[Bull got out!]

Garrard County vs Mercer County. Thoughts?

[The_Cats_Meow]

Low key game of the week!

[ROTC]

Who is playing for Mercer this week?

[Footballfan33]

Who is playing for Mercer this week?

Braidin Baughman played against Casey County Friday night and had 3Tds. If they get Drakeford back I think Mercer County wins. If Drakeford can't play I'll give the edge to Garrard county.

[UK1]

Garrard comes in at 6-2 and 14 spots higher in the RPI than 4-4 Mercer County so Garrard should come in as the favorite. Another interesting side story is Peak was with Mercer all summer and left to go back to Garrard last minute. Garrard is run heavy with 84% run and 16% pass. Peak is having a great year at 8 yds per carry and Simmons at 6.8 yards per carry. Garrard's schedule is fairly weak with best win against Somerset and worst loss against a bad 1-7 Bullitt Central.
Mercer is also a run heavy team at 64% run and 36% pass. Baughman through 4 games averaging 11.9 yards per carry in 4 games. Mapp at QB has looked good the last two games throwing the ball. With Casey being so bad Baughman looked good but not still 100%. Drakeford will probably be gametime decision but doubt he will be anywhere close to 100%. If he doesn't play this week could see him shutting it down for the rest of the season. Mercer has played the majority of the season without their two best players so record is deceiving.

[The Red Eminence]

Garrard comes in at 6-2 and 14 spots higher in the RPI than 4-4 Mercer County so Garrard should come in as the favorite.  Another interesting side story is Peak was with Mercer all summer and left to go back to Garrard last minute.  Garrard is run heavy with 84% run and 16% pass.  Peak is having a great year at 8 yds per carry and Simmons at 6.8 yards per carry.  Garrard's schedule is fairly weak with best win against Somerset and worst loss against a bad 1-7 Bullitt Central.
Mercer is also a run heavy team at 64% run and 36% pass.  Baughman through 4 games  averaging 11.9 yards per carry in 4 games. Mapp at QB has looked good the last two games throwing the ball.  With Casey being so bad Baughman looked good but not still 100%.  Drakeford will probably be gametime decision but doubt he will be anywhere close to 100%.  If he doesn't play this week could see him shutting it down for the rest of the season. Mercer has played the majority of the season without their two best players so record is deceiving.

This is a great breakdown of both teams so far. Even if Mercer has all their star players, I don't know if they'll be back to what they were with lingering injuries and recoveries. 

In my opinion, this is one of the more interesting games Friday. I'm taking Garrard, but no outcome will shock me.

[UK1]

Garrard comes in at 6-2 and 14 spots higher in the RPI than 4-4 Mercer County so Garrard should come in as the favorite.  Another interesting side story is Peak was with Mercer all summer and left to go back to Garrard last minute.  Garrard is run heavy with 84% run and 16% pass.  Peak is having a great year at 8 yds per carry and Simmons at 6.8 yards per carry.  Garrard's schedule is fairly weak with best win against Somerset and worst loss against a bad 1-7 Bullitt Central.
Mercer is also a run heavy team at 64% run and 36% pass.  Baughman through 4 games  averaging 11.9 yards per carry in 4 games. Mapp at QB has looked good the last two games throwing the ball.  With Casey being so bad Baughman looked good but not still 100%.  Drakeford will probably be gametime decision but doubt he will be anywhere close to 100%.  If he doesn't play this week could see him shutting it down for the rest of the season. Mercer has played the majority of the season without their two best players so record is deceiving.

This is a great breakdown of both teams so far. Even if Mercer has all their star players, I don't know if they'll be back to what they were with lingering injuries and recoveries. 

In my opinion, this is one of the more interesting games Friday. I'm taking Garrard, but no outcome will shock me.

