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THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE FOOTBALL 2012 THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012 3
DISTRICT
PREVIEWS
Medals Up For Grabs
CLASS 6-A,
DISTRICT 2
Strange one:
Meade, Central
only teams left
By JOHN GROTH
The News-Enterprise
It’s a two-team district.
Central Hardin and Meade County will
have an unusual recognition this year, being
the only two teams in Class 6-A, District 2 this
season. Oddly enough, they’re both going
through a year with some revamped lineups
and both coaches believe it’s their offensive
lines who will determine who wins the championship.
For the Bruins, it marks a chance to win
their first district championship since 1997.
But with all their graduation losses, they’re in
a tough spot. They have a first-year starting
quarterback and running back group, some
inexperience on the offensive line and a totally
new-fangled defensive line.
They do have two have two returning
starters on the offensive line – including senior
Corey Dobbs, who is switching from
guard to center – and junior Clint Walker. But
Central Hardin coach Mark Perry thinks
that’s the group that could pave the way to
the district title.
“They’ve got to be the corps,” he said.
“They’ve got to be the energy. They’ve got to
be the group that rallies our football team.”
Meade County will aim to defend its title,
after it defeated Central Hardin and Nelson
County last season.
The Green Wave at least has senior Jake
Wilson, who started their final five games at
quarterback, and a veteran offensive line.
They will have a new starting running back, a
host of different wide receivers and a different
linebacking corps.
They’re also sticking with the Wing-T offense,
which they ran over the final half of last
year.
“The Wing-T balances a team out,” said
Meade County coach Larry Mofield. “You
cannot focus on one young man – (you) have
three backs that can carry the ball and hurt
you. You have a quarterback that can throw.”
Central Hardin hasn’t beaten Meade
County since 1999 and the Green Wave have
outscored the Bruins, 415-99 during that 12-
game span. Meade County blew out Central
Hardin, 58-14 last season – scoring 26 points
in the second quarter to break the game open.
MEDAL SHOWDOWN: Meade County at Central
Hardin on Oct. 12. This game ends a threegame
homestand for the Bruins and could go
a long way in solidifying the quarterback position.
The Green Wave have the deeper,
more experienced offensive line and Mofield
hopes to platoon them late in the season.
With two regular-season games left after this,
could this be where he starts?
MEDALIST CHANCES. Here’s a quick look at
the top three candidates for District Player of
the Year.
1. Jake Wilson, Meade County. The senior
quarterback is on a mission. He’s not happy
with how the Green Wave ended their season
and wants to show he’s more accurate and a
stronger leader this season. He has focus and
desire – two attributes that could carry him a
long way.
2. John Clark, Meade County. The Green
Wave have had plenty of bruising backs
throughout the years. The senior gives them a
different kind – a speed back. Mofield likes
how he can zoom around people and if the
Green Wave’s veteran line gets stronger, he
could put up some sizable numbers.
3. Ryan Woodrum, Central Hardin. The
senior has put on some extra muscle this season
thanks to the Bruins’ weightlifting program
and, at linebacker, will be one of the
team’s defensive leaders. He’s confident and
has a swagger to him.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH. 1. Meade
County, 2. Central Hardin.
John Groth can be reached at (270) 505-1754
or jgroth@thenewsenterprise.com.
ONLY AVAILABLE AT
CLASS 5-A, DISTRICT 3
Despite changes,everyone still chasing Bulldogs
By CHUCK JONES
The News-Enterprise
When it comes to district championships,
the John Hardin Bulldogs have
made it look easy.
The Bulldogs have won three consecutive
Class 5-A, District 3 championships.
Since the KHSAA moved to six
classes in 2007, they have lost only one
game against district competition – a 27-
21 setback to Louisville Doss in 2008 –
and they have won 16 straight games
against district foes.
Since 2005, John Hardin has won 33
of its last 36 games against district teams.
The Bulldogs have won or shared the
district championship six of the last seven
years with the lone exception coming
in 2008.
John Hardin lost all but two starters
on offense and returns only five starters
on defense, but the district still runs
through Bulldog Stadium.
