[Backwoods]

Runitupthegut is a pretty smart guy, so I would say there is something he saw this year in JC maybe that made him hesitant to put them on his list. That being said, in my opinion I thought that QB for JC as well as the FB Dillon were both capable players that could do very well next season with a year of experience under their belt. Hoot Gibson mentioned the middle school teams. I spoke a coach who I know from one of their opponents earlier this year and he said their middle school teams were very, very talented and if those guys all hang around JC will be extremely tough. Every year since Matney has been there, he has had a star back, and another one "waiting in the shadows" to take over. For instance, when Blume was at JC, Shawn Grimm and Blake Johnson were playing second fiddle, but ended up taking over next year. And so on. I think there will definitely be somebody step it up, I just don't see Matney not having a great go-to guy.

Other than JC, I am sold on Harlan County - I think under Larkey they are going to be very, very good next year and possibly the best team in the mountains. I thought HC was underrated this year. It will be interesting to see how well they do next year.

Finally, my dark horse - Williamsburg.

Williamsburg will be good next year,no doubt. But they will have to get by Harlan who did beat them early in the season 41-22 when everyone was healthy. Harlan then lost to them at Williamsburg in the playoffs 38-6 after having 5 starters out to injury and grades. The Dragons return all but 3 that graduated,two linemen and one WR,and their QB led 1A in passing percentage and had 29 TD's on the season. This season coming is the one everyone at Harlan has looked forward too for the past 3 as they will have,I think,15 seniors and 8 juniors returning. They will be loaded with talent. I expect it to be a much closer game than last season's playoff flop and the winner to challenge Hazard for the region. Any good team can be saddled with injuries any season. It just so happened to the Dragons last season. They will be ready this season. Williamsburg will have their work cut out for them.