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8 THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE FOOTBALL 2012 THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012 LARUE COUNTY HAWKS The 2012 LaRue County Hawks ORGANIZING COMMITTEE TRAINING SITE: Hodgenville. POPULATION (2011-12 school year): 722 (Grades 9-12). TEAM COLORS: Royal blue and white. HOME FIELD: Hawk Field (capacity 3,000). 2011 GAMES: 6-5. LAST MEDAL ROUND: 2011 (lost to Wayne County, 7-0 in first round of Class 3-A playoffs). LAST MEDAL WIN: Defeated Louisville Valley, 35-32 in first round of Class 4-A playoffs in 2009. TEAM LARUE COUNTY HEAD COACH: Josh Jaggers (first season at LaRue County). ASSISTANT COACHES: Scotty Kirkpatrick, Elijah Zwiep, Randy Newberry, Eric Hughes, David Dawson, Dewayne Gibson, Adam Lindsey and Harry Ditto. ATHLETES: 40 (Grades 9-12). TOP STATISTICAL RETURNEES Rushing: Caleb Canter (40 att., 320 yards, 3 TDs). Passing: No player returning with any passing statistics. Receiving: Austin Hinton (2 catches, 20 yards, 0 TDs). MEDAL HOPES ■ The Hawks might not have the running backs like last season, so they will spread the wealth this season to make up for it. ■ Senior Terrel Paysen could be an Area Lineman of the Year candidate. ■ Coach Josh Jaggers will continue to call the defense, while Scott Kirkpatrick will handle the offense. LARUE COUNTY HAWKS MEDAL CHASE 2012 SCHEDULE Aug. 17 Adair County # Aug. 24 at Shelby County Aug. 31 SPENCER COUNTY Sept. 7 GREEN COUNTY Sept. 14 at Nelson County Sept. 21 at Warren East Oct. 5 at Henry County Oct. 12 ELIZABETHTOWN Oct. 19 at Louisville Central Oct. 26 WASHINGTON COUNTY Home games in all caps BOLD indicates Class 3-A, District 3 game # denotes Forcht Bank Bowl at Campbellsville University 2011 RESULTS Lost to North Bullitt, 26-7 Def. Shelby County, 27-24 Lost to Spencer County, 21-20 Lost to Green County, 32-20 Def. Nelson County, 38-24 Def. Warren East, 17-14 Def. Henry County, 40-21 Def. Elizabethtown, 57-44 Lost to Louisville Central, 35-14 Def. Washington County, 40-31 Lost to Wayne County, 7-0 PAST GAMES 2001: 6-5 2010: 5-6 2009: 7-5 2008: 4-7 2007: 3-8 GOLD MEDALS None 2006: 10-3 2005: 5-5 2004: 6-5 2003: 3-8 2002: 12-1 2012 ROSTER No. Name Position Height Weight Class 2 Gabe Shirley QB/DB 5-8 170 Senior 10 Koy Lindsey QB/LB 5-9 175 Sophomore 11 Austin McDowell RB/DB 5-8 140 Junior 12 Hunter Griffin QB/LB 5-8 155 Freshman 14 Curtis Milby K/P 5-9 145 Junior 15 Keegan Kirkpatrick QB/LB 5-10 165 Junior 20 Brandon Stinnett RB/DB 5-5 150 Junior 22 Caleb Canter RB/DB 5-10 170 Senior 23 Kelton Ford E/DB 6-0 175 Senior 25 Mat Sensesi RB/LB 5-11 160 Sophomore 26 Dalton Lawson RB/DB 5-9 140 Junior 28 Marquis Franklin RB/DB 5-6 140 Freshman 30 Tyreec Cox RB/DB 5-2 125 Freshman 32 Austin Howard E/LB 5-6 140 Freshman 34 Matthew Hornback RB/LB 6-0 180 Senior 40 Demarcus McCray RB/LB 5-10 240 Freshman 42 Justin