Who:   CAL at South Oldham

When:  Friday 8/19/22

Kickoff time:  7:30 pm ET at Mitchell Irvin Stadium

Broadcast:  Pregame shows starts at 7 pm ET.   Free, live hi-def video on www.pegasussportsky.com    Free viewing archives as well

Last Year:   CAL defeated South, 31-11.     The Centurions are 4-0 all-time against South Oldham

For the third consecutive year, Pegasus Sports will open its football broadcast season with the CAL / South Oldham game.   Although CAL won last year's game pretty decisively, this has usually been a treat of a game to watch.    Two years ago, the game went to overtime tied at 0, before CAL eked out a 6-0 OT win.

South is coming off yet another solid season when they finished 9-4, regained their district title, and went all the way to the 5A regional title game, before losing to eventual state champion South Warren.   Look for the Dragons to show a mix of their spread offense and the option this year, and some familiar faces will return to key the attack.   Though the QB spot will feature a new face, and leading rusher Kyle Smythe (1,083 yards rushing / 14 scores) is gone, the Dragons will have some experienced backs to give the ball to:   Jack McCubbin (628 yards rushing / 10 TDs), speedy Jeffrey Burton (382 yards / 3 TDs), and Luke Oliveros (217 yards / 3 TDs) all return for 2022 and give head coach Jamie Reed a versatile and deep backfield with runners that have differing skills.    All three can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Wyatt Fowler has spent the last three years on defense for the Dragons, but the athletic senior takes over the role of signal-caller for the O this year.   He'll be backed up by junior Nick Hamilton; both are athletic quarterbacks who will be legitimate dual threats this year.

It's a huge line up front for South, ranging from Troy Fowler in the middle - a "small" junior at 6-3 265 pounds - to the massive sophomore Matt Wells at RT, checking in at 6-7 375 pounds.    RG Grayson Brashear (6-4  310 pound senior) already has 7 offers from Division 1 schools, including Army, WKU, EKU, and Miami of Ohio.   SR LG Toby Cercone (6-3  295) and JR LT Jake Waldrop (6-3 275) round out what could be a special unit.

The South defense should be speedy and Reed hopes this crew will be improved against the pass thanks to some extremely talented / speedy secondary players.   That secondary will be tested by one of the best passing attacks in the state in this opening game.

Head coach Jamie Reed starts his 13th season at the helm of the Dragons; the South mentor has never had a losing season in Crestwood.

CAL starts its fourth season under former University of Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell.    The Centurions went 11-2 last season, falling in the regional championship game to eventual state runner-up Paducah Tilghman.   

An offensive juggernaut in 2021, CAL scored 21 or more points in all 13 games last year, and scored 34 or more in each of its last 8 contests.     Some of the key skill players are back, including QB Cole Hodge (2,101 yards passing, 28 TDs 4 INT / 572 yards rushing 8 TDs) and Gavin Copenhaver (738 yards rushing / 16 TDs).   

Copenhaver was also last year's leading tackler for CAL, with 105 total tackles including a whopping 15 TFL.     The defense welcomes several key players back, in fact, including #2 tackler senior Isaac Patrick (63 total tackles), the #4 tackler from 2021, senior McKade Battcher (52 total tackles), and the #5 tackler, senior Samuel McCoun, who registered 51 total tackles, including a team-high 16 TFL.

A notable departure is at wideout; Easton Messer (1,254 yards receiving on 68 catches / 17 TDs) is a hole that will be hard for any one player to fill.

Kickoff is at 7:30 pm at South; free live hi-def coverage on Pegasus Sports starts at 7 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com    The game broadcast will also be available afterward as an archive on the site.

CM

 

 

 

CAL could make a hard run at Kroger Field this year. There's a lot of quality players in the program right now. Returning a great young quarterback and most of the defense is a great foundation to build on. 

SO's size up front could give CAL trouble and I really like McCubbin as an all-around football player. The Dragons are working their way back to being a top ten program. 

I've watched most of the recent games between these two. SO holds its own physically, but struggles to put the ball in the endzone. They've scored 28 points combined in the four previous meetings. Credit CAL's defensive coaches and effort.

I think another great Centurions defensive effort gets it done again, though this one could be close. The Dragons are absolutely capable.

McCubbin suffered an injury in their first scrimmage and is out indefinitely. Should return this season but no timetable set yet. Talented sophomore Julian Miles is expected to help fill that void and I’m told he’ll bring a different level of athleticism to the backfield. I look for SO to pound it on the ground and chew clock to win a close game 17-14.

Losing McCubbin is a tough loss for South but they have enough talent to overcome it. After watching the scrimmage last week it would not surprise me to see Nick Hamilton under center Friday night. 
This game to me will come down to South’s line controlling the LOS and the offense controlling the clock with long scoring drives. The defense will need to slow down CAL and keep them out of the end zone just enough to squeak by. 

Also want to see CAL’s passing game without Messer. He is a special talent. 

Game broadcast begins at 7 pm on www.pegasussportsky.com     Andy Kerrick and Matt Hill have the call from the brand new press box in Crestwood at Mitchell Irvin Stadium.

(free hi-def video)

South looking for their first-ever victory against CAL, and the Dragons are very capable of pulling the upset.    The matchup of a speedy Dragon secondary versus the CAL passing game, which is as good as they come, will be very interesting, indeed.

South coach Jamie Reed has never had a losing season in Crestwood and has won over 73% of his games at the helm of the Dragons.....

Hunter Cantwell has done a tremendous job in the few short years he's been at CAL....

Should be a classic chess match.

 

Interesting game and a tough one to pick.

CAL up 7-0 after snap went over the South’s punters head. CAL took it in from 34 yards out on Cole Hodge scramble. 

Just now, FootballBobcat said:

CAL up 7-0 after snap went over the South’s punters head. CAL took it in from 34 yards out on Cole Hodge scramble. 

Thanks @FootballBobcat!

CAL not respecting South passing game. Really no Safety. 

Just as I say that South hits a 50 yard pass play! Ball at the 30.

South QB sacked on 3rd and 14. Have to punt. End of the first. 

After South got the ball back went 3 and out. Tried a fake punt and CAL stopped them. CAL now driving at the 1 yard line. 

Copenhaver with a 1yd TD. CAL 14-0. If South can’t get a passing game going it will be a long night for the Dragons.