[harlanfan0987]

what do you think of all the teams coming up, who has the best shot?

[Stardust]

Starts with Beechwood and Mayfield again. Both teams bring back virtually everyone.

[Yogibear]

Starts with Beechwood and Mayfield again. Both teams bring back virtually everyone.

I don't think you can even have this conversation without Hazard, who also has some very good players coming back.

[Stardust]

^ History over the last 10 years has had Mayfield and Beechwwod at the top. I'd be happy to take those two teams against the field in any wager. It's not a knock on any other team in the state, especially the defending champions, but I'll put my money with consistency of who has been in the finals year-in and year-out.

[tvtimeout]

I agree...sleeper team is Harlan out of the east: 1. Mayfield 2. Beechwood 3. Louisville Holy Cross 4. Hazard 5. Harlan 6. Williamsburg

[Yogibear]

^ History over the last 10 years has had Mayfield and Beechwwod at the top. I'd be happy to take those two teams against the field in any wager. It's not a knock on any other team in the state, especially the defending champions, but I'll put my money with consistency of who has been in the finals year-in and year-out.

I guess you would take that wager. I guess you'd bet Highlands would win 4A and Trinity 6A also.
Hazard only has to play them one of them, and that would be the final game. Hazard has enough back to get there.

[Stardust]

^ You want the field

[FIRST]

Hazard, Harlan, and Willamsburg should all be top 10 teams next year.

[toussaints]

1. Mayfield
2. Beechwood
3. Hazard
4. Harlan
5. Frankfort

Mayfield, Beechwood and Hazard will be the teams to beat, but Harlan and Frankfort will have enough to push some buttons

[WideRight05]

I don't see Mayfield losing 1A this year. You never know in 1A though...there is usually a sleeper somewhere in that class that always pulls through at years end.

[nannook]

Mayfield and Beechwood will always be in the mix on the west side of the bracket. The past history of these two schools speaks for itself. Hazard has earned the same in the East. Along with Hazard, I think Williamsburg, Harlan, Raceland and Fairview will all be in the mix this year.

[Stardust]

I don't see Mayfield losing 1A this year. You never know in 1A though...there is usually a sleeper somewhere in that class that always pulls through at years end.

They were led by a Sophomore QB, Junior RB and Leading tackler was a Junior

[Stardust]

....(error)

[bac2369]

Hazard offense returns

QB Evan Whitaker who will be a senior
RB Brandon Jones who will be a sophmore
WR Jordan Olinger who will be a senior
WR Austin Johnson who will be a senior
WR Nathan Higginson who will be a senior

Hazard has a few other talents who may step up. Theres another Olinger kid who i beleive is about 6,3 about 170 who may contribute.. The only weekness will be an inexperienced line and come playoff time that line will be experience and not make as many mistakes.

Defense Returns

7 starters. They return DT R. Whitaker, ILB Meehan, OLB Roll, CB Higgins, CB Olinger, FS Johnson and OLB Jones. Gone are Combs and Blanton but Hazard returns all of their DB's who were tremendous in the state title game versus Mayfield. The Defense only has to replace a 2 lineman, a linebacker and corner... Hazard could have a few more kids out this year that has played before. Id like to see the Stupart kid come back out and play some corner and a few others..

But if I had to rank the teams now this is how i would do so

1 Mayfield
2 Hazard
3 Beechwood

4 Louisville Holy Cross
5 Frankfort
6 Williamsburg
7 Pikeville
8 Fairview
9 Raceland
10 Harlan

[footballfever]

Williamsburg returns 20-22 starters.
Top 5 rushers.
Top 6 receivers.
Starting QB
394 out of 402 points
Top 7 tacklers.
12 of top 13 tacklers.
All 16 INT's.

[Panther Thunder]

Theres another Olinger kid

It never stops......

