Questions, questions, questions
This is where you start asking yourself questions.
The second round of the football playoffs is like the first in one respect, because all 48 games tonight are rematches of regular-season games. But there’s also a critical difference, because most of tonight’s games are much more in doubt than most of last week’s games.
Things were more certain in the first round. Sure, there were a few surprises around the state, including one mild surprise in our area as Garrard County toppled Wayne County. But for the most part, things went pretty much according to Hoyle.
But now you begin to wonder. Sure, Team A defeated Team B a few weeks ago, but Team B had a pretty good season and won a playoff game, so there must be something there, right? History tells you it will happen again the way it happened before, but experience tells you it might not.
Here are the questions surrounding tonight’s local games:
1. Which half of the first Danville-Bardstown game was the truth?
Danville dominated the first half and Bardstown dominated the second when the two teams played Oct. 5. It’s a simple statement, but the team that comes closest to putting both halves together will advance.
2. Has Boyle County done enough to catch up with Lexington Catholic?
Boyle looks like a different team than in its loss to Catholic on Sept. 21. Yes, part of that has to do with the second-half schedule, but there’s little doubt that the Rebels are much better now than then.
3. Can Pulaski County fare any better against Lincoln County’s defense?
Pulaski has put up big numbers in almost every game this season, but the zero it put up Oct. 19 at Lincoln stands out. Lincoln’s defense did things to the Maroons that other opponents had not, and it will be interesting to see how well Pulaski is able to adjust.
4. Does Garrard County have a chance at another upset?
The Golden Lions were feeling fine after their win at Wayne County last week, but beating Somerset tonight will be a much taller order. The Briar Jumpers dropped 65 points on Garrard on Sept. 14, but the Lions insist that high score was a result of mistakes made in the first 10 minutes.
The playoffs take on a different look next week when teams face opponents they haven’t seen this season. The biggest question, of course, is how many of the four local teams playing tonight will still be around?
That leads right into to this week’s picks, made with history in mind:
- Danville over Bardstown.
- Somerset over Garrard County.
- Lexington Catholic over Boyle County.
- Lincoln County over Pulaski County.
Last week: 3-1. For the season: 43-16 (.729).
