North Laurel 2014 Preview

Top returners:

Keaton Kennedy K Senior

Miles Sherman OG Senior

Jaythus Riley WR Senior

Jake McFadden RB Senior

Nick Hermann C Senior

Steven Nelson RB Junior

Hagen Hodges QB. Senior

Top Newcomers:

Jake McWhorter MLB Junior

Tucker Sharpe CB Junior

 

Outlook:

North Laurel just finished 2013 as their most successful in school history recording the most wins and most points scored in the history of the school. The Jaguars lost 17 seniors and the majority of their offensive production. Seniors Gabe Blair (RB) and Michael Nelson (QB will be replaced by Hagen Hodges (QB) and Jake McFadden (RB). Hagen Hodges will be a senior who has been a steady backup for the past three seasons and will finally see his name on the starting rotation. Jake McFadden is an Ivy League recruit who can run a legitimate 4.5 forty yard dash. The Jaguars are re-vamping their defense also with a new defensive coordinator and will be running a 4-3 as opposed to the 3-5 in the past few seasons. Jim Black, long time head coach at Williamsburg and Whitley County will become the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator this season replacing Shane Sams who resigned for another career field after 5 seasons with North Laurel.

Keaton Kennedy is a 4 year letterman who has tied the school record twice for longest field goal at 48 yards. Kennedy has 149 career points kicking and kicked a school record 16 field goals. Jake McFadden has excelled as a fullback but will be transitioning to a bigger role in the backfield this season. He has carried the ball 83 times for 840 career yards. He also has recorded 203 career tackles and set the school record for most tackles in a game with 23. The offensive line will once again be the backbone for the Jaguars, however, there will be some fresh faces on the line this season with some undeclassmen showing off their strength they built in the off-season. The Jaguars are still attempting to win their first playoff game in school history. That has been the teams goal since Coach Larkey took over five seasons ago and also to win the schools 2nd District Championship in school history.

 

The schedule for North seems to be a very tough one. Week 1 vs state runner up Wayne Co looks to be a tough matchup in the CVNB Bowl, week 2 pits North vs a very experienced and tough Knox Central tea, in the Appalachian Bowl in Clay Co. Week 3 gets tough with a home game vs a Montgomery Co team who returns a ton of skill players. When the district comes in week 5 a SWPC team will return all players and a new coach in Larry French who comes over from Boyle Co. Week 6 is vs State runner up Pulaski Co who returns their top players including Riley Hall at QB. Week 7 is vs. Lincoln Co team with a new coach in Travis Lefew. Week 8 doesn't get any easier when North faces the #1 recruit in Ky in Damien Harris and the Eagles of Madison Southern. Week 9 gets the rivalry game vs cross town rival South Laurel.

North has around 65 players and after talking to Coach Larkey he says they have some good players and very little depth at skill positions due to a few starters quitting or not playing this season. It looks to be a very interesting season for North.

After a good 2013 season I expect North Laurel to have a good 2014.