Who:  Oldham County (0-5) vs. Eastern (3-3)

Where:  Buckner, KY    Bell Field at Kris Landers Stadium    Oldham County HS

When:  Friday, 9/30/22   Kickoff 7:30 pm  

Broadcast:   Free, live, hi-def video coverage begins at 7 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com    Mike Montgomery and Kevin Combs have the call 

It's been a rough year for Oldham County this season.   TayShawn McBroom's second team has had to overcome massive graduation losses from last year's 8-win team and a parade of key injuries that may force administrators to change the sign on the stadium to read:  "4077th MASH".   Murphy's Law has ruled the day, and the Colonels couldn't be blamed if heads are hanging just a bit.    Nowhere has the revolving door been spinning more than at the QB position, where OC had to find a replacement signal-caller for multi-year star starter Sam Young, who took his prodigious talents to the University of Louisville.    Junior Zach Davis began the year as the starter, but he was quickly replaced by the more-mobile sophomore Noah Stinson - who was promptly lost for the season in his first start against Shelby County.   Another sophomore - Kingston Dugan, who wasn't even on the varsity roster at the start of the season, but who was known to have a lively arm - got the nod against South Oldham.    Dugan showed considerable talent and promise as perhaps the future QB of OC (and maybe the current QB?), but he struggled with interceptions against one of the best secondaries in the metro Louisville area, and Davis replaced him mid-game.

Whew!   

But there is some quality young talent on this team.    And young, inexperienced teams have rapid learning curves as they get game experience.    It will be interesting to see if Oldham can use this coming game as a "get well" game.    

Oldham hasn't posted stats yet, but here's some offensive players to watch, and why:

- #9 Mason Sedoris - Senior WR / DB - Mason, the son of Brian Sedoris, who also played for Oldham County back in the day, has been a quiet star for OC this year on both sides of the ball.    Sedoris has been the "go to" guy for the quarterbacks, regardless of who has been under center.   A good route runner, Sedoris finds the creases and is good at working them until the play is over, ensuring his quarterback has an available target.   On defense, he's proven to be a solid defender.

- #3 Miller Brown - sophomore - the son of former Oldham head coach Matt Brown, Miller's jersey keeps popping up in the middle of the action.   On special teams, he's a dangerous return man with breakaway potential.   On offense, we've seen Oldham utilize him in different ways, and he's shown an ability to eat up chunks of real estate once the ball is in his hands.    Brown is a little on the smallish side, but he's quick and elusive, and I would be surprised if he doesn't become more and more of a major part of the offense as the season progresses.

- #80 Jackson Elkins - 6'3" senior WR - The tall and lanky senior wideout is quite a target for the OC passing game, but the revolving door at QB has prevented him from establishing a rapport with the QB.    He hasn't been a major factor so far, but could be, if OC can start taking advantage of his height and leaping ability.

- #28 Grant Gilchrist - senior RB - quick and shifty, Gilchrist can be a very effective runner.    If Oldham can solve some of its blocking issues, Gilchrist could be a critical part of the game this week for OC.

Oldham faces a brutal schedule ahead in Class 6A District 8, facing two Top 10 teams in George Rogers Clark and defending champ Madison Central, as well as dangerous Bryan Station, who was ranked in the top 10 in the preseason, and whose only losses (including a one-pointer to Scott County) have come against ranked foes.   Oldham then wraps up the season versus 6A #10 Bullitt East.   But the Colonels first face a familiar opponent in the Eastern Eagles, a team that has been a regular on the Oldham schedule for decades.    The rivalry goes far beyond 1999, but since 1999, the Eagles hold a 10-6 edge in the series, but Oldham has won 3 straight, including a 42-21 victory last year in Middletown.   

Eastern opened the season with a solid win over a strong 1A team in Kentucky Country Day, then dropped three straight before rebounding to get two expected wins over Waggener (1-5) and North Bullitt (0-6).   Last week's 48-14 victory over North Bullitt was paced by Quintel Thomas' 237 rushing yards (and 4 TDs).  The passing game didn't quite keep up, with QB Kedon Ward completing just 5 of 12 passes for 110 yards and 3 picks, but the Eagles really didn't need it as they rushed for 300 yards and 5 TDs as a team.  Nick Hiegel had 11 total tackles and 2 sacks to lead the defensive effort, which saw Eastern hold the opponent to under 20 points for the third straight game and the fourth time in six contests this year.

For the season, Thomas already has 954 yards rushing on just 115 carries (154 yards per game) and 9 scores.   The Eagles lean heavily on the run game; the passing game is averaging just 88 yards per game and has as many interceptions as touchdowns (6).    Like Oldham, the Eagles have used multiple QBs - sophomore Wade and senior Noah Lherault - but are still looking for more efficiency in the passing game, with both quarterbacks completing about 50% of their passes.

Thomas has now rushed for over 200 yards in three straight games, having run for 200 yards and 2 scores against Waggener and 222 yards and a TD in a loss to Henry Clay.   

If Eastern can control the clock with their powerful running game, the Eagles will likely win this game.   Oldham's offense has scored over 8 points only once this year (16 points in the opener against Simon Kenton), so the Colonels need opportunities with the ball.

On the other hand, if Oldham can slow the Eastern running game, and force the Eagles to pass, the Colonels greatly increase their chances to earn their first win of the season.   How much the OC coaches decide to gamble in their secondary by loading the box against the run will be interesting.

The game will be broadcast on www.pegasussportsky.com, beginning with a pregame show starting at 7 pm.   FREE, live, hi-def video.    If you miss the live coverage, the game will be archived on the site.

CM

 

 

This is a long, LONG standing rivalry.   Where are the Colonel and Eagle fans?    Neither team having a steller year, but this is still a big game.....  

I'll take Eastern by 14.