Ok, this is the 1st game of the season for both squads. I don't know much about FC but I think this will be a tough game for both teams. I believe Mayfield is slightly favored but it's a road game and if Mayfield doesn't play it's best it could be a long night.

Mayfield 17

FC 13

I like Mayfields offense in this one, but, I do think Ft Campbell's offense will challenge the Card D and if they get a little momentum with the crowd behind them, it could get interesting.. I think Mayfield will score 28+ and hold the Falcons to 21 or less..

Scary game for Mayfield, a very tough opening opponent in a very tuff place for visitors to get a win. I am hoping we can get it done but we will need to play a solid mistake free game to have a chance

no cupcakes for the cardinals this year...this will make us better...players will have to grow up quickly, and that's a good thing. I'll take Mayfield by 10 pts. but that's mostly because I have on my Big Red foster grants. :walk:

Got my big red glasses on to, I'll take the cardinals in the opener against FC,

Mayfield 21-14.

I'm still trying to wipe my memory banks of the last time these two teams played. U-G-L-Y! I could see this game going either way, and typically special teams... penalties... and turnovers play big roles in close, early season games. All things being equal, I've got the feeling special teams for Mayfield should win them field position and perhaps a field goal or two, which may be just enough to get them over the hump. 34 to 28 Mayfield.

I'm still trying to wipe my memory banks of the last time these two teams played. U-G-L-Y! I could see this game going either way' date=' and typically special teams... penalties... and turnovers play big roles in close, early season games. All things being equal, I've got the feeling special teams for Mayfield should win them field position and perhaps a field goal or two, which may be just enough to get them over the hump. 34 to 28 Mayfield.[/quote']

 

Yeah, about 50 to 7 FC over at Marshall County. That was with one of our more under achieving squads.

I haven't heard much about Ft. Campbell the past couple years. So I read the posts above and thought the Cardinal crew may be sandbagging a little as they talked about how worried they were. But I looked at Ft. Campbell's record over the past couple of years and they are clearly a team to be worried about. This will be a tough test in game one for Mayfield.

I haven't heard much about Ft. Campbell the past couple years. So I read the posts above and thought the Cardinal crew may be sandbagging a little as they talked about how worried they were. But I looked at Ft. Campbell's record over the past couple of years and they are clearly a team to be worried about. This will be a tough test in game one for Mayfield.

 

In the last few years this would have been a tough game but one I think we would have won every time. We are now in a different era .

I am happy to see this game happening. It should have taken place each season and I hope it continues.

These two small Western Kentucky schools are exactly what high school football is about.

 

There will be a lot of history and tradition on the field Friday night.

What does Mayfield have 9 or 10 State Championships?

FC has 6 State Championships and two Kentucky Mr. Football alumni.

 

I don't have any idea who wins Friday; no more Jonathan Jackson for the Cardinals and no more Coach Berner for the Falcons. Coach Morris remains for Mayfield and FC has an exciting kid named Triston Luke at RB that has the potential to be in the Mr. Football conversation someday. I hope this one goes down to the wire.

FC 27-20

Falcons assistant coach takes reins, sets sights on state title

 

 

by Yvette Smith, Courier staff

 

 

 

 

When Fort Campbell High School coach Shawn Berner resigned in January after 11 seasons, more than 110 wins and three state championships, he left behind some pretty big shoes to fill. Fortunately, the Falcons didn’t have to look far to fill the void as assistant coach of three years, Anthony Butler, took over the football program in February.

 

Currently in their third week of practice, Butler has kept much of the same winning blueprint while making minimal changes to the Falcons’ practice regime, supporting the old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

 

“My coaching style is a lot similar to coach Berner’s – him and I are really on the same level,” said Butler. “I meshed [his] the style as soon as I got here. So the philosophy is about the same.”

 

The Falcons ended the 2012 season with an impressive 9-3 regular season record, 5-1 in region and 4-0 in district. The Falcons bid farewell to their dreams of a fourth state championship after losing to South Warren High School 24-7 in round two of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 3-A Commonwealth Gridiron Bowl last year.

 

“Preparations for this season have been going good,” said Butler. “The kids are picking up on the new schemes we’re doing. We try not to change a lot. We’ve got to get [the new players] familiar with the new style. Things are going good so far.”

