2024 Warren East Raiders

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

2023 Regular Season Results: 5-5
2023 Playoffs: 1-1 (Second round loss to Paducah-Tilghman)

The Raiders return their starting QB, their #1 and #2 rushers, and two of their top three receivers on offense. Defensively, Coach Hall and company will have to find players to fill the roles of all four of their leading tacklers from last season, who are graduating out in May.

2024 Schedule:
Aug 23 vs. Christian County (J Allen Builders Bowl)
Aug 30 at Greenwood
Sep 6 vs. Barren County
Sep 13 vs. Warren Central
Sep 20 vs. Calloway County (District)
Sep 27 at Hopkinsville (District)
Oct 4 at Allen County-Scottsville (Distrtict)
Oct 11 - BYE
Oct 16 at Paducah Tilghman (District)
Oct 25 vs. Logan County (District)
Nov 1 vs. Franklin-Simpson

[Purple88]

They will get blown out by Tilghman, but other than that I'd say they should be able to compete in the rest.  Good schedule for the Raiders!

[BillNye]

 

[TheBallCoach]

Coach Hall in his first year as HC went 6-6 for the Raiders. A tough 7-6 loss against Barren County week two was a bad look to start but one could say the playoff win on the road against Nelson County was enough to right the wrong. Coach Cortez Barber was promoted to Defensive Coordinator this offseason, and as @Colonels_Wear_Blue mentioned the 4 leading tacklers have graduated, and to add onto that, the defense was subpar last year. It will be a tough task for the first-year coordinator in highlighting the departure of 2 very good DL and their 2 LB's. Offensively it just never seemed to click for this inexperienced bunch, the OL was abysmal thus putting a handicap on what they could accomplish. Have to expect with a little more experience up front they'll be able to get their playmakers into space to be effective consistently.

KEY PLAYERS

QB/DB SR Dane Parsley - The display of football this young man has produced these past few seasons has been a joy to watch, very physical and plays with the sort of energy you want the entire team to possess. In saying that the production wasn't there this past season in the box score. This was somebody coming off a sophomore season where he threw for 30 TD's and ran for another 27 to only having 9 passing and 9 rushing TD's this past year. The Raiders need another breakout season from Parsley for any sort of hope at a run in the playoffs from what has been a great career from one of the better players in school history. What he lacked in offensive production stood out defensively, a very heavy hitter who can also play the ball well at the FS position where he had 5 INT's. 

WR/DB JR Brayden Lightfoot - As mentioned before the consistency of the playmakers was nonexistent throughout the year. One of those was Lightfoot, the 6 foot 150 lb wideout made a number of spectacular catches and showed that he needed to be involved in the offense. Hauling in 21 catches for 371 yards and 4 TD's, look for #0 to have a breakout year for the Raiders this Fall.

RB/ LB SR Jackson McCool - 20 of his 31 tackles on the year came in the last 4 games of the season and he seemed to look more comfortable as the year progressed. He will have to play a big part defensively in what will be a inexperienced DL in front of him. Offensively it was opposite, he started the season getting some goal line touches but seemingly faded out of the gameplan. He had 62 rushing attempts for 287 yards and 4 TD's.

RB/DB - JR Chris Taylor - The younger brother of NBA player and former Bowling Green HS alum Terry Taylor. Chris is hoping to make a name for himself out on Louisville Rd. The 5'10 150 lb bolt of speed showed some promising play last year, especially defensively, in what was a hybrid type safety/OLB role he played the game aggressive. Offensively, while listed as a RB he didn't have many carries at all last year. I could see the Raiders trying to get him the ball more frequently and what better way than out of the backfield. He put up 20 catches for 200 yards and a TD playing out of the slot last season. Wherever he may be lined up Parsley will definitely be trying to get #21 the ball this Fall.

 

All in all, Warren East can put up a similar win total that they did last year. Unfortunately, Paducah Tilghman will win the district easily, but the fight for the #2 spot with the remainder of District 1 should be interesting. Just a lot of questions for this team, and it starts up front on both sides of the ball. I believe they have a very good skill group, but it means nothing if the LOS is suspect especially when you play good well coached football teams. I have the Raiders going 7-5, but if the OL is significantly better, I do believe they have a chance of making it to the 3rd round of the State playoffs.

 

[theguru]

Bump.