Davis RB/DB 5-2 135 Junior 43 Mike Neal E/LB 5-11 170 Junior 50 Ed Hernandez OL/DL 5-9 210 Freshman 52 Hunter Goldsmith OL/LB 6-3 170 Junior 53 Terrel Paysen OL/DL 6-2 210 Senior 54 Jeremy Luttrell OL/DL 6-0 180 Freshman 55 Zeke Phelps OL/LB 5-8 185 Junior 57 Eli Royalty OL/DL 5-10 215 Sophomore 58 Cole Hughes OL/LB 5-8 205 Senior 59 Michael Franklin OL/DL 5-8 285 Junior 60 Nathan Bell OL/DL 6-0 250 Senior 61 B.J. Carman OL/DL 5-10 190 Senior 62 Colby Skaggs OL/DL 5-9 190 Freshman 72 Forrest Durham OL/DL 5-11 260 Freshman 73 Joshua Lawes OL/DL 5-8 225 Senior 74 Matt Stiles OL/DL 6-1 250 Junior 75 Clayton Engle OL/DL 5-10 220 Freshman 76 J.C. Dunn OL/DL 5-10 185 Freshman 77 Zac Hornung OL/DL 5-10 225 Freshman 81 Masyn Cobb E/DB 5-8 145 Freshman 82 Austin Goldsmith E/LB 6-2 170 Junior 83 Austin Hinton E/LB 6-1 155 Senior 84 Alex Brooks E/DB 5-11 145 Freshman 88 Kendrick Greenwell E/DB 6-0 150 Junior PROJECTED STARTERS OFFENSE QB: Gabe Shirley, 5-8, 170, Sr. — Didn’t take a snap under center last year. FB: Matt Hornback, 6-0, 180, Sr. — Had nine carries for 33 yards in 2011. RHB: Caleb Canter, 5-10, 170, Sr. — Had four rushing and receiving TDs last year. LHB: Austin McDowell, 5-8, 140, Jr. — Didn’t have a varsity carry in 2011. WR: Austin Hinton, 6-1, 155, Sr. — Caught two passes last year. TE: Austin Goldsmith, 6-2, 170, Jr. — Tallest receiving option, but did not catch a pass in 2011. LT: Nathan Bell, 6-0, 250, Sr. — Also a heavyweight wrestler. LG: Cole Hughes, 5-8, 200, Sr. — Athletic (baseball) and academic (Governor’s Scholars) standout. C: Zeke Phelps, 5-8, 185, Jr. — Bigger role after playing in just one game last year. RG: B.J. Carman, 5-9, 215, Sr. — Reigning state wrestling bronze-medal winner at 195 pounds. RT: Matt Stiles, 6-1, 250, Jr. — Did not appear in a varsity game last year. K: Curtis Milby, 5-9, 145, Jr. — Also a starter on the soccer team. DEFENSE NG: Michael Franklin, 5-7, 285, Jr. — Heaviest player in the program had eight tackles last year. LT: Terrel Paysen, 6-2, 210, Sr. — Had team-best 31 solo stops in 2011. RT: B.J. Carman, 5-9, 215, Sr. — Two-way starter had 32 total tackles last year. LOLB: Matt Hornback, 6-0, 180, Sr. — Two-way starter had 47 total tackles last year. ROLB: Austin Goldsmith, 6-2, 170, Jr. — Two-way starter has big shoes to fill at this spot. ILB: Cole Hughes, 5-8, 200, Sr. — Two-way starter had 51 total tackles in 2011. ILB: Marquis Franklin 5-6, 140, Fr. — Team’s youngest starter is also one of its most athletic. LCB: Austin McDowell, 5-8, 140, Jr. — Two-way starter had 20 tackles in 2011. RCB: Gabe Shirley, 5-8, 170, Sr. — Two-way starter had 25 tackles in 2011. FS: Caleb Canter, 5-10, 170, Sr. — Coach calls two-way starter the QB of the defense. SS: Dalton Lawson, 5-9, 140, Jr. — Came up with three turnovers last year. P: Curtis Milby, 5-9, 145, Jr. — Soccer player takes over for the graduated Slade Owens.

THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE FOOTBALL 2012 THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012 9 LARUE COUNTY HAWKS Team Pursuit Hawks might lack star power, but they could be a better team By NATHANIEL BRYAN The News-Enterprise Josh Jaggers is ready to begin his dream job. After serving four seasons as an assistant, the 30-year-old was selected to replace outgoing veteran coach Rodney Armes as coach of the LaRue County Hawks. While Jaggers, the team’s former defensive coordinator, inherits a program low in numbers and devoid of much returning offensive production, he doesn’t look at his cup of a season as half-empty. “This is the job I’ve always wanted in my hometown,” Jaggers said. “I don’t know if I can sum up my excitement in two or three sentences, but this is something I’ve waited my whole life for.” He didn’t wait long to scrap the Delaware Wing-T for a modified hybrid spread. Jaggers likened the Hawks’ new offense to that of what the Florida Gators were running when they had Tim Tebow. The change could lessen the blow of just four full-time starters coming back offensively in senior tackle Nathan Bell, senior guard/tackle Terrel Paysen, senior guard Cole Hughes and senior split end/tight end Austin Hinton. The Hawks graduated a pair of productive running backs in halfback Cody Thompson (180 carries for 1,703 yards and 15 touchdowns) and fullback Drew Newberry (174, 868, 12). Replacing graduate Slade Owens at quarterback is 5-foot-8 senior Gabe Shirley, a back-up running back last year. “I’ve got to look through the gaps,” Shirley said of passing as a shorter quarterback. “I think it’s a plus in a way because with big linemen, you can hide behind them. But it has its down moments with passing. Rolling out is OK, but if I’m dropping back, I have to look between each linemen because I really can’t see over them. But it’s not too bad.” Jaggers doesn’t see Shirley’s size as an issue. “Gabe’s gritty, he can make plays with his feet and he throws a good ball,” Jaggers said. “He’s proved to be exactly what we were looking for in terms of what we were wanting to do offensively this year.” Shirley is joined in the backfield by senior halfback Caleb Canter, senior fullback Matt Hornback and junior halfback Austin McDowell. All three stand between 5-8 and 6-0 and weigh between 140-180 pounds. “They’re not scared of anybody. There’s no prima donna mentality with any of them,” Photo illustration by JILL PICKETT/The News-Enterprise LaRue County seniors Cole Hughes and Matthew Hornback hope to lead the Hawks in the right direction this year. Jaggers said. “We really have a backfield by committee. You could see a different lineup every week. We may end up starting one set of three of them and finishing the game with another set of three of them. They’re all halfback/fullbacks. Matt Hornback is the biggest of the bunch, but the rest are all clones of each other.” Canter, who was also considered at quarterback, said he is ready for an increased role. “Last year, with Cody and Drew, they were great guys and great running backs. But this year, it’s completely different,” Canter said. “Last year, going into every game, I was thinking my main job was to block. I had to block for them so they could do good and if I got the ball, then it was my time to show what I can do. Now, I’m thinking, ‘Well, it’s my time all the time. I have to put the team on my back and carry it.’ But I still have to remember to block for other guys.” Canter said the offense is a lot more diverse than last season. “I think there’s a lot more variety and a lot more thinking involved,” he said. “It’s definitely a lot different than what we’re used to in LaRue County with our straight-forward Wing-T.” Should it take the offense a while to get on track, the Hawks could rely early on their base 3-4 “50” defense, which allowed 348.4 yards and 25.4 points per game last year. The entire secondary (Canter at safety, Shirley at cornerback, junior Dawton Lawson at safety and McDowell at corner) is back, as are senior linemen Bell, Paysen and B.J. Carman, junior lineman Michael Franklin and seniors Matt Hornback and Hughes at linebacker. “Defense wins championships and with our defense, most of us are veterans, so we understand it more,” Canter said. “I think we can do some great things on defense.” The Hawks graduated a pair of second-team All-Area linebackers in Newberry and Thompson as well an All-Area honorable mention in Taylor Albert, who led the team in total tackles (57) and interceptions (two). Two freshmen, Marquis Franklin and Demarcus McCray, could be among the choices to fill those roles. “I think our strengths are in the secondary and on the defensive line,” Jaggers said. “But I think we’ll be just as weak, in terms of inexperience, at the linebacker position.” While Jaggers feels he has capable pieces, what he’s unsure of is just how many he has. There are 40 players on the varsity roster, which includes 14 freshmen. There are seven two-way starters, eight if junior kicker/punter Curtis Milby is included. “We don’t have an overabundance of guys who we can not afford to play,” Jaggers said. Outside of powerhouse Louisville Central, a district foe which has won the Class 3-A state title four times in five years, the Hawks don’t feel overmatched by any opponent. At the same time, they’re not sure they’re going to be able to just walk over anybody, either. “We definitely need to be on our ‘A’ game,” Shirley said. “We can compete with everybody, but everybody can compete with us. So if we’re not on our ‘A’ game, we can easily slip away a win.” Nathaniel Bryan can be reached