[PHSForever]

Was in attendance for this game and watched every second of it. Hazard is the better team in my opinion, no question. Several fumbles costed them big time, & the bad thing is big hits wasn't even the cause of them. Being careless with the ball is a big reason why hazard lost this game. Fumbled once on the 4 yard line which resulted in a 96 yard scoop and score. Fumbled once inside the 20 on a big break away run, & fumbled another time. Threw a interception on about the 30 which resulted in a 70 yard pick 6 on a very poor thrown ball. Props to the Pikeville D on capitalizing on all of the turnovers. Another BIG issue which hurt hazard was penalties. Several dumb penalties helped Pikeville win this game. One moved the ball from the 45 to the 10 yard line. Not sure of it was pikevilles game plan to kill the clock in the first half or not but they did a good job of it either way. It took Pikeville 11:24 to score and the other 36 seconds hazard scored. Hazard has a very dangerous offense and can strike out of nowhere. #8 running back for Hazard whoever he is, is a flat out grown man and ran all over the panthers and when I say over I mean OVER. Trucking people left and right but he must have made it his mission to fumble the ball on huge gains cause that's what he done the whole game. I believe I heard someone say he is just a junior. Does anyone know I he's getting recruited? Hazards QB is just a freshman and will of course make mistakes as he did in this game but I'm sure will be a dandy in a few years. Hazards tight end and slot at times was a monster I think I heard that his name was Hudson, had some very impressive plays including one right before half time when he rose over 3 panthers for a tremendous catch which resulted in a touch down. Hazards Defense could use some work. As the game progressed I began to notice that there might have been one or two players that played on both sides of the ball. This is high school football, not Division 1 or NFL, get some of your studs on offense out there on D like #8 and the Hudson boy and it could make a world of difference for your Defense & make it alot easier on your offense. If hazard took care of the ball and didn't get so many stupid penalties called on them and play some D with your best athletes and this game could've got UGLY. Hazard dominated upfront. Their line played very well. Also had a much better special teams than Pikeville as someone mentioned above. Hazard makes these fixes and this game is an easy win. Could see a rematch of this later this year.

If Pikeville truly wants to contend for a state title this year like i thought the would they better get their Defense in check. To many wide open holes to run through for big gains. To many easy passes completed. Their corners are soft as butter except for when they have to make a play on the ball. Estep is a good safety who don't care to hit. Props to him for sticking his nose in their when big #8 was going full speed at him. Their corners could use some lessons from him. Pikevilles line was way better last year, don't really know what happen there. Hazard dominated them all game long. Better get them in check also to open up some holes for Chase Hall to run through to make some and if they want to win this year. Hall played well and had some good runs when needed. Estep was clearly the MVP and best player for Pikeville on both sides of the ball IMO. Take him out of this game and the panthers are hurting. Made several HUGE plays on offense and that 96 yard scoop and score on defense as well as some big time tackles that other wise would've resulted in touch downs. Pikevilles line backers wanted no part of #8 tonight as he embarrassed them several times. Estep is a very solid player on both sides of the ball and showed up big time for the panthers on both sides tonight. Pikeville needs to fix several things on defense and get their o line back on track before there should ever be any conversation about contending for a state championship. But at the end of the day I'm like anyone else. A win is a win no matter what. No excuses. Congrats Pikeville!

I don't get this. Hazard did NOT dominate on the line. It was pretty even both ways, actually. Yes, they have 2 STUD athletes, but Pikeville has several as well. It was back and forth the whole 1st half, Pikeville showed on the very first drive they could control on the ground and use clock.

The last few minutes were wild, mainly due to Hazard executing MUCH better than Pikeville did on special teams. Pikeville did well, Hazard did well. Both teams have issues to fix. Playing good teams exposes your weaknesses and allows you to get better. Anyone remember the early season Raceland-Pikeville game last year? Yeah. How did that work out for Raceland when it really mattered? I have no doubt Pikevilke has a top notch staff and will make the needed adjustments to get better, because they certainly have the players to do it with. Austin Black played like a MAN in the 2nd half, saw many times he took on #8 mostly by himself. The LB's were not intimidated, to be sure.

Main thing is, I don't get how you can say Hazard was obviously the better team. They were not. The scoreboard says so. They are a team Pikeville has much respect for, and they HAVE been the better team the last few years. But tonight, Pikeville was better. Period.