The upstart Nelson County Cardinals (8-3), fresh off of an upset road victory 37-34 over Henry County, will attempt to avenge a 43-16 September 30 loss at the hands of their cross-town rival, the Bardstown Tigers (11-0), when they make the short journey to Garnis Martin Field for the first-ever postseason meeting between the two teams Friday night.

The Cardinals' rise to success under 3rd-year head coach Philip Stockdale has been impressive.  Following their 1996 Class 4A State Championship, Nelson County in the years following Mark Brown's departure has been a perennial doormat, posting 8 straight losing seasons and 13 of their last 17, including one stretch from 2015-through the start of 2021 when they were 1-49.  Friday night's playoff victory marked the first playoff appearance for the Cardinals in 8 years and their first victory in 9.  They have not been to a region championship game in a quarter century. Nor have their prospects been any better against hated enemy Bardstown: The Cardinals are just 3-13 against the Tigers in the David Clark era, and have lost 12 straight.

However, Stockdale, the former offensive line coach at Louisville Male, upon his arrival established a formal strength and conditioning program during the daytime class period, insisted upon his team's participation in off-season wrestling, and has focused upon physical offensive and defensive line play.  That has manifested this season in a physical line led by seniors Aaron Goff, Cameron Turner, and Carson Mattingly. And Nelson County is not without talented skill players as well: Senior Joey Goff has rushed for 1,016 yards and 10 TD's, and went 16-155 and 3 scores against Henry; senior Trevor Beam has rushed for 715 yards and 7 TD's and also has 7 INT's on defense; and complementary speedy-senior Evan Hicks throws in 342 yards and 5 TD's to his name.  Junior QB Paul Briney, himself a wrestling state-qualifier at the 165 weight-class, has thrown for 702 yards and 9 TD's and run for 432 yards and 11 scores.  The Cardinals also boast a certifiable weapon in Junior K/P Russell Lux, who kicks the majority of his kickoffs out of the endzone, is an expert punter to the coffin-corner, and is pretty much automatic from 40 yards and in on FG.

You would never know it from their level of blue-collar humility, but the senior class of football players at Bardstown boasts the highest 4-year winning percentage of any football class in the history of Bardstown High School, with a 4-year record currently at 40-6 (87%).  However, their march to an undefeated season this year has not come without heavy cost.  They lost their leading producer, senior RB/OLB T.J. Greenwell, to a season-ending torn ACL in the Elizabethtown game.  Then they lost senior QB Brayden Clark to a broken calvicle in the earlier Nelson County game.  Clark had completed 81% of his passes for 1018 yards and 12 TD's when he went down.  Clark has rehabbed tremendously trying to get back in the action, but is probably doubtful for Friday night.  Bardstown has also lost a veritable legion of other 1's and 1A's to injury, their sideline at times looking like a hospital medical ward.

In Greenwell's absence, the Tigers have been led by the toughest 5'5" powder-keg of dynamite in the state, junior Tyleeq "Ty Ty" Williams.  The hero of the season-opener with the last second hail mary TD catch vs. Greenwood, Williams has amassed 1068 yards rushing and 16 TD's, together with 24 receptions for 414 yards and 5 TD's receiving, 2 punt return and 1 kickoff return TD's, 42 tackles and 5 tackles for loss and 3 interceptions from his safety spot.  In recent weeks, he has served as a "wildcat" QB in Greenwell's absence, even throwing for 1 TD.  Tiger faithful believe that Ty Ty is worthy of All-Bluegrasspreps.com and All-State consideration, paricularly given the load placed upon him by circumstances. Senior WR "Baby" Shannon Tonge has also been invaluable in gluing the team together, hauling in 25 catches for 504 yards and 8 TD's to complement 242 yards rushing and 2 scores.

In the earlier game, Nelson County actually led the game early in the second quarter, 16-14, before the Tigers settled down and scored 29 unanswered the rest of the way for the win.  While the Cardinals defended the edges, junior fullback Kyan Lydian ran up the middle for 100 yards and 2 TD's, and Clark himself kept the ball for 2 more scores.

Back in the day, this rivalry game would attract a couple thousand locals and was typically standing room only.  With the weather expected to be warmer than usual, many in this highly pro-military town (Bardstown lost more servicemen per capita in the Vietnam War than any other small town in America) taking off for Veterans Day, and the magnitude of the game, attendance may well be at record levels.

Will Nelson County ride the "hard to beat a team twice in one season" mantra to their first region title game in 25 years, or will the non-nonsense junkyard dog Tigers take care of business and move on to the 3rd round?

There is no doubt that "TyTy" is one of a kind type of player. He is the toughest 5'5" kid you will see out on a football field. Not big in stature but has a HUGE HEArt!!! He is a FOOTBALL PLAYER!!! He is a powerful RB with Speed!!! He can run over you or around you. He can catch the ball very effectively as well. On the Defensive side of the ball, he is a head hunter. Not afraid to hit anybody and some of his hits are jaw rattling. I know him personally and he is a great kid. I feel Bardstown will be fine this week. Then will see if they can get Clark back at QB the next week. Good Luck Tigers as you pursue a State Championship!!!

What's the status of Clark and Greenwell? Not sure it matters this week but it certainly will going forward.

2 minutes ago, JellyRoll said:

What's the status of Clark and Greenwell? Not sure it matters this week but it certainly will going forward.

Greenwell had surgery and is done for the year.  Clark's broken collarbone was to his non-throwing shoulder, slightly displaced.  He had a quick surgery with pin and plate placement and has been working his hind end off to rehab. I still think he is a week away, two if he wants to run it like he was running it.

Bardstown should be broadcasting a YouTube Live feed of the game. https://www.youtube.com/user/bardstownmedia

17 minutes ago, Hearsay said:

Bardstown should be broadcasting a YouTube Live feed of the game. https://www.youtube.com/user/bardstownmedia

Sounds like the rain will be out of here by game time, but the wind from the coldfront might make me stay home and watch the link above instead of sitting out in it for this one.  

5 minutes ago, spindoc said:

Sounds like the rain will be out of here by game time, but the wind from the coldfront might make me stay home and watch the link above instead of sitting out in it for this one.  

It looks like a nice chili and cornbread tailgate night, first one of the year.

2 hours ago, Hearsay said:

Bardstown should be broadcasting a YouTube Live feed of the game. https://www.youtube.com/user/bardstownmedia

I’m pretty sure the high schools aren’t allowed to do the live feed for the games.Durring playoffs the KHSAA owns all the rights to the video.I could be wrong though.

1 hour ago, BigBlue92 said:

I’m pretty sure the high schools aren’t allowed to do the live feed for the games.Durring playoffs the KHSAA owns all the rights to the video.I could be wrong though.

The schools can do it but there are fees involved that increase each week. 

I would love to see Nelson pull this one out nothing against Bardstown I just love seeing teams that have been down for a while make a run the same teams winning the state year after year gets boring. 

I too pull for the Underdog most of the time. But not this time. Bardstown has remained undefeated despite losing their best player for the rest of the season and their QB who might be able to make an appearance this week. Bardstown has had quality teams recently but not made it to the finals in a while. A matchup with Cal in the finals will be the best game of the year in Class 3A.  Good Luck to the Tigers!!!

On 11/9/2022 at 7:10 PM, theguru said:

The schools can do it but there are fees involved that increase each week. 

Confirmed. We paid $120 for the YouTube Live feed of tonight’s game. Former Tiger great Lance Blanford (part of 2001 state title team) on the call.