[HAIL PIKEVILLE!]

Just like the past few years, Pikeville will be as good as their lineplay and ability to play SMART football.

It can be argued that the only team to knock Pikeville out fo the playoffs the past two seaosns, is Pikeville. Last year Pikeville clearly overlooked Hazard, this year they self destructed with turnovers againbst LCA.

Pikeville is blessed to have possibly the best returning player in 1A, but if Harmon is getting hit by three defenders whenever he touches the ball, it is a moot point.

Keys to Pikeville's succes next year:
- Finding an O-line
- The development of Branham at the QB position, in particular the ability to efficiently throw 12-15 times a game.
- Utilizing the Cleary kid as a strong second option to Harmon
- Keeping Harmon healthy

Youre right. Line play determines how good ANY team is gonna be. Show me a good football team and Ill show you a good line on both sides of the ball. We will have a relatively young line but we do have some big kids who have worked hard in the weight room and have been making progress for 2 years. Moose Anderson has really impressed me alot over the past year. The big question is whether either Dusty Khoshreza or Ethan Murray will be at Center. With Anderson and Trey Branham at tackles and JR Robinson and Ben Staggs at Guard. We will have some size AND speed upfront next year.
Blake made great strides at the QB postion this year. With his work ethic there is no reason to believe that he wont be even better next year. With Baker and Taylor Ratliff and Jay Martin he will have some reliable receivers to throw to.
Yes Cleary is a good back but Josh Mullins is the second option to Harmon IMO. This kid has been the fastest player on the team for the past 2 years and is as tough as they come.

Also as I said on the previous thread. The leadership that has been missing on this team since John Michael Mayo and Ryan Shurtleff went down in '06 is finally in place. These underclassmen would follow Harmon, Trey Branham and Josh Mullins because they care about this team and not there own personal stats.