Notes written between frantic calls urging my Cubbies to hurry up and hire Joe Girardi:

-- Pass the crow, please.

Rockcastle County's game against Clay County proved to be anticlimactic, after a certain columnist (ahem) predicted that it could determine the second and third seeds in the Class 3A District 7 playoffs.

Undaunted, I offer a much less bold prediction for this week: tonight's Rockcastle-Bell County game will, in fact, determine the top seed in the district.

So there.

-- Clay County quarterback Zach Lewis' passing average finally dropped below 400 yards with last week's 61-13 loss to Rockcastle (see above). He still leads the state, though.

Lewis is tied with district mate Zach McGuire of Madison Southern for second in the state in touchdowns with 22. Christian County's Keith Tandy has passed for 23.

-- Last week's marathon 62-42 win over Corbin propelled Middlesboro to the top of the state in scoring. The Yellow Jackets are averaging a whopping 52.8 points per game.

-- After traveling to Jackson to watch Cawood last week, I have to say that Breathitt County's covered bleachers are extremely nice - but danged if it isn't hard to see the field from the press box because of the support beams.

-- Gallatin County, coached by former Evarts quarterback Tim Browning, earned its second win of the season - and the program's existence - last week, defeating Rowan County 26-14.

Jackson County, another first-year program, will try again for its second win tonight at Trimble County.

-- Speaking of teams with two wins, who would've thought that the front-runner for the fourth playoff spot in Class A District 8 would be ... Jenkins?

The Cavaliers are 2-2 in district play, with wins over Phelps and South Floyd. An Oct. 20 victory over Allen Central would essentially assure the Cavs of their first playoff berth in a very long time - excluding a pair of appearances in the state eight-man football playoffs in 2001 and ‘02.

-- Speaking of impressive Cavaliers, Virginia-Wise has exploded out of nowhere to become one of the top teams in NAIA football this season. Led by running back Ra'Shad Morgan, the Cavs have moved up to No. 23 in the most recent NAIA poll going into Saturday's game against Lambuth.

-- Speaking of NAIA football (how's that for stream of consciousness writing?), former Harlan standout Matt Rhymer, now playing at the University of the Cumberlands, is tied for third on the team in tackles with 19. The Patriots are off to a 2-2 start.

-- And finally, a brief review of football past:

Ten years ago: T.J. Dunson rumbled for 296 yards and four touchdowns as Harlan defeated Cumberland 33-27.

Twenty years ago: Patrick Evans scored a touchdown and kicked a field goal in the final three minutes as the Redskins slipped past Corbin 9-7.

Thirty years ago: Harlan committed five fumbles in a 14-6 loss to Williamsburg. Ernie Boggs scored on a 48-yard run for the Dragons' only score.