PRE-GAME HUDDLE

 The playoff hunt continues this week as Corbin goes to Leslie County; Whitley County takes on North Laurel and Williamsburg host rival Lynn Camp.

All three games are important in the seeding process, but none may be bigger than the Lynn Camp-Williamsburg contest. If Williamsburg wins, they are the district champions for 2010 and will get the number four team out of region five. More than likely that will be the Blue Jackets of Nicholas County.

A loss by the Wildcats will send Lynn Camp to Fairview or Raceland. A Wildcat win will throw the district in a three-team tie for first. The season would have to be played out to determine what the playoffs would hold for the three teams. As of right now it would come down to a Campbellsville win over Washington County and a Williamsburg win over Pineville.

Friday’s game will feature two excellent running backs in Lynn Camp’s Clint Jackson and Williamsburg’s Kevin Hoffman and Travis Thomas. The Yellow Jackets have the edge through the air. Receivers J.P. Payne, Chris Lowrie, Kevin Hoffman and Spencer Brown. Cejay Jones may make a return to the Williamsburg lineup this week as well as quarterback Ethan Powers.

Sophomore quarterback Logan Hamblin has been the most impressive player in the county since Powers went to the sidelines with an injury. Hamblin was 10-of-17 for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Campbellsville last week. He has thrown the ball 758 yards for 14 touchdowns this season.

Both teams have played a tough non-district schedule and it has paid off. The Wildcats turned back Harlan (41-21) and Clinton Co. (38-12) after opening the season with four losses. Campbellsville defeated the ‘Cats in Campbellsville, 14-0.

Williamsburg lost to North Laurel, Hazard and Knox Central. They also defeated Harlan (32-14) and Jellico (68-22). They have been impressive in district action, winning all three games by a 136-32 score.

Jim’s Pick: Wiliamsburg 36-22.

The Whitley County Colonels will travel to North Laurel Friday night to meet the Jaguars in another key district show down. A win over the Jaguars will keep the Colonels in the hunt for a playoff spot, preferably a three seed.

There’s no love lost between the Jaguars and Colonels with a battle to come on the gridiron. North Laurel has felt the Colonels have been over-ranked all season and want to take down Whitley County.

The Colonels can score, that’s no problem. It’s giving up turnover after turnover that has kept opponents in the game. Whitley County has given up a whopping 35 points a game along with at least three turnovers per outing. They have put 30 points per game on their side of the scoreboard behind the play of Travis Inman, Jordan Singleton, Justin Goins, Cody Bramlett, Jordan Chute, Boston Bryant and Scottie Partin.

The Colonels will have to shut down the attack of Hughie Wagers, Jason Williams, Michael Nelson and Johnny Fugate. The Jaguars have had trouble putting points on the scoreboard at times this season. They tagged Williamsburg with 41 points early in the season, but minus that game, they are averaging 10.1 points per game.

In seven games this season the Jaguars have given up 31.2 points per game, but since district action began three weeks ago, North Laurel has allowed 43.6 points a game and has only scored 22 points.

Jim’s Pick: Whitley Co. 52-20.

Corbin will tune up for its Oct. 22 showdown at Middlesboro against the Leslie County Eagles Friday night. Coach Steve Jewell’s team is 5-2 after a 71-6 drubbing of Knott County Central last week.

Will it be more of the same this week as the Eagles have struggled to a 2-5 record? Leslie County has wins over hapless Clinton County (39-20) and Shelby Valley (24-19).

Surprisingly, the Eagles kept the score close against the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets last week before falling 24-14.

Leslie County does present several weapons in the likes of Chris Maggard, who had 107 yards against the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets Friday night. Casey Adams, Troy Napier and Eric Hubbard will also share the football. Napier, the quarterback, had a big game against the Jackets, throwing the ball for 191 yards and a TD pass to Ralaigh Eldridge. He was 19-of-34, but had five interceptions in the game.

The two have a common foe in the Hazard Bulldogs. Hazard rolled over the Eagles 51-7 and escaped with a 35-28 win over the Redhounds.

Look for Matthew Taylor and Brady Foley to continue their power running game. The Redhounds went to the air with back-up quarterback Ty Cobb last week. He found Josh Jewell and Josh Coppock open for TD passes last week.

The defense has been the most impressive strength of the Redhounds the last several weeks. The Redhounds have given up just one touchdown to Clark County and Knott County Central.

Jim’s Pick: Corbin 48-13.