What does South Oldham need to do to improve in 2017? What do they need to keep doing to be successful? Remember, please be constructive.

South Oldham had an outstanding season in 2016. They have a strong nucleus of players returning but some big shoes to fill in 2017.

 

Returning offense

 

SR QB Drew Zaubi (2317 yds/32 TDs passing / 367/13 TDs rushing)

SO FB Keaton Martin (1558/19 TDs rushing)

JR WB Payden George (537/4 TDs rushing / 344/6 TDs receiving)

JR WB Colton Bowlden (365/4 TDs rushing / 365/4 TDs receiving)

SR WR Drake Silcox (371/5 TDs receiving)

SR C Tanner Goodlett

SR RT Brett Basham

 

Returning defense

 

SR DE Hayden McMullin

SR LB Zach Moore

JR LB Noah Mitchell

SR CB JaMartez Beaudoin

SO S John Downing

JR S Payden George

 

There are several players who played a significant amount last season who can fill in for those who graduated. WR Keanan John will be missed but SO Ethan Behdnarczyk is ready to step in after being a solid contributor in the playoffs. I think losing all-state RG Graham Ashkettle, Alex Crittendon, Tanner Bates and Nick Mills on the OL and their productivity will be the toughest challenge this offense will face. There are some good players ready to step up -- that will be interesting to follow in training camp.

Losing Ashkettle, Jared Cotton and Darren Weathers on the DL, all-state MLB Drew Baetens and all-state CB Keanan John will be tough to replace. SO JT Benson is ready to take over for John at CB as well as the kick returner role. SO DL Tyrelle Love should be ready to step in this season and be a starter. Again, there are some very good players ready for their shot at moving into the starting line up.

This is a very, very good coaching staff and I believe this team could be very good come playoff time. The opening two games (CAL and Doss) should give them a good idea of where they stand and what needs to be done for another playoff run. Looking forward to the season!

SO class should be pretty loaded. Look for South to be contenders the next 3 years.

Will have one of the best QBs in the state in Drew Zaubi

 

Kid is really talented. Has really improved a ton.

The Dragons had a great season last year and I expect this to be another great one for them. But I'm not sure if they're top 5 just yet. How many starters/key players do they return from last years team?

 

Per the thread on 5A pre-season rankings this explains what they have coming back.

Thanks @FootballBobcat, somehow I missed this. Seems like they are returning a lot of production on offense and defense. Is the new oline coming along?

South's OL is coming together. Always hard to tell too much at this point as the pads have not come on yet. With one of the best OL coaches in the state in Carey Figg I have a lot of confidence he will have them ready. As for the DL not sure yet. Let you know when they scrimmage Butler how they look.

The key to the South program, which has become a perennial success story under Jamie Reed & company, is the impressive coaching staff. Jamie has done a fantastic job, as have his assistants.

 

Footballbobcat lists a solid list of returnees....

 

Returning offense

 

SR QB Drew Zaubi (2317 yds/32 TDs passing / 367/13 TDs rushing) May be the best all-around QB in school history, is solid both passing and running. Will need every bit of his savvy and skill early in the year as the new OL gets settled.

 

SO FB Keaton Martin (1558/19 TDs rushing) SCARY. Didn't start most of the games last year, simply came off the bench and ripped apart defenses. Not your typical sophomore - much less sophomore FULLBACK. Fullbacks aren't supposed to run away from everyone on long runs.... (are they??? LOL) Really fits Reed's offense well.

 

JR WB Payden George (537/4 TDs rushing / 344/6 TDs receiving) 537 yards doesn't seem like a lot, but every time SO looked to him to be the leader, he came up big. Probably won't see the touches Martin will, which will probably mean he will rip off some big runs due to opponents not paying close enough attention!

 

JR WB Colton Bowlden (365/4 TDs rushing / 365/4 TDs receiving) I think Bowlden has a lot of potential. Didn't get a lot of opportunities to shine while carrying the ball last year, but is a run-receiving threat. Great complement to Martin-George.

