The Mercer County Titans have made tremendous strides under head coach Chris Pardue's tutelage and they look to carry that momentum into 2014. After upsetting the Boyle County Rebels in the second round of the playoffs last season the Mercer County Titans lost to Lexington Catholic by the score of 49-14 to end their season. Coming into 2014 there are a lot of question marks surrounding the football team and whether or not they will be able to continue making strides in the right direction. There is a lot of optimism in Mercer County right now and with bragging rights over Boyle County right now there is a lot of confidence in Mercer County.

 

The biggest blow to the Titans has to be the uncertainty of quarterback Drew Davis' availability this season. Drew Davis took over the quarterback job last season after returning quarterback JT Long was injured for the season. Five games into the season Drew Davis suffered an ankle injury that sent him to the sidelines for the rest of the season. Austin Sparrow took over the position briefly and then in stepped Chris Crawley-Goodman who gave the Titans 842 yards passing, 894 yards rushing and also 296 yards receiving before being moved to the quarterback position. Crawley-Goodman had never played the quarterback position ever in his life before being moved to the position last season. Crawley-Goodman also accounted for 21 total touchdowns as he was the Titans leading rusher, second leading receiver and had 842 yards passing to Davis' 846 yards passing. Davis injured his other ankle during summer basketball in June and now Coach Pardue is going to try another fresh athlete at the quarterback position, sophomore Dustin Baker. Like Crawley-Goodman, Baker has never played the quarterback position before but Baker possesses the athleticism and ability to tuck it and run much like Crawley-Goodman and that is obviously something that Coach Pardue likes to have in his quarterbacks. How Dustin Baker will do at the position remains to be seen but he is looking to be the starting quarterback for the Titans when they begin their season on August 23 against the Bowling Green Purples.

 

Another blow to the Titans is the health of their speedster, Layne Peavler. Word is that Peavler should be ready to go either by the season opener or early in the season. Peavler will be a huge asset to the team and to Baker's development once he returns. Peavler is a bona fide threat to take the ball to the house when he touches it. He returns kickoffs and punts, was the team's leading receiver last season with 775 yards and 8 touchdowns, has lined up in the backfield and had 134 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries and he even threw a completed pass for 28 yards. As long as he is healthy the Titans will have Baker and Peavler as legitimate threats to make a huge play happen quickly.

 

In the backfield it looks like it could a running back by committee. Kobe Ford, Braxton Bradshaw and Donald "D" Smith will all likely see carries in the backfield for the Titans. One of those three could emerge as the lead back but I can see whoever has the hot hand at the moment being the one getting the most carries. The offensive line could have some new faces along with some youth. The offensive line looks to be the biggest question mark but early reports are that the linemen are coming along nicely.

 

The Titan defense is shaping up quite nicely despite the youth present on the field. A lot of the younger players saw the field last year and the Titans return their two leading tacklers in Braxton Bradshaw(160 total tackles) and Joey DeGiovanni(172). Once you add in Layne Peavler's 86 total tackles, Grayson Blevin's 76 total tackles, Austin Sparrow's 74 total tackles, Deron Bartleson's 66 total tackles, Malik Ford, Jerrard Smith and Lorenzo Smith you start to get the picture of the excitement surrounding the Titan's defense this season. Not to be forgotten are defensive backs Chase Moore and D Smith who will provide speed and athleticism to a young but athletic defense.

 

How will Mercer County's season play out? A lot of their success will depend on how quickly Dustin Baker can adapt to a new position at the varsity level. There was some talk of him being moved to quarterback once the season ended and once practice began this year he was at that position. Either way, it looks like Dustin Baker will be the quarterback of the present and future for Mercer County. The Titans are certainly capable of making some noise this year. They have a great mixture of sophomores and juniors that will gain even more experience this season. They are definitely confident in Mercer County and I won't be surprised by any of the success they have this season. Coach Pardue has the Titans going in the right direction.

