Harlan County Black Bears

 

This is the season many Harlan County fans have been waiting for.

 

Many believe this season the Black Bears could make a run at the Class 5A state championship. Tom Larkey's squad is coming off an 11-3 campaign that saw them reach the state semifinals for the second time in three years.

 

Harlan County has won their respective district three straight seasons and are picked to win their fourth in a row with eight starters coming back on offense while six return on defense.

Most teams would have to rebuild after losing a player like former tailback Jake Middleton, who led harlan County with 2,141 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns.

But not the Black Bears, they just reload.

 

Cole Wilson, Treyvon Long, Zach Chitwood, Carson Whitehead and Scotty Bailey look to carry the load on offense, while most of the same players will be counted to do the same on the defensive side of the ball, too.

 

Just how strong can Harlan County's offense be? Very strong.

 

Four starters return on the offensive line with William Banks, Zach Caldwell, Justin Hensley and J.W. Cooper leading the way.

 

Bailey (227 rushing yards and 211 passing yards), Long (766 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns), Whitehead (333 rushing yards and seven touchdowns) and Chitwood (120 rushing yards) will see a lot of action in the backfield while Long (13 receptions, 258 receiving yards) and Wilson (16 receptions and 232 receiving yards) cal also hurt opponents catching the ball.

 

Defnsively, Whitehead is one of the state's best. He led the team with 191 tackles and five interceptions in 2012 while Long had four interceptions and 59 tackles.

 

District-wise, Harlan County will enter the season as heavy favorites, while it looks as if Whitley County could turn out to be the Black Bears' main competition.

 

 

Schedule

The Black Bears won't shy away from anyone this season. They open things up with Madison Central in the Roy Kidd Bowl on Aug. 24 before following things up at home Aug. 30 against Clay County. They'll host Belfry on Sept. 6 and will play Knox Central at home on Sept. 13 before hitting the road to play Johnson Central and Greenville, Tenn. on Spet. 20 and Sept. 27, respectfully. Harlan County will have a home date with Letcher Central on Oct. 11 before hitting the road to play Whitley County on Oct. 18. The Black Bears' final home game will be Oct. 25 against Perry Central before closing out regular season play on the road against Bell County (Nov. 1).

 

 

Players to watch

Carson Whitehead (fullback/linebacker) — Whitehead had 333 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last season and he's done most of his damage at the linebacker position. A four-year starter, Whitehead had a team-best 191 tackles last season and looks to improve on that number this season. He also led the team with five fumble recoveries.

 

Scotty Bailey (quarterback/safety) — Bailey ran for 227 yards and four touchdowns from behind center last season while completing nine-of-17 pass attempts for 211 yards and three touchdowns. He also had five interceptions last season and 45 tackles.

 

Zach Chitwood (tailback/safety) — Chitwood ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns last season while recording 37 tackles.

 

Treyvon Long (tailback/conerback) - Long had 13 receptions for 258 yards and four touchdowns in 2012 along with 766 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He also had four interceptions and 59 tackles.

 

Cole Wilson (wide receiver/defensive end) - Wilson led the Black Bears with 16 receptions that went for 232 yards and one score. He also had 104 tackles on the defensive side of things.

Nice information Les, good job. :thumb:

 

Who will be Harlan County's biggest competition in their district; and then in their region come playoff time?

I really respect the Black Bears and if they have any sort of a passing game this year they will be tough to beat.

Thanks Watusi. I'd say Whitley County would be their main competition in the district, and for region, off the top of my head, maybe Mad. Southern, Pulaski or even Whitley again.

I was thinking on paper that Madison Southern may be ahead of Pulaski Co in the region as Harlan Co's biggest competition.

 

I am really looking forward to heading to Harlan County for Belfry's 2nd game of the season on September 6. I hope this grows into an annual battle as it offers everything you could want in a non-district series. I hear their new stadium is 2nd to none, and I like the brand of football they play. I am not too optimistic about the Pirates chances this year as that early game against Harlan County is one of two unwinnable games I see on Belfry's schedule for 2013. It will be a tough test for sure that will serve to make Belfry a much better team, and if they are able to pull out a victory in that situation, it will be a huge shot in the arm.

 

Good luck to the Black Bears. I hope this is the year you guys make it all the way.

They also have the best stadium in the state IMO

Good Report.

 

I am really looking forward to heading to Harlan County for Belfry's 2nd game of the season on September 6. I hope this grows into an annual battle as it offers everything you could want in a non-district series. I hear their new stadium is 2nd to none, and I like the brand of football they play. I am not too optimistic about the Pirates chances this year as that early game against Harlan County is one of two unwinnable games I see on Belfry's schedule for 2013. It will be a tough test for sure that will serve to make Belfry a much better team, and if they are able to pull out a victory in that situation, it will be a huge shot in the arm.

 

Good luck to the Black Bears. I hope this is the year you guys make it all the way.

 

A Belfry win would mean either Belfry is going to be scary good come November... or that HCHS isn't quite the contender people expect them to be.

 

Like you, I am fully expecting HCHS to be about a 2-3 TD favorite that game based solely on the experience they return vs. a habitually slow starting Belfry team rebuilding essentially their entire Front 7.