 

SR WR Drake Silcox (371/5 TDs receiving) Has the skills to step into K. John's shoes....South somehow finds a new stud at WR every year. This could be the senior's year.

 

SR C Tanner Goodlett These two OL impressed as part of one of the best O-lines

SR RT Brett Basham in the state last year. They will need to step up early as

newcomers come up. Having a vet at center is key to

early success...

 

 

 

Returning defense

 

SR DE Hayden McMullin

SR LB Zach Moore

JR LB Noah Mitchell

SR CB JaMartez Beaudoin

SO S John Downing

JR S Payden George

 

I could say the same thing about every one of the above defensive players - they moved up to more responsible roles (more starts/more snaps) and each rose to the occasion. Downing was simply a ball hawk in the secondary, and solid in run support. Beaudoin, a state track champ, won't be run from, and Moore and Mitchell really emerged at LB. McMullen can play LB or DE, and is a blue-collar kind of worker. Payden George is solid.

 

In short, South has a real good core coming back, a superb coaching staff, and it looks like another good year. The offensive line is the biggest question mark, but I have to echo the above - Carey Figg is as good as they come coaching the OL. If he can't get it done, well, maybe it can't be done.

 

Looking forward to broadcasting the games again this year. Pegasus will definitely air the following games on The Pegasus Sports Network - PSN (high definition video):

 

8/25 - vs. Doss

9/8 - at North Oldham

9/22 - vs. Oldham County

10/13 - vs. Bullitt Central

10/20 - at North Bullitt (this game has decided the district crown the last two years)

 

Post-season TBA

 

We may be able to add another regular season game as well.

 

CM

Nice post ColonelMike and enjoy the broadcasts. Think you could add South Oldham vs CAL? Great opening weekend game!

Nice post ColonelMike and enjoy the broadcasts. Think you could add South Oldham vs CAL? Great opening weekend game!

 

Thanks, Bobcat! We really enjoy doing them! Great ride with South last year!

 

That is a tantalizing game. CAL's always a solid program - Coach Lefors has done an amazing job there and they are one of the most disciplined teams we see year-in and year-out.

 

That might be an added game....trying to work out a few details, though, logistically. The schedule is always a challenging thing for us to put together; it's never as easy as simply scheduling the games that are the best matchups. Among the thoughts that go into the schedule:

 

- is the game intriguing? Does it pass the "eye test"? (South-CAL certainly passes that test!)

- are there issues setting up at the game location? (there are press boxes in the state where it's extremely difficult for Pegasus to set up - even though we require very little room - due to certain extenuating circumstances)

- is there any problems connecting to the internet? (this used to be a bigger issue at more schools, but it still occasionally is - since we broadcast video, we require more broadband, and the signal strength needs to be consistent.)

- is it a game matching two Oldham teams? (we always do those games, automatically, regardless of the matchup)

- Can the Pegasus crew get to the game in time? (we all have "real" jobs - although Pegasus has traveled all over the state for football broadcasts, including Bowling Green, northern KY, Danville, Owensboro, Somerset, etc., etc., sometimes away games are simply too far away to ensure getting a crew there)

- Finally, have we scheduled an equal number of regular season broadcasts for each Oldham school? (it's all a big balancing act - LOL!)

 

The CAL folks are always wonderfully welcoming to Pegasus and if we can get a crew to do that game, we will.

 

CM

People may want to remember that the South Oldham Middle School team two years ago went all the way to the state middle school championship game. Those kids are now working their way up the ranks and have established a winning tradition all their own. They will probably be mostly the top reserves this year, and the team leaders the following two years...

Nice post ColonelMike and enjoy the broadcasts. Think you could add South Oldham vs CAL? Great opening weekend game!

 

CAL has a broadcast team all their games are usually online. South Oldham will have their hands full that game.

CAL has a broadcast team all their games are usually online. South Oldham will have their hands full that game.

 

Yep, we work with them a lot. Mike's a good guy.

South Oldham vs Butler scrimmage now on Thursday Aug 10th at 7PM.