 

The only area impacted by loss of players was the Falcons’ offensive line.

 

“We graduated three of the five offensive linemen we had, so right now that’s what were working on in our fall camp practices,” said Butler. “We’re focused on trying to get those guys developed.”

 

Even with a few losses, Fort Campbell’s expectations remain high for the 2013 season as Falcons star running back Triston Luke returns to its lineup. The junior has performed well during the summer practice schedule and could help lead his team to another state championship.

 

“He’s gotten a lot stronger this off-season,” said Butler. “He’s gotten faster, and he’s picked up on the stuff we’re doing. He’s making good decisions in the backfield with the football, as far as holding it – he’s coming along.”

 

Luke comes into the season confident in his and his team’s ability to dominate the competition.

 

“I’m very confident in my team,” Luke said. “We put a lot of hard work in the off season to be prepared for this season.”

 

Last season Luke broke the program’s single-season touchdown rushing record previously held by former Falcon Antonio Andrews, now a Western Kentucky University standout. Luke ended the season a mere 62 yards short placing himself in FCHS’ record book as the first running back to reach 2,000 yards in a season.

 

“This year I want to get more yards than I did last year and make an impact on defense,” said Luke.

 

Adding to the strong lineup is returning running back Christian Berry. The junior had an impressive season last year and hopes to improve on his performance.

 

“I feel great,” said Berry. “We’ve been working really hard during the off season. We’ve been running, lifting, everything. And practice has been going well – so that’s good. We’re looking forward to the [upcoming] Jamboree, to see how we come out against other teams.”

 

“This year our team goal is 15-0,” continued Berry. “As a personal goal, I want to be able to not focus on last play – if we mess up or anything like that – and instead focus on the next play and better myself with that play.”

 

Quarterback Jalen Williams also returns to the roster for a third year as starting quarterback. Junior Jonathan Jethroe, who stepped up last year after Williams suffered an injury early in the season, returns as well, giving the Falcons two experienced quarterbacks.

 

Also returning is linebacker Christian Noble who comes back for his fourth year on the team.

 

“I’m very hopeful for a great season this year,” Noble said. “A state championship is always on everybody’s mind here. I would love to go out with a bang, you know, my senior year.”

 

Returning with a solid core of experienced players has allowed Butler to spend time fine tuning, preparing for this season’s challenging schedule, instead of having to teach new players from scratch.

 

“[We have] a very tough schedule,” said Butler. “But me and coach Berner have the same mindset on this – we want to play the best teams we can, to prepare ourselves for the playoffs. We do have a tough schedule, but if we’re not playing tough opponents then we’re not getting any better.”

 

Looking past regular season and toward district, Butler focuses on long-range goals.

 

“[District] is going to be tough again,” said Butler. “Paducah Tilghman and Trigg County. Those two district games, that’s who we talk about every year.

 

“We focus on doing things the right way [through] hard work,” said Butler. “When we walk on the field, I tell the kids – you want to have no regrets when you walk off.”

 

The Falcons host a Jamboree at 7 p.m. Aug. 16 with Northeast and Kenwood high schools from Clarksville, and Marshall County.

 

Fort Campbell’s first season game will be against Mayfield High School at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 at Fryar Stadium.

 

Game schedule

 

Aug. 16 – Jamboree

 

Aug. 23 – Mayfield

 

Aug. 30 – Russellville

 

Sept. 6 – Fort Knox

 

Sept. 13 – Christian County

 

Sept. 20 – Caldwell County

 

Sept. 27 – McCracken County

 

Oct. 4 – OPEN

 

Oct. 11 – Paducah Tilghman

 

Oct. 18 – Webster County

 

Oct. 25 – Trigg County

 

Nov. 1 – Loretta (Tenn.)

Border Wars Jamboree - The Fort Campbell Courier: Sports

 

 

Falcons assistant coach takes reins, sets sights on state title

 

 

When Fort Campbell High School coach Shawn Berner resigned in January after 11 seasons, more than 110 wins and three state championships, he left behind some pretty big shoes to fill. Fortunately, the Falcons didn’t have to look far to fill the void as assistant coach of three years, Anthony Butler, took over the football program in February.

 

Currently in their third week of practice, Butler has kept much of the same winning blueprint while making minimal changes to the Falcons’ practice regime, supporting the old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”