[Westside]

Who in your opinion should be the king of mountains for 2017? We didn't have a state champion come out of the mountains this year so I think this topic is open for debate? Should it be Belfry, Corbin, Harlan County, Johnson Central, Paintsville, or Pikeville? Should some other school be considered? What is your opinion?

[PRIDE101]

This year the award goes to JC .

[99PIRATEFAN]

This year the award goes to JC .

You could but that but 35 to 19 loss to the Pirates say they aren’t

[Spud6]

I’m going Corbin if you all consider them a mountain team. If not them, then Belfry. I can’t put Johnson Central over Belfry because they lost head to head. And I’m putting Corbin over Belfry because they took down a team that absolutely spanked Belfry and you never hear those words in the same sentence. I gave Corbin zero chance against Central after seeing what they did to Belfry and I’m glad they proved me wrong. Nice to see mountain teams in state championship games, wish they could have brought it back though.

[99PIRATEFAN]

I’m going Corbin if you all consider them a mountain team. If not them, then Belfry. I can’t put Johnson Central over Belfry because they lost head to head. And I’m putting Corbin over Belfry because they took down a team that absolutely spanked Belfry and you never hear those words in the same sentence. I gave Corbin zero chance against Central after seeing what they did to Belfry and I’m glad they proved me wrong. Nice to see mountain teams in state championship games, wish they could have brought it back though.

Excuses are like a$$holes but we had Key players not playing against Central and I know of two playing hurt the injury bug hit us at the wrong time

[Bobcat4years]

1. Corbin
2. Belfry
3. Johnson Central
4. Harlan Co
5. Pikeville

[Bobcat4years]

Belfry has dominated the Montains and probably should be the King, but based on finishing 2017 season I would say Redhounds

[Granny Bear]

NO!!!!!!

It should be ME!!!

[Hoot Gibson]

The Belfry team that finished the season without Derek Wellman is not the team that beat Johnson Central on Pond Creek.

It really makes no sense to argue this point, but if one insists on making the argument, then the question should be would Belfry be favored on a neutral field without Wellman against a JC team with Cody Rice, who was not on JC's roster before the playoffs? I don't think so...that sounds like a toss-up to me.

Conversely, if one wants to include Wellman in the analysis, then why not include Joe Jackson on JC's team in a hypothetical match-up?

[STIFFY]

Without a doubt Corbin when you consider the whole season

[smoke1015]

You could but that but 35 to 19 loss to the Pirates say they aren’t

Corbin without a doubt was the "King of the Mountains" this year.

[Westside]

My vote goes to the Red Hounds.

[smoke1015]

In my opinion, next season, I think it'll be Corbin again as my pick. They are returning a great class of juniors and sophomores, getting a class of great freshman as well. Corbin's juniors and freshman from this season compliment each other well, as their seniors complimented their sophomore group. Next season I see Corbin being as good, or better than they were this year. Was Whitley county young? If they were a young team they could be pretty scary. Belfry is Belfry, they'll be in the mix, along with Johnson Central. I know if Welman was a senior and seeing how much he mattered in the Central game as being said by many Belfry fans, then Belfry is losing an incredible amount of talent, once again. I know their kid that puts them over the top with speed will be gone and from experience, losing kids like that are impossible to replace, personnel wise. I could see next year being a somewhat 'down year' for Belfry, with them still being the 2nd or 3rd best team in 3A (which is a compliment from me). Johnson Central I'll have to study further with their roster. But I know Wayne county is going to lose a lot.

[HOFER]

Next year should be interesting for Corbin. The scuttle butt I'm hearing is that Estep will move to qb. Could bring a whole new dynamic to the offense. I could see some more option sets added to the playbook.

[64SUR]

I’m voting democrat......Corbin new king of the mountain.......Keep Coal Alive :Cheerlead

[Hatz]

Considering the way the State Finals ended, this award for 2017 is a little dubious don’t you think?

[smoke1015]

Next year should be interesting for Corbin. The scuttle butt I'm hearing is that Estep will move to qb. Could bring a whole new dynamic to the offense. I could see some more option sets added to the playbook.

Estep, in my opinion, throws the ball better than Sizemore. He won't be the bruising runner, but dear Lord he's fast and athletic. His arm probably has 20+ more yards on it than Sizemore's. He's not quite as accurate yet, but way stronger arm. It will be a totally different offense to have to defend... I think a tougher offense to defend.

You can add a lot more option stuff, IMO, with Estep. This could open up so much more stuff. But you do have to be more careful with him, and he can't play (maybe) with such wreckless abandon. Sizemore had the body to run the ball almost 20 times a game, AS A QB (if you wanted to), he could just take it. Estep doesn't have that aspect. This is very interesting to think about though. There's a lot of possibilities. A lot to tinker with as a coaching staff. Do you lose him on the defensive side of the ball, playing him at QB??? Hmm...