[RunItUpTheGut]

Williamsburg returns 20-22 starters.
Top 5 rushers.
Top 6 receivers.
Starting QB
394 out of 402 points
Top 7 tacklers.
12 of top 13 tacklers.
All 16 INT's.

Williamsburg will come out of the East this year and be in Bowling Green playing for a state championship. Mark it down.
There just simply to good. Even for Hazard, Harlan, and Pikeville.
IMO, im not sure if those teams will be able to make a game out of it.

[hornaplenty]

Williamsburg will be good, but with Hazard returning the majority of their players, especially skill players, and with the experience of winning a state championship, along with the hunger to repeat, I give the nod to Hazard...

[PHSForever]

It never stops......

Agree. Someone needs to introduce those Ollingers to birth control. Lol. Just kidding, Hazard fans. Good athletic family.

[PHSForever]

Williamsburg will come out of the East this year and be in Bowling Green playing for a state championship. Mark it down.
There just simply to good. Even for Hazard, Harlan, and Pikeville.
IMO, im not sure if those teams will be able to make a game out of it.

Oh, those teams can make a game of it. Williamsburg will be very good though.

[WideRight05]

I forgot to mention Hazard earlier, they will be a contender as well. But I don't think they will sneak up on anybody this year, given what they did last year. Who do you think would be a sleeper in 1A this year?

[Tica]

Mayfield has lost all state DE Labront Scott through a controversial transfer to AA Murray High about 25 miles away. The key to Mayfield will be Jonathan Jackson staying healthy and the QB getting protection.

[footballfever]

Williamsburg will be good, but with Hazard returning the majority of their players, especially skill players, and with the experience of winning a state championship, along with the hunger to repeat, I give the nod to Hazard...

Hazard returns some good players but they lost 4 or 5 very good linemen on both sides of the ball. Sometimes people overlook those kids in the trenches.

[CADEREECE]

Williamsburg will come out of the East this year and be in Bowling Green playing for a state championship. Mark it down.
There just simply to good. Even for Hazard, Harlan, and Pikeville.
IMO, im not sure if those teams will be able to make a game out of it.

Williamsburg will have to beat Hazard at Hazard,,, then go on the road to either Pikeville, Raceland or Fairview.

Not saying they cannot win,but those will be 2 tough games to make it to Bowling Green.

Hazard still has all the skill players to match up with Williamsburgs great skill guys.

[warmachine]

The Road to the State Title goes thru HAZARD. Good luck beating them Williamsburg. You will need it. Hazard just reloads every year. You think they will be down and poof, they are undefeated.

[hornaplenty]

I agree, warmachine. The reason Hazard finds a way to win is Mark Dixon and his staff. Mark Dixon is one of the best high school coaches in the state and Hazard is blessed to have him.

[warmachine]

Well Hazard has always been Hazard. "IF" the classes would of been as weak as they are right now, Hazard would of already had 7 or 8 State Titles. The 6 class system helps out. Mark is a heck of coach but Im sure Rains and some of the coaches before Mark would of had a few titles.

[Panther Thunder]

Wow.

[Yogibear]

Well Hazard has always been Hazard. "IF" the classes would of been as weak as they are right now, Hazard would of already had 7 or 8 State Titles. The 6 class system helps out. Mark is a heck of coach but Im sure Rains and some of the coaches before Mark would of had a few titles.

6 classes has been more beneficial to Hazard than anyone in the state except for Central.

[PHSForever]

Well Hazard has always been Hazard. "IF" the classes would of been as weak as they are right now, Hazard would of already had 7 or 8 State Titles. The 6 class system helps out. Mark is a heck of coach but Im sure Rains and some of the coaches before Mark would of had a few titles.

...... Seriously? You really believe this? Look, very possible Hazard may have had another title or two if the 6 class system had been in place longer. Possible. But they still would have had to contend with the great champions from years past like Pikeville, Beechwood, Mayfield, etc. In the same class most likely. It is what it is, Hazard won their first this past season and congrats to them, but check the hyperbole at the door a little, eh?