Final per the update thread.

Congrats to Coach French and Middlesboro. I like the Golden Lions but was kind of hoping French would win this one.

:dancingpa glad the Jackets won! Taking steps in the right direction.

Keep Kyle healthy!

This was a fun opening night game. Both teams had good and bad moments. Garrard fumbled three times in the red zone, including once going into the end zone. Garrard spent much of the preseason working two quarterbacks. They played Hansford there in the first half, before moving him to his more comfortable running back position in the second half and bringing in Foley at quarterback. Both played well under center but the offense looked more explosive in the second half with Hansford at running back. While Garrard isn't particularly fast there does appear to be some more play-making ability in the backfield than the last couple of years.

 

Middlesboro's quarterback/receiver Jabari Kyle was very impressive, especially in the first half. His ability to reverse field gave Garrard fits and his speed was hard to contain. I don't know what Middlesboro's ceiling is but they'll be well coached and they're in a reasonable district. It could be a better year for the Yellowjackets than many are predicting.

I was impressed with Middlesboro's Tyler Kelly. Any relation to David Kelly who was a stud on the 1998 state championship team?