Pikeville second; Pirates at No. 3
High school football season is one month away, and Mountain Top Sports has released its 2019 pre-season poll.
Class 4A state runner-up Johnson Central, which finished 13-2 one year ago, is tabbed as the number one choice heading into upcoming season. Coach Jim Matney’s team lost in the state title game in 2018 to Franklin-Simpson. JC opens its season on Aug. 23 at Lafayette.
The Golden Eagles are followed by Pikeville. Coach Chris McNamee’s team went 11-3 in 2018 and came up just short in the Class 1A championship game to Beechwood. The second-ranked Panthers will kick off the 2019 campaign Aug. 24 at Bardstown.
Belfry, which lost in the Class 3A regional title game to Boyle County last year, holds claim to the Number 3 position. Legendary coach Philip Haywood, Kentucky’s winningest high school football coach, will take his Pirates on the road to Southwestern on Aug. 23.
West Virginia Class AA power Mingo Central comes in at number four. Coach Josh Sammons’ Miners went 8-3 this past year, falling to Point Pleasant in the post-season playoffs. Mingo Central’s season is set to begin in the Pike County Bowl against Pikeville on Aug. 31 at Hillard Howard Field.
Coach Joe Chirico’s Paintsville Tigers take in the number five spot. Paintsville is coming off a 10-3 season one year ago, falling to Raceland in the Class 1A regional finals at home. Paintsville begins is season at Lawrence County on Aug. 23.
The Shelby Valley Wildcats are in the number six position. Coach Anthony Hampton’s team was 10-2 one year ago, falling in the Class 2A post-season to Lexington Christian. The Wildcats will open on Aug. 23 at Teco Field against Letcher County Central.
The Cougars, now in Class 4A, are in at number seven. Coach Junior Matthews’ Cougars finished 5-6 one year ago, closing the regular season with five straight wins. LCC is at Shelby Valley on Aug. 23.