Greenup is young and inexperienced.  They beat the ones they should beat, and lose to the ones should lose too.  No surprises for the Musketeers in 2025.  Greenup misses the playoffs in 2025.  

 

Tyson Sammons this, Tyson Sammons that. 

Who is Greenup County without the school's all-time leading rusher, or the 10,000 yard QB, or the best football player in NKY in quite some time? 

Greenup County is as high as they have ever been, and realistically, they should be! NEKY football is better when Greenup County is good. 

Young and inexperienced is quite honestly the only way you could describe this year's Musketeer squad...or maybe...Green ?. Nevertheless, the Musketeers graduated four OL and return last years RT. Up front, they combine for 11 varsity starts. Looking at the scrimmage this past Friday, it seems they are starting four sophomores and one junior up front and rotated a couple juniors and a freshman. Jasper Davis moves from slot to Field General and can be quite a show in open field. Additionally, out wide the Musketeers are a little older in seniors Kasey Gammon and Tyler Johnson. Greenup showed in their scrimmage against Fairland they can still have success running the ball, but aren't scared to toss the rock. The offense is an offense with a lot of motion and eye candy with a physical OL. The Musketeers have more speed than the previous few years but can "the guy" emerge? 

Defensively, they have to be better than last year. The defense gave up too many points, and I am sure Coach Travis Jones would tell you the same thing. I would venture to say Coach Jones and DC Braden Brown have made defense a priority this offseason. In their scrimmage against Fairland, they gave up some early deep passes but did stop the run game very well. One thing is for certain, in their district, they better be able to stop the run. Though Fairland looked young too, Greenup did a good job at limiting the run. Fairland looked relatively prolific in the passing game. They hit a couple deep balls early but Greenup responded when the chains came out and limited the deep balls well. 

Will Greenup win more than 5 games? They should. There really isn't any reason they shouldn't win 6-8. Of course, the Russell game will be a dandy against two good teams. Greenup has won the Backyard Brawl three years in a row for the first time in series history. Can the young Musketeers keep it home for the fourth straight? If they do, there is a lot of positive momentum going into Spartan Stadium in Portsmouth, a team who graduates a lot. Portsmouth has a lot of good, young skill players coming in, but are they ready? If Greenup beats the Devils, there's a good game looming in Portsmouth. The last game played in Portsmouth ended in an OT thriller falling the Musketeers' way. I don't see why it won't be close again. 

The district surely doesn't favor the Musketeers. Ashland seems like they have questions to answer themselves, but surely many think Ashland beats GC again. Greenup hasn't beaten Ashland since 2000. Last year's mud bowl in Lloyd looked like it could have favored GC...until it didn't. Ashland had too much speed and skill. GC put 42 points on Johnson Central last year and slung the pigskin all over Paintsville. Jonson Central has another massive OL with some guys coming in from Pikeville. Greenup has much to prove before taking down Ashland and JC, though if the Musketeers are undefeated going into district play, there might be a discussion. Greenup should beat Boyd, though last year's game was quite thrilling, ending in a Tyson Sammons (dare I say) one-handed interception at the goal line. Rumor mill speaks about Boyd reloading at QB, but still, they seem dangerous. 

GC ends the year at Montgomery who returns much, if not all, their key starters. This will be a very big test before playoffs (because GC will beat Rowan). I don't see why Greenup doesn't win 6 to 7 games. 

If the Musketeers win 8 games this year, it will be the winningest 4 year stretch in school history. Furthermore, what a year to prove something in Lloyd. Coach Jones and staff are earning their spots in the region talks. Can they stay there?

I’ll give you the possibility that Greenup beats Rowan County and earns a playoff spot. That is possible, but you are giving the benefit of doubt to Greenup in a lot of match-ups and the Musketeers will have to do a lot to achieve those wins. Can they?  Maybe. But, as you said, Greenup will have to make a lot of changes on the defensive side of the ball. 

Defense will be the tell-all in Lloyd this year. Coach Jones has proven to be one of the best OCs in NEKY, even with Tyson Sammons behind center. They put up more than 35 points per last year. But also gave up just as much. 

Pike Central will be a good early test for a young team. There are a lot of questions to be answered. The Musketeers expect to win, something that has been absent for quite some time. 

Checking-in on my pre-season predictions.  I called for Greenup County to be 5-5, I may have given them a little more credit then they deserved.  The Musketeers sit at 2-6 with their matchup with Rowan County this week to determine if they make the playoffs or not.  I missed the 5-5, but may still have called the missing the playoffs.  We will know soon. 

Edited October 23, 20251 yr by Ram