WHO:   Nelson County (1-0) at South Oldham (0-1)

WHEN:  Friday 8/25/23   Kickoff 7:30 pm ET

WHERE:  South Oldham HS, Cy Tucker Field at Mitchell Irvin Stadium, Crestwood

Nelson County travels to South Oldham for the two schools' first meeting since 2018, when South Oldham hammered the Cardinals, 48-6.    Since 1999, the two schools have met 10 times, with South winning six of the ten matchups, including the last four over the 2015-16-17-18 seasons, when the Dragons outscored the Cardinals, 209-20.

The 2023 version of the Cardinals is a much-improved version, however.   Coach Phillip Stockdale, in his fourth year at the Bardstown school, has steadily improved the team.    After going 0-7 in his inaugural season - the COVID-marred 2020 season - the Cardinals have steadily improved, finishing 3-7 in 2021 and 89-4 last season.    This year's squad started the year with a convincing 37-6 win over Bullitt Central in week 1, and they will come to Crestwood hungry to show that they're a team to be reckoned with.      

South Oldham will try to rebound after a disappointing week one loss to Ohio powerhouse Anderson, 44-15.    The (very) young and (very) inexperienced Dragon defense had its hands full against perhaps the most prolific passing attack they will see this season.   Still, South managed to move the ball well with its powerful running game, gaining over 220 yards on the ground, led by fullback Cole Greenwell, who had (unofficially) 82 yards.    QB Nick Hamilton add 54 yards on 12 carries; both Greenwell and Hamilton scored rushing TDs.     First year head coach Cain Sams, who came back to South after a one-year stint at North Bullitt, will look for his first win as the Dragons' head man this week.

 

Coach Stockdale has the Nelson program in a solid rebuild right now. I think his kids play hard for him and the have a good momentum going. I'll take Nelson County by 2 scores. 

I think this is an interesting test game for the Cardinals. I don't think Bullitt Central was very good. While Nelson returned some of their skill players, they graduated a whole bunch of those really good lineman from last year, and I think experienced depth could be an issue. K/P Russell Lux is one of the best unknown weapons in the area, and can make you play in bad field position any time he wants to.

I think it's hard to call....South lost to a team that was significantly better.....Nelson beat a team that was significantly worse.     Both teams had solid seasons last year but graduated a lot of the key players from those teams.

South is terribly green (forgive the pun) on defense, but it will be interesting to see how they do against a more conventional team in terms of the run-pass ratio.   South moved the ball relatively well against Anderson on the ground; we'll see if Nick Hamilton and company air it out more against the Cardinals.

Lots of questions.   I think this one could go either way.

CM

South's JV defeated Nelson's JV 40-8.  Certainly apples to oranges, but I do think emphasizes my point about Nelson's current depth.

That was not a JV game. It was a middle school game. And while it may impact a future meeting a little further down the road, it has no bearing on this week's contest. 

Bump.

Bump.

South Oldham passing TD. 7-0 SO 5:55 left in 1Q.

Nelson pass intercepted by SO. Flag on the return. Dragons take possession at their own 44.

End of 1Q. SO up 7-0. Dragons with the ball 3rd and goal on the 19 after a holding penalty.

Nelson with the INT and touchback.

South Oldham interception for a TD. 14-0 Dragons. 10:19 left in 2Q.

South Oldham pass from Hamilton to Hickerson for a TD. 21-0 Dragons. 4:44 left in 2Q.

Nelson picks off Hamilton at the Nelson 7 yard line. 2:35 left in 2Q.