[Spud6]

Excuses are like a$$holes but we had Key players not playing against Central and I know of two playing hurt the injury bug hit us at the wrong time

Yeah I agree wholeheartedly. But you play with the cards your dealt and against Central. The final score said Belfry not Belfry minus a starter here and there. So that’s why I say Corbin. Injuries are apart of football and everyone knows that.

[oldcardfan]

Corbin

[doubledown]

The Belfry team that finished the season without Derek Wellman is not the team that beat Johnson Central on Pond Creek.

It really makes no sense to argue this point, but if one insists on making the argument, then the question should be would Belfry be favored on a neutral field without Wellman against a JC team with Cody Rice, who was not on JC's roster before the playoffs? I don't think so...that sounds like a toss-up to me.

Conversely, if one wants to include Wellman in the analysis, then why not include Joe Jackson on JC's team in a hypothetical match-up?

Joe Jackson was a huge loss for JC this season as would have been 1st team all state player and given the Eagles the quickness & speed they needed against Franklin Simpson. Hopefully he comes back next season with knee stronger & better and gets in the running for Mr Football

[bball_fan]

To me... the mountains are east of Corbin. I drive from Lexington to Corbin every other day for work. It just isn't Eastern Kentucky, where I was born and raised. It feels more like Richmond or Lexington. To me, the Mountains go as far southeast as Bell County and Middlesboro, stretching through Clay County and up to Breathitt County in the west. Lawrence County in the northern border and everything between that is the mountains.

Belfry beat Johnson Central, but we are never truly going to find out who the better team is during that game because why on Earth would either of them really risk playing the game like it mattered as anything more than a tough game to get you ready for the playoffs? If these two teams were ever in the same district, you would find out the true answer to that.

With that said, a 14 point loss in the State finals has to mean something. Belfry did not even win the region this year, given they was having to pull kids from the Academic Team to fill gaps due to injury. A healthy Belfry, probably goes for number five or at least does not take a beating at the hands of Louisville Central like they did. Belfry was never meant to win it this year, KHSAA meant to for Belfry and Louisville Central to fall short. Call it the antitrust of 3A football.

My final top five are based on what teams were at the end of the year after injuries and such...

1.Johnson Central
2.Belfry
3.Harlan County
4.Pikeville
5.Hazard

[AngryMob]

No kings this year jus a bunch of teams that were almost good enough... Hope one of us gets a ring next ye

[pjdoug]

Who in your opinion should be the king of mountains for 2017? We didn't have a state champion come out of the mountains this year so I think this topic is open for debate? Should it be Belfry, Corbin, Harlan County, Johnson Central, Paintsville, or Pikeville? Should some other school be considered? What is your opinion?

Raceland

[pjdoug]

To me... the mountains are east of Corbin. I drive from Lexington to Corbin every other day for work. It just isn't Eastern Kentucky, where I was born and raised. It feels more like Richmond or Lexington. To me, the Mountains go as far southeast as Bell County and Middlesboro, stretching through Clay County and up to Breathitt County in the west. Lawrence County in the northern border and everything between that is the mountains.

Belfry beat Johnson Central, but we are never truly going to find out who the better team is during that game because why on Earth would either of them really risk playing the game like it mattered as anything more than a tough game to get you ready for the playoffs? If these two teams were ever in the same district, you would find out the true answer to that.

With that said, a 14 point loss in the State finals has to mean something. Belfry did not even win the region this year, given they was having to pull kids from the Academic Team to fill gaps due to injury. A healthy Belfry, probably goes for number five or at least does not take a beating at the hands of Louisville Central like they did. Belfry was never meant to win it this year, KHSAA meant to for Belfry and Louisville Central to fall short. Call it the antitrust of 3A football.

My final top five are based on what teams were at the end of the year after injuries and such...

1.Johnson Central
2.Belfry
3.Harlan County
4.Pikeville
5.Hazard

I'm glad it ain't left up to you since I see mountains and hollers in Whitley County

[Spud6]

So in your all’s opinion are Corbin and Raceland mountain teams?

[pjdoug]

So in your all’s opinion are Corbin and Raceland mountain teams?

Serious question. What is a mountain team? Does their stadium have to be built on the side of a cliff? Clay County doesn't have higher mountains than Whitley County and Breathitt and Lawrence counties sure dont. Kentucky ain't all mountains. it even has some flat places in the eastern part

[Westside]

So in your all’s opinion are Corbin and Raceland mountain teams?

Corbin is a mountain team in my book.

[E's Army]

Corbin

[Patriot1]

I’m voting democrat......Corbin new king of the mountain.......Keep Coal Alive :Cheerlead

Probably agree with you on Corbin but the Democrats killed the coal industry.

[Spud6]

Serious question. What is a mountain team? Does their stadium have to be built on the side of a cliff? Clay County doesn't have higher mountains than Whitley County and Breathitt and Lawrence counties sure dont. Kentucky ain't all mountains. it even has some flat places in the eastern part

This is my question. I normally go by who the WYMT polls follow with the mountain top 10 ranks. How they determine that. I have no clue what so ever.