One of the more difficult teams to pinpoint/figure out this preseason has been the Elizabethtown Panthers, a team that has really struggled the past few years and was invariably predicted to struggle again after graduation losses, roster depletion and the resignation of their head coach.  However, new coach Tyler Mattingly came away with what can only be described as a surprising opening day win over typically-strong Fairdale, followed by a nail-biter loss 42-35 to an upstart 6A Meade County Green Wave team.  The aerial assault from Senior QB Ryan Bowen to WR TaQuan Townsend and RB Connor Johnson had the media airwaves discussing resurgence and revitalization.  However, Fairdale is now 0-3, fading the luster from the opening day triumph, and then the Panthers laid an egg Friday, crashing to earth with a thud in a 41-29 loss to previously winless Taylor County.  Taylor rushed for 371 yards and dropped 5 rushing TD's on the E-Town defense, in a game it appears Townsend may not have played in.

Conversly, during the years E-Town has been down, the Hart County Raiders have undergone a never-before occurring renaissance under head coach Chad Griffin, whose 2022 team went 9-3 falling in the second round of the 3A playoffs, and then a fantastic 13-1 in 2023, falling by 2 points to Bell County in the state semifinal.  Hart appears to be in the same position again in 2024, behind the three-headed rushing monster of Brenan Griffin (coach's son?), Kameron Asbury, and Christian Martin, who have combined for 1,010 rushing yards in wins over Nelson, Larue, and Green Counties.

Elizabethtown's performance in this game against a strong opponent may shed more light on whether they are Jekyll or Hyde. Are the Panthers up to the task or will the Raiders cruise to victory as they have done with their previous three foes?

This one won’t be close although it may be. But more competitive than the thrashing Hart put on them last season. Etown put up 27 but most of that came after the running clock and  in junk time.

Etown is very young and doesn’t have a ton of depth. They have struggled mightily to stop the run game. 
 

I’m taking Hart 42-14

Hart runs the clock. Could be before half. 

Not a good matchup for Elizabethtown.  Hart has a strong run offense, and the Panthers have a not-so-strong run defense.

Hart has played such a weak schedule I don’t know if they are pretty good or just a product of their schedule. Who knows with Elizabethtown I thought they would be really bad and while they don’t seem to be really bad I also don’t think they are very good. I assume Hart will win this game pretty easily but if Elizabethtown kept it close I wouldn’t be surprised.

Looks like a free livestream:

https://stfanclub.com/live/

I believe Hart wins.  42-14

8 PM Kickoff.

12-7 E-Town. 1Q.

14-12 Hart.

21-12 Hart. 

34-12 Hart.