Notes written as I ponder the fact that I've been as effective an NFL quarterback this year as Ben Roethlisberger:

-- Last week proved the adage, “Good things come to those who wait,” for a pair of Harlan County seniors.

After spending the majority of the season blocking for Michael Washington and Nathaniel Gilliam - and having one major heroic moment on defense with a fumble return at Evarts - Cumberland wingback Justin Cornett had his time to shine on offense last week against Pineville, scoring three touchdowns.

Likewise, Harlan wide receiver Will Pope - who entered the season as the Dragons' No. 1 receiving threat but has occasionally been overshadowed by the surprising Derek Sheffield - had a breakout game, finding the end zone three times, including once on a 66-yard kickoff return.

-- Mark your calendars for Oct. 27. That's when the Harlan Green Dragons will travel to Somerset for what should amount to a district championship game (assuming the Dragons don't suffer a huge upset against Pineville next week).

Oughtta be a gooooood one.

-- I think AP voters might be getting it wrong in the Class 2A poll.

Breathitt County sports a 7-1 overall, 2-0 district record, similar to Middlesboro's 6-1, 2-0 mark. But the prediction here is that the Yellow Jackets will last longer than the still-not-quite-there Bobcats come November - and, for that matter, that the Jackets will come away with the win in next week's clash.

But I'm not exactly clairvoyant when it comes to important district games (see my Rock-Clay prediction from two weeks ago).

-- The Letcher Central Cougars have bucked the usual trend of playing the bulk of the district schedule late in the season.

While the rest of Class 3A District 7's teams - Bell County, Clay County, Knox Central, Madison Southern, Perry Central and Rockcastle County - all have three district matchups to go, the Cougars wrapped up their district slate with a 33-18 loss to Knox Central last week, leaving them at 1-5 in district play. Letcher Central is open this week before closing its season with Evarts and Haysi, Va.

-- Unless the KHSAA Web site contains a terrible mistake, Winston Hines is a true statistical anomaly. According to this week's state statistics, the Pulaski County running back leads the state with 1,782 yards rushing - an average of 254.6 per game - and a whopping one touchdown.

Huh?

-- And, finally, a walk back in time:

Ten years ago: John Dixon threw a touchdown pass to Matt Duckworth, then ran for the winning two-point conversion, as Cumberland came back to defeat Lynn Camp 23-22.

Twenty years ago: Dusty Alred scored the game's only touchdown as Cawood beat Rockcastle County 7-0 to clinch a playoff berth.

Thirty years ago: Rick Cope scored three touchdowns and Jackie Cornett added one as the Skins thumped Cawood 28-0.

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Jarrod Sherman can be contacted by e-mail at sports@harlanonline.net