2013 Review

2013 season was a remarkable run for the Louisville Male football team as they finished with a 12-2 record which set a high water mark for the most wins in over a decade. On the way to those 12 wins, Male captured the "Super District" and Regional Championship, but the signature moment of the season actually happened twice with Male beating private school 6A football powers Trinity and St. Xavier in back-to-back weeks not once but twice. A young Male football team (starting 7 sophomores) played one of the toughest schedules in the state, by playing 8 out of 14 games against the top 20 ranked football schools, according to the Litkenhouse ratings.

 

Offense/QB

Male returns eight starters from what was one of the best offenses in the state (35.6 ppg) in 2013. QB, Davis Mattingly 6-5 210, the returning District Player of the Year, was 276/439 3,128 yards with 27-7 TD/Int. Davis currently holds the All-time State record for completions in a game with 47 vs St. X in the regional semi final game last year.

 

Offensive Line

The Bulldogs return four out of five starting offense lineman is usually. Last year’s offensive line only gave up seven sacks in 467 pass attempts. Anchoring the line is two time All-District selection, and 1st Team AP All-State Center, Houston Sparkman, SR 6-1 280. Houston may be one of the strongest players in the state as he sports a 400+ bench and a 500+ squat. With the departure of Marcus Butler at left guard the new largest offensive lineman will now be returning RT and 1st Team All- District selection Isaiah Arnold, JR 6-4 358. Rounding out the returning starters on the offensive line is senior left tackle Harrison Shelton 6'2" 255 and Junior right guard Noah Bringer 6'2 305. The final starting offensive line spot will be a competition between Sr Jarren Thomas, 6-1 255 and Jr. Chris Perkins, 6-0 270.

 

Offensive Skill

Many weapons return for quarterback Davis Mattingly including the top two rushers from last year, senior Ellis Cain, 5-10 200 and Sr Tyrone Wilkerson 5-8 180. Cain rushed for 1297 yards and 19 TDs and had 45 receptions for 380 yards. Wilkerson rushed for 386 yards, eight TDs and averaged 9.4 yards per carry. While Male lost the leader in receptions from last year Marque Northington (103) it returns the leader in reception yards, Keion Wakefield, Jr 5-9 165. Wakefield had 41 receptions 886 yards 11 TDs and is considered one of the top players in his class, he already boasts multiple D1 offers and was MVP at Oregon's summer camp. Returning at the slot/TE position is Jr. Ethan Britt, 6-0 190. Britt had 26 catches for 391 yards and 5 TDs. Other notable receivers in the rotation at Male are Sr Will Edwards, 5-10 180, Sr Evan Bibb, 6-1 185, Jr. Zackery Smith, 5-11 170.

 

Defense

Male returns eight starters from a defense that only gave up 14.4 points per game and held their opponents to a measly 27% third-down conversion on the season. Collectively, this unit had 114 1/2 tackles for loss and 34 sacks on their opponents in 2013.

 

Key losses

Although Male only lost three starters on defense the three starters they lost Mike and Malik Malone, and DT Edward Moore are all going to be playing college football.

 

Defense Returners

Male does return leading tackler Jr, DE Marcus Davis 6'2 245. Marcus led the team in tackles (98) and tackles for loss with 20 1/2 and in sacks with 6 1/2. Marcus was a first team all district selection as a sophomore. Returning on the defensive line with Marcus are Sr Anthony Cummings 5'10" 235 and junior DT Paul Blincoe 6'1 280. Cummings had 10 tackles for loss with five sacks and Blincoe had 4 TFLs with the 2.5 sacks. LB/SS Stephen Miller, 5-11 200 (59tkls), S Etonio Palmer Sr, 5-9 165 (7.5 tfl& 3sacks), CB Deiondre Coleman 5-9 160 (3 ints) were all 14 game starters on Defense. The secondary boasts a wealth of experience in DB Devin Gentry 5-9 165, DB James Todd 5-10 170, CB Demetrius Holt 5-8 150, and CB Zackery Smith all have multiple game starting experience. Gentry may be one of the fastest DBs in the State. During track season he finished 2nd in the 100m and boast a personal best 10.78 100 meter.

 

Special Teams

Senior Jonah White, 5-9 220, returns to handle placekicking duties,

Jonah was 56 of 61, 92% on extra points and 7-11 on field goals, including a game winner with 7.7 seconds left vs St. X in the playoffs. Davis Mattingly returns to handle punting duties, Davis averaged 35.2 yards per punt including a long of 62. Punt return duties will be handled once again by Keion Wakefield and Zackary Smith. Wakefield average 17.6 per return including a 73 yard touchdown, Smith averaged 8.4 yards per return including a long of 27.

 

Coaching

Head Coach Chris Wolfe

Career record 113-67 (15yrs)

Record @Male 33-20 (4yrs)

Last year 12-2

 

Outlook

Expectations are obviously high after the 2013 campaign, the non-district schedule includes Floyd Central, In (8-3) @Butler (11-3), Meade Co (12-3) and Ballard, to go with District Games against Manual, ST. X, and Trinity. In 2013, both of Male's losses came after back to back emotionally charged wins against St. X and Trinity once in the regular season then again in the playoffs resulting in a state semi-final loss to Scott Co, the eventual 6A State Champion. Can the Bulldogs put their A game together for 3 or 4 straight weeks against the best of the best in 6A? That's likely what it will take to make it through the State's toughest District, Region and Semi-State and earn a chance to play for a State Championship.

What are Male's chances of repeating as District Champions? State Champions?

Someone closer to the program can tell me if I'm right or not but I think this was Male's first year running their offense. They run the NZone system which is the same offense UCLA runs. If it was their first year then they could be very dangerous in their second year.

Man they return a lot, should be interesting to see how that super district plays out but after reading the preview they must be the preseason favorites

I would predict Male to win the "Super District" again this year.

 

When Male is at their typical level, football is that much fun/entertaining in the Louisville area.

Looks like 'The U' of Kentucky High School Football is locked and loaded again. No surprise. Fan here.