Key for Garrard will be slowing down or stopping Baughman and making Mercer QB beat them.  Baughman is a tough runner that can bounce off a lot of tackles and hard for one guy to bring him down.  If Mercer QB Mapp can be effective he has weapons in WR Cameron Bottoms, TE Landon Yates and TE Jacob Sanford.  If Mercer can slow down or stop Garrard's running game can they pass enough to win?  If Drakeford plays he has lined up as QB, RB, WR and ran a kickoff back for TD last game he played in so a lot to gameplan for Garrard if he is in the game.

[FromTheBleachers95]

Casey County had success moving the ball against Mercer. From what I saw through stats, Casey County had the ball in the Red-Zone twice, and had the ball in Mercer territory 5 times. That tells me that Casey had success running the football.
If I'm Garrard County, I run it until Mercer can prove they can stop it. (They can't)

Garrard 35
Mercer 27

Give the District Championship to the Lions!

[UK1]

Casey County had success moving the ball against Mercer. From what I saw through stats, Casey County had the ball in the Red-Zone twice, and had the ball in Mercer territory 5 times. That tells me that Casey had success running the football.
If I'm Garrard County, I run it until Mercer can prove they can stop it. (They can't)

Garrard 35
Mercer 27

Give the District Championship to the Lions!

From KHSAA stats Casey ran 30 times for 63 yards.  I didn't see the game so not sure how much of that came against Mercer's JV in the 2nd half but regardless I wouldn't say based off that Casey had success running the ball.  Garrard has some great athletes and a dynamic run game and could definitely have success running the ball.  No offense to anyone in the district but overall this is a very weak district.  If Mercer doesn't win district they have some major issues going on and would be considered to be trending in the wrong direction as a program.

[Nations Elite]

If Baughman plays I like Mercer, if Drakeford plays I like Mercer by a couple to a few tuddys. Great season for Garrard but running into a team getting healthy at the right time.

[FromTheBleachers95]

Casey County had success moving the ball against Mercer. From what I saw through stats, Casey County had the ball in the Red-Zone twice, and had the ball in Mercer territory 5 times. That tells me that Casey had success running the football.
If I'm Garrard County, I run it until Mercer can prove they can stop it. (They can't)

Garrard 35
Mercer 27

Give the District Championship to the Lions!

From KHSAA stats Casey ran 30 times for 63 yards.  I didn't see the game so not sure how much of that came against Mercer's JV in the 2nd half but regardless I wouldn't say based off that Casey had success running the ball.  Garrard has some great athletes and a dynamic run game and could definitely have success running the ball.  No offense to anyone in the district but overall this is a very weak district.  If Mercer doesn't win district they have some major issues going on and would be considered to be trending in the wrong direction as a program.

Nothing about Garrard County is "weak" and I would be careful making that assumption. Garrard is playing very good football right now. I actually expect Garrard is the favorite to win the game.

[UK1]

Casey County had success moving the ball against Mercer. From what I saw through stats, Casey County had the ball in the Red-Zone twice, and had the ball in Mercer territory 5 times. That tells me that Casey had success running the football.
If I'm Garrard County, I run it until Mercer can prove they can stop it. (They can't)

Garrard 35
Mercer 27

Give the District Championship to the Lions!

From KHSAA stats Casey ran 30 times for 63 yards.  I didn't see the game so not sure how much of that came against Mercer's JV in the 2nd half but regardless I wouldn't say based off that Casey had success running the ball.  Garrard has some great athletes and a dynamic run game and could definitely have success running the ball.  No offense to anyone in the district but overall this is a very weak district.  If Mercer doesn't win district they have some major issues going on and would be considered to be trending in the wrong direction as a program.

Nothing about Garrard County is "weak" and I would be careful making that assumption. Garrard is playing very good football right now. I actually expect Garrard is the favorite to win the game.

Read again what I said.  "District overall is weak.  Casey and Marion are at the bottom of 3A.  I would put Mercer in there too as having a disappointing season so far.  Garrard could have a good team but it is hard to tell with the schedule they have played.  They got beat by a very bad 1-7 Bullitt Central team.  Bullitt East beat Bullitt Central 53-6.  Bullitt East Beat Mercer   28-14 and was a one possession game in the 4th QTR if you want to look at common opponents.