[TABLE=class: team_score_table]

[TR=class: schedule-odd]

[TD=width: 10%]Aug 23, 14[/TD]

[TD]Bowling Green[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]at Western Kentucky University[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]8:00 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments]Rafferty's Bowl[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-even]

[TD=width: 10%]Aug 29, 14[/TD]

[TD]Glasgow[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc][/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]8:00 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-odd]

[TD=width: 10%]Sep 5, 14[/TD]

[TD]West Jessamine[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]home[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]7:30 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-even]

[TD=width: 10%]Sep 12, 14[/TD]

[TD]Central Hardin[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]away[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]7:30 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-odd]

[TD=width: 10%]Sep 19, 14[/TD]

[TD]Anderson County[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]home[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]7:30 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-even]

[TD=width: 10%]Sep 26, 14[/TD]

[TD]Lexington Catholic[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]home[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]7:30 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-odd]

[TD=width: 10%]Oct 10, 14[/TD]

[TD]Marion County[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]away[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]7:30 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-even]

[TD=width: 10%]Oct 17, 14[/TD]

[TD]Taylor County[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]home[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]7:30 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-odd]

[TD=width: 10%]Oct 24, 14[/TD]

[TD]Boyle County[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]away[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]7:30 PM[/TD]

[TD=class: team_score_comments][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR=class: schedule-even]

[TD=width: 10%]Oct 31, 14[/TD]

[TD]Paul Laurence Dunbar[/TD]

[TD=class: schedule-loc]away[/TD]

[TD=colspan: 2][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD=width: 10%]7:30 PM[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Thanks PPride!

I was wondering about Mercer County; them being the Purples first opponents. It will be a really interesting game considering all the change from last season to now.

Thanks PPride!

I was wondering about Mercer County; them being the Purples first opponents. It will be a really interesting game considering all the change from last season to now.

 

Agreed. It will be interesting to see how both teams do. I think it could be a sloppy first quarter for both teams but I think BG will be too much for them as the game goes on.

Donald "D" Smith is the son of former Harrodsburg and WKU star RB Donald Smith. Pretty cool that his son will play at WKU for the second time in his high school career. The place where his father is known as one of the greatest RBs that WKU ever had.

Donald "D" Smith is the son of former Harrodsburg and WKU star RB Donald Smith. Pretty cool that his son will play at WKU for the second time in his high school career. The place where his father is known as one of the greatest RBs that WKU ever had.

Hyperbole much? He was one of the greatest RB's Harrodsburg High ever had.... Looking forward to watching his son develop as I've heard he is talented.

Hyperbole much? He was one of the greatest RB's Harrodsburg High ever had.... Looking forward to watching his son develop as I've heard he is talented.

 

I am getting old but I could have sworn I remembered him having a great career at WKU as a running back. Of course now I can't find his stats anywhere.

Agreed. It will be interesting to see how both teams do. I think it could be a sloppy first quarter for both teams but I think BG will be too much for them as the game goes on.

 

With several key injuries for Mercer I will have to agree that the Purples depth may be too much for Mercer by the end of the game.

If Mercer was 100% going into this game I think it could have been very interesting.

I'll be curious to see how Mercer uses Chase Moore on offense, I saw him in track and he is one of the fastest kids in the state. With the Peavler kid not at 100% I would want to get him the ball.

I think Mercer should be fast at every position on Defense.

Either way..... Football season is almost here!!!!

Smith had one really good season where he rushed for 1000yds. I believe it was his senior season...he had to play behind WKU All American Joe Arnold (who is one of the greatest RBs WKU ever had) for most of his career.

Smith had one really good season where he rushed for 1000yds. I believe it was his senior season...he had to play behind WKU All American Joe Arnold (who is one of the greatest RBs WKU ever had) for most of his career.

 

I just found the stats. I remembered Smith being good while at WKU. I just figured it was for more than one season.

With several key injuries for Mercer I will have to agree that the Purples depth may be too much for Mercer by the end of the game.

If Mercer was 100% going into this game I think it could have been very interesting.

I'll be curious to see how Mercer uses Chase Moore on offense, I saw him in track and he is one of the fastest kids in the state. With the Peavler kid not at 100% I would want to get him the ball.

I think Mercer should be fast at every position on Defense.

Either way..... Football season is almost here!!!!

 

 

I agree. Getting Chase Moore the ball as much as possible while Peavler is out only helps the Titans in the long run. If Moore can develop into another weapon for the Titans that adds more potency to the offense.

Mercer will be 3-7, maybe 4-6 if they can beat central hardin.

They lose to:

Bowling. Green

Glasgow

Anderson

Boyle

Lex Cath

Dunbar