[Hoot Gibson]

1.) Do you believe the turnovers played a big part in the loss? Two less possessions for the Birds would have meant what??? A 51 - 20 game? Highlands scord a TD on EVERY possession with the exception of the last when hey took a knee.

Turnovers did not affect the outcome because Johnson Central failed to stop Highlands first team from scoring on a single possession. You can't win games without making at least one defensive stop and even then your offense must play a flawless game. The turnovers most definitely resulted in a larger scoring margin than it should have been.

2.) Really? 267 total yards (Heck, JJ usually can put up numbers like that in the first half against the stellar competition The Eagles play during he season) with 72 of them coming in the waining moments against the JV. The Birds gave up 120 penalty yards, 22 more than JJ was able to rush for.

How many teams have posted more yards against Highlands, despite a rash of turnovers? How many teams have scored 13 points in the first half of Highlands' other games this season? [/QUOTE]

3.) He was just helping with Pat's conditioning, trying to get him ready to play a full game in the playoffs. He doesn't want him running out of gas when the chips are down.

That's some funny stuff right there. Do a search and see how Highlands fans responded to my defense of Jim Matney playing Jude so many minutes because Jude would need to be in shape to play against two-platoon systems like Highlands'. My point, and it is a valid one, is that Matney and Jude's accomplishments have been criticized over the past two seasons as being "tainted" because Jude has broken some big runs after the outcome of the games have been decided. Mueller does the same thing last night (with a two-platoon system, no less) and I hear nothing but crickets from Matney's critics. How much conditioning does an all-state quarterback who plays one way need at this late date in the season?

Anyway, congrats to JC on another good season. Good luck next year. Here's hoping we get visit you guys next year.!

I am looking forward to next season's game in Paintsville. Ashland will suffer some heavy graduation losses, so JC should be a heavy favorite to win its district.