John Hardin (6-1), has been rolling as of late, albeit against inferior competition. This will be a true test for John Hardin and will also have some significance as this game will decide the 4A District 2 Champion. 

John Hardin has rushed for 2,568 yards on the season, leading the state in rushing yards regardless of classification. The workhorse has been Cavalli Pittman with 1,722 yards on the ground. 

John Hardin's defense is only allowing 7 points per game, good for 3rd in the state and 1st in 4A. 

Bardstown (4-3), brings a more balanced offense into this game with the Bulldogs, rushing for 1,155 yards and passing for 967. 

QB Carson Riley, RB Amonti Marshall, and WR Tykeem Taul-Williams lead this team in their respective categories. 

Keys to this game: Can John Hardin's defensive secondary hold up against the passing game of Bardstown and can John Hardin create enough pressure from its front four to disrupt the Bardstown's offense?

Can John Hardin run the ball effectively? If Cavalli Pittman rushes for more than 100 yards in this game, John Hardin will win this game.

This group of seniors from John Hardin took their lumps as freshmen playing varsity ball but now the experience of close to 40 games is paying off. 

My Prediction: John Hardin 34 Bardstown 28

The real question in this game is whether the ridiculous performance by Bardstown at Meade County 2 weeks ago during Helene was who they are, or an anomaly.  I still don't know.  Nothing against Breckenridge County can be relied upon (nor can anything against Thomas Nelson be relied upon by John Hardin).

While we can pay lip service to alternatives, the reality is that if you stop Pittman you stop John Hardin.  This game was 31-0 last year and Pittman was 11 carries for 69 yards.  They tried to throw it 19 times and Austin Richardson was 4-19.  The Tigers had 7 sacks that night.  Of course, that was with David Clark diagnosing the enemy defense and doing the playcalling, and that's not here this year.  Neither is Tyleeq Williams and his 211 yards rushing.

While JH is 6-1, the level of competition has been poor.  This group of Tiger seniors saw significant play time as sophomores in the state championship, so it is a veteran crew as well that is not playing to their potential.  Their passing game is much, much better than it was last season.

Doug Preston is a good coach and a smart guy.  He knows that Bardstown's key to the game will be to keep Pittman off the field and ball control the offense with a combo of runs and mid-range passes.  This game should be more about JH's defense and if they prevent Tiger receivers from getting separation than it is about Cavalli Pittman.  If they do, they win.  If Carson Riley's primary receiver gets open and they are converting 2nd and 3rd down plays, the Tigers win.  Its not complicated.

In the end, while JH is better and Bardstown more inconsistent than last season, I don't think there has been a 31-point swing from last year.  It doesn't appear weather will be an issue.  I think overall Bardstown is still the stronger team, but the gap has certainly narrowed.

Bardstown 35 John Hardin 21.

If Bardstown gave up 20 points to Elizabethtown (2-5), whom I have seen twice this season, and is not a very good team, I don't see Bardstown slowing down John Hardin's run game.

This game is one of our Pick 5 games:

I am sure that coach Preston would agree that a key addition to the coaching staff for John Hardin was one of his previous defensive coordinators from his days at Franklin- Simpson. This defense has seen huge improvements from last season and even from game 1 this season where they posted their only loss to undefeated Hancock County.

My better judgment is urging me to pick Bardstown here, but like @Hearsay, I don't know who this team is. I tuned in to the Ashland game long enough to see them get run out of Putnam Stadium. Not what I expected.

Then again, who is John Hardin? The schedule since Week 1 is mostly atrocious. They've won their last six games by an average 40 point margin. The passing game game has hit some big plays the last two weeks to compliment Pittman, but again, the schedule. 

Utimately, I think they meet somewhere right in the middle of last year and a JH upset. I'll take the Tigers by a couple of scores.

2 hours ago, Hardin County Preps said:

I am sure that coach Preston would agree that a key addition to the coaching staff for John Hardin was one of his previous defensive coordinators from his days at Franklin- Simpson. This defense has seen huge improvements from last season and even from game 1 this season where they posted their only loss to undefeated Hancock County.

No one from Franklin - Simpson. You are referring to Jerry Perry. One of THE VERY BEST to do it in high school football. As I tell our players Jerry is one of the few people I call up for help. This year we are fortunate to have him with us every day!! I have learned a lot of football from JP and still do daily. I was fortunate to meet him many years ago and work with him at Danville high school. 

On 10/7/2024 at 8:32 PM, Hardin County Preps said:

If Bardstown gave up 20 points to Elizabethtown (2-5), whom I have seen twice this season, and is not a very good team, I don't see Bardstown slowing down John Hardin's run game.

E-Town got most of its yardage passing, and some of its scoring in garbage time.  Bardstown stuffed their run.  Not sure how that applies here.

I’ll take the Tigers in this one but I could see a world where this turns into a rock fight and I believe that’d favor the Bulldogs. One of my favorite matchups of the week, best of luck to both teams!

Bardstown 27 John Hardin 14

12 hours ago, Coach Preston said:

No one from Franklin - Simpson. You are referring to Jerry Perry. One of THE VERY BEST to do it in high school football. As I tell our players Jerry is one of the few people I call up for help. This year we are fortunate to have him with us every day!! I have learned a lot of football from JP and still do daily. I was fortunate to meet him many years ago and work with him at Danville high school. 

Coach Perry is a gem that’s for sure. Talked to him recently and you can hear the excitement in his voice when he talks JH football. 

On 10/8/2024 at 9:49 PM, Coach Preston said:

No one from Franklin - Simpson. You are referring to Jerry Perry. One of THE VERY BEST to do it in high school football. As I tell our players Jerry is one of the few people I call up for help. This year we are fortunate to have him with us every day!! I have learned a lot of football from JP and still do daily. I was fortunate to meet him many years ago and work with him at Danville high school. 

What is Coach Perry's coaching background? Was he the head coach at Garrard County in the early 90's?

On 10/7/2024 at 8:32 PM, Hardin County Preps said:

If Bardstown gave up 20 points to Elizabethtown (2-5), whom I have seen twice this season, and is not a very good team, I don't see Bardstown slowing down John Hardin's run game.

The problem with Etown this year hasn't been the offense. They have put up points pretty consistently. It's the fact that the defense can't stop anyone especially the run.

I'll take John Hardin in a close one.  #4 has been running wild he's a good one and I believe JH's defense will hang in there.

He came to John Hardin from Franklin-Simpson in 2020 where he won a state title in 2017, defeating Johnson Central 35-21. 

On 10/10/2024 at 9:41 AM, Hearsay said:

What is Coach Perry's coaching background? Was he the head coach at Garrard County in the early 90's?

He was from 90-96 when they played in something like 4 or 5 straight region finals, then he became the defensive coordinator from 97-2012 at Danville (he was also with Sam Harp from 88-90 before leaving for Garrard).  In 2013 he took the Garrard job back through the 2021 season.  
 

Hands down one of the best there is.