[EKY Sportster]

I am a Tiger that was brought up with this rivalry. I was playing grade school ball at Paintsville Ele. when the Apple Bowl began. I have never missed a game.
Size was never an issue....ever. Still isn't if you ask me. JCHS just has more and better players than Paintsville at this time. Why? Matney. Keep him as long as you can. Heck...I was looking at a PHS yearbook the other day that showed a Tiger team with 48 players that went 2-8 that year. It's not the numbers, it's who the numbers are and who is leading them. I honestly believe that in 3 years or less, Coach Kinner will have Paintsville back to where they were. Actually I am thrilled that JCHS has a good program. Success breeds success. Do I want to see the Apple Bowl end? No. I just want PHS to build their program back. They can and will. I want JCHS to keep building their program and eventually be able to take down the "Big Boys" in classes 5A and 6A.

I agree with you completely! Talent comes and goes, both in terms of players and in terms of coaches. I'm sure JC didn't like those 8 losses in a row no more than we Tigers like the 5 losses in a row. And while the Tigers are at a disadvantage in terms of school size, the Apple Bowl should go on! Gee, if anyone would want to ever end the Apple Bowl, I would think it would be JC and not Paintsville. I say keep on playing it and I wouldn't even care if they played it at JC every single year. Keep it going is what I say to the Admins at both schools!! It is actually fun for the community. I mean look how many posts have been posted about this game. Now that is interest!! Actually though I don't know why that JC wants to put any more 1A schools on their schedule though (ie. Hazard). But hopefully they will never want to drop Paintsville. Good luck to both teams the remainder of the season and long live the Apple Bowl.