South Oldham (5-4 in 2020, 2nd in Class 5A district 4) returns some key players from last year's squad, that started off hot, winning four of its first five games, before struggling late against a tough, tough schedule to finish 5-4.    Key to this year's success will be the guys up front, a big, strong, veteran group of linemen that include center Ethan Phillips (6-2, 252, senior), guards Elijah Lalli (6-2, 270, senior) and Grayson Brashear (6-3, 270, junior), and tackles J.T. Self (6-3, 245, senior) and Toby Cercone (6-2, 240, junior).    Brashear already has a scholarship offer from EKU, and this is a group that has head coach Jamie Reed excited about the possibilities for the 2021 offensive attack.

Carey Figg, Reed's longtime offensive line coach and the former University of Louisville center (1991 Fiesta Bowl team) appears to have once again molded together the O-line into a South Oldham trump card.

The offense features three backs who all saw significant playing time last year as sophomores.

Though South may show different formations this year, look for the Dragons to still try to establish the run early - but this team may be talented enough in all the right places to play power football, or run the ball with speed and finesse.    

Luke Oliveros, a 5-8  160-pound junior, will have the tailback spot in this offense.   Oliveros only had 12 carries last year, but teased the Dragon faithful with his explosiveness, running for 101 yards (8.4 yards / carry) and two TDs.    Junior Jeffrey Burton also returns, and will start at fullback.   Burton showed some explosiveness as well in 2020, rushing for 329 yards on just 45 carries, the third-best total on the team.   Burton found the end zone four times and is the leading returning rusher on the squad.

Jack McCubbin, also a junior, may be the most versatile of the Dragons' stable of runners.   McCubbin will start at the slotback position, but can easily move to tailback or fullback.   McCubbin showed a nice blend of speed and power in 2020, rushing for 249 yards; he also showed the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

6'1" senior Devlin McGee takes the reins at QB for South, following in a long tradition of the McGee family at SOHS.   Older brother Kellen led South in receptions and receiving TDs last year; another older brother, Michael, was a Dragon QB.    Devlin brings his own skillset to the position.   A talented runner in his own right, Devlin is a strong enough passer to keep defenses honest.

The Dragons' receiving corps boasts more speed than last year, but is unproven.

Defensively, the Dragons will look to be able to platoon their two lines, with the exception that Ethan Phillips and Brashear may rotate into the DL at times.    Key to the Dragons success early will be how fast the LB corps matures as a unit; South faces CAL, Fairdale, and Ballard to start the season and the defense will be tested early.   Kyle Smythe, a 5-10, 185 pound senior, is the lone returning starter at LB; look for Burton and McCubbin to see plenty of time at the MLB and ROLB spots, especially early in the season.

Three returning starters in the defensive backfield include Wyatt Fowler at FS (6-2, 180, junior), Luke Oliveros at SS, and Jaret Straker at CB (Jr).

The Dragons return their entire coaching staff from last year; this is a group that has molded together under Jamie Reed and has been the most successful group of football coaches in South history.   The Dragons have never had a losing season under Reed - 11 straight winning seasons now - and, prior to the COVID shortened 2020 season - had won at least 10 games five straight years, winning a total of 55 games from 2015-2019.

CAL - Following in the steps of another University of Louisville QB (Stefan Lefors), Hunter Cantwell took over the reins of the Centurions in 2019, and has won 7 games in each of his first two years at the Louisville school.    After his first team went 7-5 and lost in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs, Cantwell took his second team to a 7-3 record last season, advancing all the way to the state semi-finals, before succumbing to state runner-up Elizabethtown.

The CAL coaching staff looks like a "who's who" of former University of Louisville players, including Cantwell, former QB Chris Redman, and former U of L tight end Keith Towbridge.

As of this writing, I haven't completed my research on CAL, but the Centurions will have to re-tool somewhat, after losing some key contributors on offense.    Last year's squad averaged just over 30 points per game, with a balanced attack that featured quarterback Conner Clayton Masters (2,065 yards passing / 25 TDs) and running back Brandt Babin (1,005 yards rushing / 9 TDs).   Both Masters and Babin are gone to graduation, so some new skill position players will have to step up in 2021.  

Senior WR Easton Messer is a key returnee; last year's leading receiver for the Centurions caught 49 passes for 830 yards and 10 TDs.

On defense, junior linebacker Gavin Copenhaver returns after recording 69 total tackles in 2020 - second-most on the team - as a sophomore.

I'll add to this preview as we get closer to the game.....on game night, I'll post updates.

LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE begins at 7 pm ET on Friday 8/20/21 on www.pegasussportsky.com 

Amazing like always @ColonelMike!

@ColonelMikegreat write-up.  I love this detail.

Looking forward to this matchup.

CAL is checking in at #3 in class 3A in the BGPreps poll.    South is uncharacteristically unranked in the preseason 5A poll - but that class is SO deep, perhaps that's not overly suprising.

Going to be watching how that South Oldham offensive line - which looks very impressive - fares against the CAL front seven.

CAL leads the modern series 3-0, having beaten South in 2017 (28-14), 2018 (21-3), and in 2019 (6-0 in overtime).   

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CM

I am sure LCA will be interested in this one too since they play at CAL week 4. They took care of South Oldham quite handily last Friday night in 3 quarters of scrimmage. The new spread look will take some time to get down. Tough opponent out of the gate for sure based on CAL's tradition. But other than tradition not much to go on. The film won't lie though on Saturday morning! 

8 hours ago, ColonelMike said:

Going to be watching how that South Oldham offensive line - which looks very impressive - fares against the CAL front seven.

CAL leads the modern series 3-0, having beaten South in 2017 (28-14), 2018 (21-3), and in 2019 (6-0 in overtime).   

CAL's defense has really clamped down hard on the Dragons in this series. If South is going to buck that trend, the o-line is a good place to start. There's another reason for optimism at the line of scrimmage for SO: The graduation losses of the Babin brothers and a few others have left some challenging holes to fill in that Centurion front seven. 

 

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This should be a fun one....

3:39 left in first

South 3, CAL 0 after a 24 yard FG by Sam Reagan

CAL ball at their own 29 first and 10    7:45 to go in half

South still leads 3-0 and we're playing ball in the CAL end of the field.

4:40 to play in half

Cole Hodge 31 yard pass over middle to Easton Messer.

7-3 CAL

South fumbles at about their own 30

With 2:01 to go till halftime, Hodge connects with Messer again from 8 yards out.

14-3 CAL

McGee goes deep - too deep - intercepted by CAL at the CAL 28

HALF:  CAL 14 South 3

South misfires on a wide-open pass for a TD just seconds before the half.

CAL takes the second half KO and marches to score.

6:03 to play in third.   Cole Hodge 1 yard QB keeper

CAL 21 South 3

South ready to get the ball for the first time this half.