“Without a doubt, they’re the district
favorite,” North Hardin coach Brent
Thompson said of the Bulldogs. “They
are the favorite until someone knocks
them off.”
North Hardin could play spoiler.
Although the Trojans had their fair share
By NATHANIEL BRYAN
The News-Enterprise
By JOSH CLAYWELL
The News-Enterprise
After rolling through Class 2-A,
District 4 play undefeated last season,
Christian Academy of Louisville appears
poised to win its second straight district
title.
The Centurions, who advanced to the
state quarterfinals, return 10 starters on
defense.
You can’t overlook Louisville
DeSales, which went 6-6, or Bardstown,
which was 10-2. DeSales and Bardstown
both advanced to the second round of
the playoffs.
And then there’s Washington County,
which went 5-6 and lost in the first round
of the playoffs. Fort Knox and Louisville
Shawnee missed the playoffs.
Second-year Fort Knox coach Shawn
Thompson said the district should be just
as difficult this season.
“I think we’re behind those teams
right now, but if we work at it, keep doing
what we’ve been doing and stay focused
on what our goals are, I think we
of losses, Thompson has been pleased
with the team’s progress during the preseason,
but said they must continue to
improve.
John Hardin coach Mark Brown said
the district has undergone major changes
with new coaches at North Hardin,
Jeffersontown and Louisville Iroquois.
“I’m sure everybody will put us there
because we’ve won it quite a few times,”
Brown said. “But this should be an interesting
year. Grayson County has everyone
back. North Hardin lost some kids,
but they always have talent. J’town is
kind of an unknown.”
Grayson County’s season was derailed
by injuries, but the Cougars return
nearly their entire roster. Jeffersontown
begins life without do-it-all quarterback
DeMichael Jackson and Iroquois begins
the Mark Sander era. Sander led
Louisville DeSales to the 2009 2-A title
game.
MEDAL SHOWDOWN: North Hardin at John
Hardin on Oct. 12. This game should decide
the district championship this season.
The Bulldogs have won seven consecutive
games over North Hardin, including
two victories over the Trojans
last season. If there’s a silver lining,
CLASS 3-A, DISTRICT 3
Behind the strength of 17 seniors – including
All-State running back Anthony
Wales (Western Kentucky University
signee) and five Campbellsville University
signees – the Louisville Central Yellowjackets
won their fourth Class 3-A state title
in five years last season. They held all
eight 3-A opponents they faced to three
touchdowns or less.
Surely the Yellowjackets should take a
dip this year?
It’s been said Central doesn’t rebuild,
it merely reloads. And the Yellowjackets
still have plenty of firepower. They return
48 players from last year’s team, including
24 seniors, from the only district
member to win a postseason game in
2011.
Last year’s district runner-up, LaRue
County, has a new coach (Josh Jaggers)
and a new offense (hybrid spread). But
its two star running backs are gone.
Luckily the Hawks return a bunch of defensive
starters to lean on while the offense
gets its bearings.
Elizabethtown went 0-11 last year,
matching the state record for single-season
losses and setting unofficial records
for total points allowed in a season (654)
and points allowed per game (59.5). But
the Panthers return quite a few starters,
plus have a new offense (pro-style), a
more aggressive defense and are looking
to make the last season at Doug Smith
Memorial Stadium a memorable one before
being slated to move to their oncampus
turf field in 2013.
Henry County struggled on offense
last season, scoring three touchdowns or
less in more than half its games. But the
defense made strides toward the end of
the season – holding seven-win Corbin
to two touchdowns in the Wildcats’ last
game – and with 17 starters back (nine on
defense, eight on offense), Henry County
should be improved this year.
MEDAL SHOWDOWN: Central at
Elizabethtown on Oct. 5. Granted this
game was a blowout last season, but
Central blew out every district opponent.
Elizabethtown has a lot coming
North Hardin’s last victory in the series
came at Bulldog Stadium when the
Trojans pulled out a 10-7 win in 2005.
