how do you justify moving them ahead of someone with their schedule thusfar and their schedule remaining?

- Based on the criteria used, where would the1A teams fall: Hazard, Raceland, Fairview, Harlan, and Pikeville is you were ranking them against one another?

- Montgomery County is 4-0, if they defeat Anderson County do they have a claim to be made?

[Panther Thunder]

Some other questions to debate:

- Does Breathitt belong in the Top 5? If so how do you justify moving them ahead of someone with their schedule thusfar and their schedule remaining?

- Based on the criteria used, where would the1A teams fall: Hazard, Raceland, Fairview, Harlan, and Pikeville is you were ranking them against one another?

- Montgomery County is 4-0, if they defeat Anderson County do they have a claim to be made?

IMO, Raceland would be the most deserving 1A team out of those teams. Hazard has played a tough schedule, but really could have used a split between Somerset and LCA. Really, Williamsburg would have been #1 last week, IMO. But, I do not know enough about Oneida to tell what that loss means right now.

Then Fairview has played nobody, but have handled their business, which is more than Harlan has done against teams like Middlesboro. And then you have Pikeville, which has fallen to 2 of these teams and is just trying to find themselves. Class A playoffs in the East should be awesome.