at (270) 505-1758 or nbryan@thenewsenterprise.com. Kristin Armstrong of the United States won the women’s time trial in London. It was America’s only gold in cycling in 2012. Wrestling For Respect Caleb Canter will get his chance as he becomes the team’s go-to running back this season By NATHANIEL BRYAN The News-Enterprise With his football team installing a new offense, LaRue County senior Caleb Canter missed some valuable practice time in the summer. No worries, thought firstyear coach and former assistant Josh Jaggers, because the brainiac will probably figure it out on his own. Canter wasn’t at practice because he was focusing on chemistry and physical science as a part of the prestigious Governor’s Scholars Program at Bellarmine University. While academics were certainly a big part of his life, football didn’t stray too far. “I made sure I lifted five times a week,” said Canter, a halfback and free safety. “A couple of weeks I only got four in. And there were quite a few football players at my campus, so we were still throwing and running routes at least two or three days a week. I actually worked out as much or more so than I would have if I was still here. … I wasn’t out of the loop. Not at all.” With the graduation of fullback Drew Newberry, tailback Cody Thompson and quarterback Slade Owens, Canter entered this season knowing he could be playing one of those three positions. Canter said it helped knowing Jaggers was trying to install the Hawks’ new modified hybrid spread offense – a change from their Delaware Wing-T – in spring practice after Canter’s wrestling season was over. “It wasn’t too bad, because I had a little bit of a heads-up of what I was coming back to,” Canter said. “They added NEAL CARDIN/The News-Enterprise LaRue County senior Caleb Canter will start on both sides of the ball this season. a couple of things I didn’t know about and there’s still a couple of things that I don’t know completely, but I think I know everything about it (the offense) about as good as anyone else on the team.” Senior Gabe Shirley plays alongside Canter on both sides of the ball as a quarterback and right cornerback. Shirley said Canter is like a younger coach on the field. Thus Canter’s ability o make up for that missed practice time in a hurry. “Of the most football knowledge on the team, he’s probably got more than anybody,” Shirley said. “He can put people in position because he understands the game.” Because he’s a wrestler, Canter’s not apt to put on a ton of weight or muscle quickly for football. It would make it harder cut to move into his ideal wrestling weight class. So while Canter could be bigger and stronger, Jaggers said that “what if” isn’t worth considering. “He’s just a worker and he’s a wrestler, and kids who are wrestlers check their egos at the door,” Jaggers said. “They realize what hard work means. He’s gotta be a great leader for us this year and he already has been. He’s a great leader and he’s accepted any role that we’ve put on him. He really is the definition of a kid who’s team first.” Being a wrestler helps with the ability to deal with contact. Newberry, another wrestler, wasn’t afraid to bowl over defenders while running the ball and was willing to go airborne to take down a ball carrier on defense. Canter’s of the same mold. “He’s not scared one bit. He’s the one who, every day when we do a drill, is asking, ‘Is this full contact? Are we taking people to the ground?’” Jaggers said. “He wants to go full-tilt all the time. And you just don’t see too many 5-10, 155-pound guys with that type of mentality. He’s a bear. He will absolutely rock your world if he catches you.” Jaggers loves Canter’s ability to use his wrestling instincts to take down offensive players. Having that keen brain at free safety also helps because Jaggers allows Canter to read and react to formations as soon as offenses break the huddle. “He’s our air-traffic controller and he gets everybody going to where they’re supposed to be,” Jaggers said. “He’s great at formation recognition. A lot of times with our secondary in practice, I’ll throw different sets at them. Now we’re not doing a lot defensively at that point, but I want them to know what we (the offense) are in and with him, it’s boom, boom, boom. He already knows what we’re in and he’s already getting people where they need to be. He’s our quarterback of the secondary.” Next year, Canter hopes to parlay his academic success and wrestling aptitude into a college scholarship. He said West Virginia University comes to mind, since it offers the science program he wants and has made wrestling for the Mountaineers an option. CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR PRE-SEASON CHECKUP. SERVICING ALL BRANDS But that’s in the future. For now, Canter is ready to use his brains and brawn to try to help the Hawks to success in his final season. “Going into my senior year, it’s tough and heartbreaking to think, ‘Wow, this is the last time we’ll go through this,’” he said. “But at the same time, it gives you a little more motivation because every other year, I’ve thought ‘Well, I have next year or the next year.’ This year, you can’t say that. So you have to put everything out there.” Nathaniel Bryan can be reached at (270) 505-1758 or nbryan@thenewsenterprise.com. When the temp outside makes you uncomfortable, we will get you back to comfortable living inside. 24 Hour Service FREE Quotes on New Installations “Where service is the difference.” 305 W. Main St. Hodgenville, KY 270-358-3167 Master License #M00124 / #CE25315 www.phelpsheatingandcooling.com

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