2014 Prep Football Preview: Johnson Central

 

 

Posted: Thursday, August 21, 2014 2:00 pm

Zack Klemme / The Independent

One season after a dominant 11-0 start floated away with a stunning playoff setback to Covington Catholic, Johnson Central is trying to figure out how to replicate and even exceed that success.

 

All that, without its top three rushers or starting quarterback from last season.

 

But because of the wealth of depth in the Golden Eagles’ playmaking corps, they still expect to be in the conversation among the top teams in the area and, potentially, the state in Class 4A once again.

 

“This is gonna be an unusual, exciting, nerve-racking year, and we’ll see if we can truly keep this thing going,” Johnson Central coach Jim Matney said. “We’re kind of under the philosophy of the ‘next man in,’ and I think that’s a pretty good summation. We’re telling our people, ‘OK, it’s your turn,’ and we’re gonna see how far that takes us.”

 

The aforementioned next men in will have to take the place of graduated quarterback Zach Gound and running backs Jordan Young and Josh Dillon, as well as Daymion Belcher, who transferred to Paintsville. Belcher, Young and Dillon combined for 3,166 rushing yards and 55 touchdowns last year.

 

“It’s the first year since I’ve been here that we have to replace our entire backfield. That’s the bad news,” Matney said. “The good news is, we’ve got some very capable people stepping in.”

 

Senior Patrick Rice and sophomore Gunner Slone are “a couple of big, hard-running backs,” Matney said. Juniors Connor Ratliff and Bryce Skaggs provide speed in the backfield.

 

Junior Bryce Workman takes over under center. He was an All-Area free safety last season in his first year as a Golden Eagle and started at QB for Sheldon Clark as a freshman.

 

Among his targets are senior Dalton Adkins, Johnson Central’s leading receiver last year with 479 yards and six TDs, and senior tight end Truman Salyer.

 

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Maybe no as much of a factor in the 4A mix. Will definitely be a lower tier contender, just because with all the backfield being gone/ graduated and the transferred of Belcher is a major lost. Highlands will always be Highlands, Lex Catholic has always been a top contender regardless who the head coach, Boyle County is always a top contender and now with the addition of the LEGENDARY coach Smith back and Covington Cath returns MAJORITY of their starters from last season. The following season though, when these young man a more experience and the above mention teams moves on, Johnson Cent will dominate 4A.