zoneblitz24 Posted January 26 Posted January 26 2025 proved to be a tough season for Graves County with a 4-7 season against one of the toughest schedules in the state. The Eagles were able to keep the wheels on the bus by beating a solid Union County team and winning their last 3 regular season games with a good win over McCracken County that not a lot of people thought they would win. The good news is they are returning the entire offense expect 1 starter but are getting back a returning starter from a knee injury to step into that spot on the OL. The OL will have 7 players with starting experience returning and were extremely young last year and with another year in the weight room there should be improvement there. All of the skill players are returning as well and it should be a very deep and talented WR core with depth in the backfield as well and a QB who is playing in the same offense 2 years in a row for the 1st time in his high school career. The defense will lose 4 starters and replacing Hunter Ditto will be tough but Graves always finds guys to step up on the defensive side of the ball and I wouldn't expect anything different. Graves had a pretty good defense last season and with a majority of those players returning I expect that unit to be better as well. It is year 3 for Coach DeBernardi and his staff and after last season their ability to keep the team together with the schedule and the injuries they sustained expectations for this team should be high. Graves has a lot of things moving in the right direction with the new sports facility going up that will include an indoor practice facility and weightroom and rumors of a new grass playing surface and rubberized track being installed for next season. They also have talent at the lower levels coming up with their 8th grade team being very good and a complete class with lineman and skill positions. The schedule will still be tough like always but look for Graves to be a tough out this season. 3 1
TimeWillTell Posted January 29 Posted January 29 On 1/26/2026 at 10:01 AM, zoneblitz24 said: 2025 proved to be a tough season for Graves County with a 4-7 season against one of the toughest schedules in the state. The Eagles were able to keep the wheels on the bus by beating a solid Union County team and winning their last 3 regular season games with a good win over McCracken County that not a lot of people thought they would win. The good news is they are returning the entire offense expect 1 starter but are getting back a returning starter from a knee injury to step into that spot on the OL. The OL will have 7 players with starting experience returning and were extremely young last year and with another year in the weight room there should be improvement there. All of the skill players are returning as well and it should be a very deep and talented WR core with depth in the backfield as well and a QB who is playing in the same offense 2 years in a row for the 1st time in his high school career. The defense will lose 4 starters and replacing Hunter Ditto will be tough but Graves always finds guys to step up on the defensive side of the ball and I wouldn't expect anything different. Graves had a pretty good defense last season and with a majority of those players returning I expect that unit to be better as well. It is year 3 for Coach DeBernardi and his staff and after last season their ability to keep the team together with the schedule and the injuries they sustained expectations for this team should be high. Graves has a lot of things moving in the right direction with the new sports facility going up that will include an indoor practice facility and weightroom and rumors of a new grass playing surface and rubberized track being installed for next season. They also have talent at the lower levels coming up with their 8th grade team being very good and a complete class with lineman and skill positions. The schedule will still be tough like always but look for Graves to be a tough out this season. I know they have to travel 2 hours to play us at Rash but I really think this year it will be close game for us. I thought they were a really well coached team last year. We just were able to beat them over the top a few times last year and Evan really didn't have a big game but I think they did the best they could do in loading the box and stopping Evan and forcing us to throw the ball. I could see them 2nd or 3rd in the district. They have Apollo and Madisonville at home so that's very good. If they come to Rash and put a good game plan together they could beat us. I think our district is the toughest in 5-A from 1-4. 3
zoneblitz24 Posted January 29 Author Posted January 29 3 hours ago, TimeWillTell said: I know they have to travel 2 hours to play us at Rash but I really think this year it will be close game for us. I thought they were a really well coached team last year. We just were able to beat them over the top a few times last year and Evan really didn't have a big game but I think they did the best they could do in loading the box and stopping Evan and forcing us to throw the ball. I could see them 2nd or 3rd in the district. They have Apollo and Madisonville at home so that's very good. If they come to Rash and put a good game plan together they could beat us. I think our district is the toughest in 5-A from 1-4. Graves took Madisonville to OT on the road and lost 14-7 on the road to Apollo and had the ball on the 4 yard line to tie it up late in the 4th quarter. They were 10 points away from 2nd in the district. I would say those 2 games being at Graves puts them in the right spot at #2. Going into Rash has always been a problem for Graves like it is for most teams. They will have to get over the mental hurdle but they should be able to compete with most teams on their schedule this season. I firmly believe D1 in 5A is brutal. The top 4 are all very talented physical football teams that are well coached. I honestly thought Marshall Co over the past 2 years has improved as well. No real weeks off in that district and you have to prepare and be focused each week. 1
theguru Posted February 14 Posted February 14 The first half of that schedule is extremely difficult. 2
zoneblitz24 Posted February 14 Author Posted February 14 18 minutes ago, theguru said: The first half of that schedule is extremely difficult. Same as last year. When you look at what those teams graduated and what Graves is bringing back I believe they will compete. They are also getting a lot of these games at home where they are typically pretty tough at. Graves was extremely young last season and had a lot of injuries but in the process was able to develop a lot of depth going into this season. If you look at how they improved as the year went on I would be very careful not to overlook this team who feels they have something to prove after last year. 2
theguru Posted February 14 Posted February 14 2 minutes ago, zoneblitz24 said: Same as last year. When you look at what those teams graduated and what Graves is bringing back I believe they will compete. They are also getting a lot of these games at home where they are typically pretty tough at. Graves was extremely young last season and had a lot of injuries but in the process was able to develop a lot of depth going into this season. If you look at how they improved as the year went on I would be very careful not to overlook this team who feels they have something to prove after last year. Love it! Is it August yet? 2
PigskinStrategist Posted April 15 Posted April 15 Graves will definitely be a team you better be ready to play for 4 quarters. Well coached and very physical. They have always been strong but seen some videos on social media of them squatting, these kids are on another level. They pulled out some underdog wins last year vs. Union County and McCracken and are expected to have a big year with a loaded senior class. I'd say anything less than 7 wins has to be a disappointment. 1
zoneblitz24 Posted April 15 Author Posted April 15 2 hours ago, PigskinStrategist said: Graves will definitely be a team you better be ready to play for 4 quarters. Well coached and very physical. They have always been strong but seen some videos on social media of them squatting, these kids are on another level. They pulled out some underdog wins last year vs. Union County and McCracken and are expected to have a big year with a loaded senior class. I'd say anything less than 7 wins has to be a disappointment. From what I have gathered they have had an exceptional offseason in the weight room and committed to a new speed and agility program. Kids are buying into culture that is being created and I believe Graves will be much improved this season. 7 wins against that schedule will be a heck of season and should have Graves as a top 10 team in 5A at the end of the regular season. 1 1
TimeWillTell Posted June 6 Posted June 6 Really good team that I’m glad we are playing at Rash Stadium this year.
FB Head Posted June 6 Posted June 6 I can see a much improved Eagles team this season. They are going to be better offensively and I see them being stout on defense. I see Graves going 2-3 in the beginning of the season but I would not be surprised if they start 4-1. This is a very solid group and every team on this schedule will feel it when they play the Eagles. 1
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