MEDALIST CHANCES. Here’s a quick look
at the top three candidates for District
Player of the Year.
1. Domonick Brown, John Hardin.
Brown enjoyed a breakout year, being
named the Area Defensive Player of the
Year. The 6-foot, 240-pound linebacker
made 128 tackles last season and will anchor
the defense once again.
2. Vincent Dobbins, North Hardin.
Dobbins showed flashes of his potential
last season and should excel in North
Hardin’s new fast-paced offensive attack.
Dobbins is also a big-play threat when it
comes to the return game.
3. Jalen Fleming, John Hardin.
Fleming rushed for more than 100 yards
in his only start, which came in the playoffs.
The 5-9, 191-pound halfback could
have a big season. Fleming will also start
at cornerback.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH. 1. John
Hardin, 2. North Hardin, 3. Grayson
County, 4. Jeffersontown, 5. Louisville
Iroquois.
Chuck Jones can be reached at (270) 505-1759
or cjones@thenewsenterprise.com
Louisville Central reloads for another state title run
CLASS 2-A, DISTRICT 4
can catch them,” Thompson said. “We’re
already behind the 8-ball with kids moving
in and out as it is, but we have three
months to catch up to them.”
Christian Academy will be carried by
its defense early on. Returning starters
include senior linebackers Chad
Meredith and Austin Chelf, senior defensive
tackle Hunter Trenaman and
senior defensive end John Popovich.
The Centurions, however, must replace
their leading passer, rusher and receiver.
DeSales has a new coach in Harold
Davis, who takes over for Mark Sander.
Bardstown lost 18 players to graduation,
but still has plenty of talent. Washington
County is rebuilding under second-year
coach Eric Sagrecy, and Shawnee’s defense
allowed 41.5 points per game last
season.
“I think CAL is going to be there
again, DeSales went 6-6 and they had a
coaching change, so it’ll be interesting to
see how they do this year,” Thompson
said. “Bardstown is always going to have
some athletes who can play. I saw
back and has been about the only district
rival which has given the Yellowjackets
fits in the past.
MEDALIST CHANCES. Here’s a quick look
at the top three candidates for District
Player of the Year.
1. Donald Styles, Central. The 5-foot-
10, 180-pound junior linebacker 115 total
tackles – 61 solo – while playing in every
game last year. He attended Louisville
and Ohio State invitational camps, while
he also has interest from Kentucky and
Michigan according to Scout.com.
2. Josh Williams, Elizabethtown. The
5-8, 172-pound senior running back/safety
had 752 rushing/receiving yards last
year as the Panthers’ No. 3 offensive option.
Now he’s the primary weapon.
3. Jajuan Hailey, Central. The 5-11,
175-pound junior defensive back had two
interceptions, one fumble recovery and
58 total tackles last year.
PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH. 1. Central,
2. Elizabethtown, 3. LaRue County, 4.
Henry County.
Nathaniel Bryan can be reached at (270) 505-
1758 or nbryan@thenewsenterprise.com.
CAL seems like favorite,but DeSales and Bardstown close behind
Washington County at a few seven-onseven
tournaments and they’ve got a
nice team. They’re not as fast as they
usually are, but they’ve got some strong
kids.”
MEDAL SHOWDOWN: Christian Academy
at DeSales on Oct. 12. In the next-to-last
district game for both teams, the district
title could come down to this matchup.
The Centurions held off the Colts, 29-21
last season and this game should be just
as close.
MEDALIST CHANCES. The 6-foot-4, 220-
pound Meredith should be considered a
candidate for District Player of the Year,
along with Fort Knox senior quarterback
Brandon Franklin, Bardstown senior
wideout Marcus Cosby, Bardstown senior
linebacker Donshais Calbert and
Christian Academy junior wideout Chad
Lewellyn.
ORDER OF FINISH. 1. Christian
Academy, 2. DeSales, 3. Bardstown, 4.
Fort Knox, 5. Washington County, 6.
Shawnee.
Josh Claywell can be reached at (270) 505-1752
or jclaywell@thenewsenterprise.com.
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