Pendleton Co. 32 Garrard Co. 10

[STAYGOLD]

Final. It was senior night at veterans field this evening Big night for the wildcats. Junior Running back Ryan Stegman goes for 284 yards on 34 carries behind his big offensive line. Great game CATS!

[buttels]

Congrats to Coach Teegarden and the Wildcats

[SuperB]

Isn't this a pretty big ujpset?

[STAYGOLD]

Stegman also scored 4 tds.

[CentreRocks]

Looks like SMASMOUTH football is alive and well in Falmouth.

[oldonetechnique]

Does Pendleton County have what it takes to knock off the Breds in the play offs????

[gchs_uk9]

As a Garrard County fan, its starting to get annoying. Pendleton County wasn't a bad team (tailback Stegman was a fine player), but Garrard County showed zero life in this game. One GC player's dad said that this game didn't matter to Garrard because it wasn't a district opponent. Seriously?! Did it not matter to the fans who drove two hours to Falmouth in the rain to watch? Did Frankfort not matter to Danville last night because it wasn't district? Under the current head coach at Garrard all it has been is excuses.

 

There are three things that have stood out to me as a Garrard fan over the last seven years.

 

Lack of ability to develop talent.

It seems like the kids who enter the program as freshmen are at the same talent level when they graduate. All we ever hear about is how our kids are young, we'll get better over the year and be ready to go next year. Unfortunately, "next year" has been a long time coming.

 

There have been good players come through Garrard County over the last seven years. Too often they've been misused or out of place. The first year of the current coach was in 2001. Using an option attack with basically a converted running back playing under center, Garrard finished with a solid 7-3 record, setting up a first round playoff game at Mason County. After making the 2+ hour drive to Maysville, we find that an entirely new quarterback was starting the game - no injuries, no suspensions, just a change of mind. Mason won 35-12.

 

After that year Garrard County has went 31-35. Two good teams were found within that time period and they were good because they relied exclusively on an all-stater as quarterback. While we've not had anyone as talented as that young man under center since, we've nonetheless tried to convert our current quarterback into a clone. Big problem: he's not. The fact that the current quarterback struggles isn't that big of deal though. There should have been development taking place for a backup quarterback. If there has been, he's rarely touched the field.

 

We could discuss these points at almost every position. Talent is there at Garrard. Development isn't.

 

Stubborness.

The head coach refuses to alter his system in any form. After watching Garrard all season (and for seven years truthfully), I feel like I can call the plays before they are even snapped. Garrard has five kids who can successfully run the football. They choose to run with only one. When he gets the ball its two types of carries:

 

(1) Shotgun handoff up the middle.

(2) Sweep around end.

 

Both are good calls if you have a player capable of running it. Garrard does, just not the one who gets the carries. What then happens is the other tailbacks appear to lose interest, making them less of a threat.

 

Passing plays (or lack thereof) are just as bad. I've been waiting for seven years to see a quick slant over the middle, a dump pass to the tight end, or a swing pass to a back out of the backfield. I don't hold my breath. I would imagine Garrard has run about five of these plays all season. Instead, the passing call is ALWAYS throw it as far down the field as possible and hopefully our receiver can win a jump ball. That's all he throws. Nothing else. Our receivers do a remarkable job catching as many balls as they do.

 

Bottom line, the play calling isn't working. It hasn't for some time. But that doesn't stop the head coach from continuing to try it. It also hasn't stopped his winning percentage from sinking like a stone.

 

Lack of class.

I will preface this by saying it is football and its physical. Emotions run high. Too often at Garrard, the coach isn't in control of his emotions, which in turn rubs off on the players. There have been numerous incidents of the head coach showing himself on the sidelines/field at a game.

 

(1) Verbal yelling match with Casey County coach at midfield after winning 43-28 in 2003.

(2) Ejection from playoff game at Elizabethtown in 2004.

(3) Refusal to accept trophy from Jackson County bowl game earlier this season.

(4) Player fight on field against Wayne County last week.

 

There have been more, but these are the most glaring. While I prefaced it by acknowledging that sometimes things happen, "sometimes" tends to happen too often in Lancaster. Mix in the usual hat-tossing, paper-throwing, corner-sulking that the coach constantly exhibits and its all become more of the same.

 

I'm not suggesting Garrard County should consistently compete for Class 3A state championships. Nothing in our history has shown we can do that and I don't expect it now. I don't even expect us to always have winning seasons. What I do expect is for the coaching staff to prepare the young men and make them better football players. Be willing to alter ideas on how to coach and win football games. And finally, show a little class while doing this. The lack of all three at Garrard County during the tenure of Steve Stonebraker has made a once proud program begin to look pretty bad.

[Mike Check]

It's funny to watch things come to full circle as they say sometimes. I remember when Garrard hired this coach they made some bumper stickers that said " The Pride is Back" and acted as though the last coach didn't have pride (by the way he was a former Garrard player and his teams played in the district with Boyle (5 time state champions) Danville (11 time State champions) and Bourbon (1997 state champions). No doubt the toughest district in the state at the time. But some people just didn't think the coach was doing a good job. Now here we are and the currrent guy is under attack. His schedule is much weaker etc. Nothing personal (that's why i am not using names) but my point is: It is perfect picture of what coaching can be like. Thanks for reading I'm out.

[Bird Man]

Congrats to Wildcats!!! They have surprised a lot of people this season. Good Luck at CAL!!

[Braveheart]

People who bash the coach don't really have much of an idea what is going on. Its been my experience that the administration controls the future of schools and programs. One man cannot do it all. Look at the chief and see if the support is there, if its not, which I suspect it isn't at Garrad, look at getting rid of that person.

[gchs_uk9]

Congrats to Wildcats!!! They have surprised a lot of people this season. Good Luck at CAL!!

 

Agreed. I was very impressed with Pendleton County. Solid ballclub, especially with such limited numbers.