Who:   Oldham County (1-0) vs. Shelby County (1-0)

Where:  Oldham County HS, Buckner, KY

When:   Friday, 8/25/23   kickoff 7:30 pm

Broadcast:   FREE live HD video coverage begins at 7:00 pm ET on www.pegasussportsky.com

One of the longest-running football rivalries in northcentral KY is re-visited on Friday when the Shelby County Rockets travel to play the Oldham County Colonels in Buckner.

The teams have played nearly every year since at least the mid-1970s, with neither team establishing clear dominance.    Over the last 20 games, Oldham holds a slight 11-9 advantage over the Rockets, but Shelby won last year's game big over a young and inexperienced Oldham squad, 28-8.....Oldham County had won the previous two matchups, 56-13 (2021) and 31-28 (2019).

The two teams played one of the all-time Kentucky football classics in Shelbyville in 1984, when #2 ranked Oldham County (10-0) faced off with #1-ranked Shelby County (10-0) for the district championship.    Ironically, due to a 3-team district, the loser of the game would miss the playoffs.....   Shelby, running a triple-option attack with Lee Tinsley at QB and coached by Tom Becherer, came into the game averaging over 30 points per game... Oldham County, coached by Terry Bean and running a stingy 6-2 defense that shut out 6 teams that year, was allowing less than 4 points per game.    In a game where there were so many storylines - district championship.....rivalry game....two undefeated teams.....#1 vs. #2..."unstoppable force vs. the immovable object"....they had to bring in extra bleachers for each end zone (creating a "bowl" look) to accommodate the over 10,000 fans that attended.   Oldham County won that game, 10-7, in an all-time classic....

There have been many more great Oldham v Shelby games since, and this one could be very interesting as two teams try to prove that they've come back from disappointing 2022 campaigns.

Oldham went on the road and pulled away late to win 35-14 over Lexington Lafayette, thanks in large part to four interceptions, including two by up-and-coming Miller Brown, the son of former Oldham County head coach Matt Brown (who currently is an assistant coach).   The Colonels defense held Lafayette to minus 13 yards rushing and 119 yards of total offense on the night.   Meanwhile, OC rushed for 353 yards in the game, led by Caden Sheppard's 162 yards and 2 TDs and Derek Dees' 112 yards and 1 TD.   Kayden Osbourn added 79 yards and two more rushing scores for OC.   Through the air, Dees was an efficient 11 of 15 passing for 81 yards.   Defensively, besides the picks, Brendan Hasken starred with three sacks.

The win was nice opening day present to first-year Oldham County head man Sean Little, who took over the reins this year after serving as an assistant at Ballard.   

Shelby County is coming off another rivalry game, beating cross-town rival Collins, 33-24, on Friday.    I'll have more info on the Rockets as the game grows closer.

CM

 

With the heat coming in, I would be shocked if there aren't a number of changes by Friday.....in terms of the kickoff time, etc.

Is the turf installed yet for OC? 

30 minutes ago, 111 said:

Is the turf installed yet for OC? 

Yes; this will be the first game played on the new turf.

Another reason why I think the kickoff will change....that turf amplifies the heat on the field.

It will be a big night at OCHS....they will dedicate the stadium to the late Kris Landers, a young man who was the ultimate "superfan" of OCHS sports for many years, even after his graduation.    Despite some handicaps, Kris was at every game patrolling the sidelines.    He would look me up before every game when I was there broadcasting, asking me for a prediction.....he rode with the team bus to every away game, and was the "consummate Colonel."    He passed far too young, and the Colonel faithful will honor him with a nice new entrance to the stadium (not yet built) and by re-naming the stadium.   It will be known as "Bell Field at Kris Landers Stadium."

There will be a pre-game ceremony.

I am going to take Shelby off the big time rival win! 

If you can't make it to the newly-renovated field for the big dedication and the game (due to the heat, perhaps??), catch the game on www.pegasussportsky.com, the official broadcast voice of HS sports in Oldham County.

FREE live HD video coverage begins 30 minutes prior to kickoff.

Shelby earned their win against Collins in much the same way Oldham beat Lafayette.   The Rockets kept the ball on the ground (221 yards and 3 TDs for Gianni Hunter) and passed only when necessary (Chandler Hill 3 for 6 for 75 yards).  Isaac Estrada starred on defense with 14 total tackles.

This one is a confirmed 8 pm kick now, to try to avoid a little of the heat.

Going to be quite the celebration.

OC celebrating 50 years as a high school and their first game on the artificial turf.    Dedication of stadium to the late Kris Landers......this will include....

"Colonelmarch"....the Oldham team will walk from the back of the HS building to the fieldhouse, through a corridor of fans....

There will be a band before the game....

There will be a flyover before the game...

Fireworks afterwards...

Personal air conditioners will be handed out to the first 2,000 fans....(OK, OK, that's not true, but it would be NICE...  )

And....it's Oldham County vs. Shelby County.    The rivalry for all of us older folks who remember the great Oldham-Shelby games of past years....  ?

ANOTHER TIME CHANGE:

OCHS has informed me that the kickoff time has now been moved back yet again, to 8:30 pm.

Makes sense to me.....   kickoff as the sun sets (sunset is 8:23 pm Friday)

It'll be hot, but it'll be a FESTIVE night in Buckner!

6 pm - Tailgating and food

6:30 pm - First ever "COLONEL WALK" from school to field house

7 pm - Allen Lane Band   ("Country with a Southern Rock Flare")

8 pm - Field Dedication (new turf field...stadium renamed "Bell Field at Kris Landers Stadium) and Flyover

8:30 - Kickoff.   Oldham County vs. Shelby County

approx. 9:30 pm - HALFTIME FIREWORKS

FREE LIVE HD VIDEO COVERAGE on www.pegasussportsky.com, beginning at 8 pm.

Shelby County is decently sized and they have a very solid, durable back. I would not be surprised to see them make a bit of a run this season. 
 

I like Shelby by two scores. 

Bump.