Final.

Hard hitting game on both sides of the ball.

Definitely hard hitting. Garrard played hard and physical, but Somerset is just a much better team. I thought the officiating was sub-par tonight (on both sides; in no way did it affect the outcome) which might have led to some extra-curriculars, but that's for another day. Somerset definitely was impressive, especially tackling. I'm not sure if they will win 3A but the Jumpers will have a say in how it all plays out.

Solid win for the Briar Jumpers. Somerset got out to a quick lead of 21-0 after one quarter before losing focus a little bit in the 2nd quarter but led at the half 28-6. Erik Manning hit Storm Wilson with a beautiful long pass down the right sideline right out of halftime to effectively end any hope of Garrard County making a game of it. At 49-8 the JVs took over and the Golden Lions JV scored on Somerset's JV to set the final margin. Somerset is now 10-0 against Garrard County. Things got pretty chippy in the second half which led to the JVs going in to finish the game. The officials really lost control of the game, not the first time I've seen that happen with this crew.

 

One suggestion to the Garrard County coaching staff. If you are going to have your pressbox coaches/film crew sit in the tower over the visiting stands they really need to keep their mouths shut in regards to the opposing fans. They were yelling back and forth with some of the Somerset fans. I was 20 yards away from them and could hear what they were saying. They should be there to coach and film and not get involved with the fans.

Jumpers keep on rolling!!

Is this team better than last years?

Is this team better than last years?

Yes

One suggestion to the Garrard County coaching staff. If you are going to have your pressbox coaches/film crew sit in the tower over the visiting stands they really need to keep their mouths shut in regards to the opposing fans. They were yelling back and forth with some of the Somerset fans. I was 20 yards away from them and could hear what they were saying. They should be there to coach and film and not get involved with the fans.

 

By the same token, Somerset put three video cameras right below the press box (in Garrard seating) and the video kids mocked and yelled at the Garrard fans throughout the game. Two Somerset coaches (who didn't say a word, mind you) spent the entire game in the main section of the press box right beside the PA announcer and clock man instead of in their designated booth, which is where the Somerset radio was for some reason.

 

AverageJoe you and I know each other pretty well and you know I would give no defense for what Garrard's coaches were doing, but I wanted to let you know something real similar was taking place on the home side as well.

Is this team better than last years?

 

Definitely. Somerset is a much better tackling team than they have been in some while. I knew their offense was good, but I was very impressed with their defense.

By the same token, Somerset put three video cameras right below the press box (in Garrard seating) and the video kids mocked and yelled at the Garrard fans throughout the game. Two Somerset coaches (who didn't say a word, mind you) spent the entire game in the main section of the press box right beside the PA announcer and clock man instead of in their designated booth, which is where the Somerset radio was for some reason.

 

AverageJoe you and I know each other pretty well and you know I would give no defense for what Garrard's coaches were doing, but I wanted to let you know something real similar was taking place on the home side as well.

 

I'm not going to defend the video guys, but they are high school kids and not paid coaches/teachers. My main question is why are the Garrard coaches right over the visitor's stands? They have a press box and tower on the home side? It looks like it would make more sense for the visitors to use the tower on their side and the home to use the pressbox and tower on their side. Either way coaches should be worried about what happens on the field and not interact with the fans. Good luck the rest of the way, Garrard can beat Breathitt if they play well and make it to the Region Finals.

I'm not going to defend the video guys, but they are high school kids and not paid coaches/teachers. My main question is why are the Garrard coaches right over the visitor's stands? They have a press box and tower on the home side? It looks like it would make more sense for the visitors to use the tower on their side and the home to use the pressbox and tower on their side. Either way coaches should be worried about what happens on the field and not interact with the fans. Good luck the rest of the way, Garrard can beat Breathitt if they play well and make it to the Region Finals.

 

I understand your point. And the Garrard coaches have been in that spot for a couple years now, which I'm not really sure why. There are two rooms in the press box for coaching staffs of both schools. Neither side used them last night.

 

For the Somerset folks, you've now seen Casey, Taylor, and Garrard three straight weeks. Garrard plays Taylor next week and at Casey after that. Would you guys say Garrard would be a favorite in those games?

 

And as for playing Breathitt, it would certainly be tough. We know, we've been two years in a row. But seeing how they struggled with Estill County last night and have been really spotty this season I don't really know what you could expect from them. I know I'd love for the young kids of Garrard to make a regional final this year, even if it does mean having to go to Somerset to play it.

The issue with the coach and fans started when the coach was right above the Somerset parents and said that our players were playing dirty football. There had just been a tackle and late hit called on Somerset which was an additional 15 yards for GC. Coach should have been happy for the yards, but when he very loudly was complaining about Dirty Football after just the first penalty of the game several parents took exception to him taking a shot at our kids. I know he was talking on his radio to other coaches when he made that comment but parents will always defend their kids when some one else is talking about them. The same Coach was later repremanded by one of the Somerset fans for his language, which to his credit he did come down later and apologize for the profanity.

 

I know coaches and fans get would up at games and say a lot of things the other side would get mad over. That's why I was wondering like Avg Joe why Somersets coaches and film crew were above the GC fans and the GC coaches and film crew were above Somerset's. That makes no since especially when there is a tall tower behind the GC bleachers that no one seems to ever use that would be perfect for GC coaches and film.

 

This officiating crew is IMHO one of the worst. There are a couple of good refs on the crew but for the most part, they are not very good.

I understand your point. And the Garrard coaches have been in that spot for a couple years now, which I'm not really sure why. There are two rooms in the press box for coaching staffs of both schools. Neither side used them last night.

 

For the Somerset folks, you've now seen Casey, Taylor, and Garrard three straight weeks. Garrard plays Taylor next week and at Casey after that. Would you guys say Garrard would be a favorite in those games?

 

And as for playing Breathitt, it would certainly be tough. We know, we've been two years in a row. But seeing how they struggled with Estill County last night and have been really spotty this season I don't really know what you could expect from them. I know I'd love for the young kids of Garrard to make a regional final this year, even if it does mean having to go to Somerset to play it.

 

Could be a running clock in all 3 games for the Lions!

Thanks for the clarification on that Jumper_Dad. It didn't seem like something either of those guys would do on purpose but when you are that close to an opponent obviously the fans will hear what you say, even if it's into your headset. I'm glad that the coach came down and apologized. As for the tower behind the home stands, that's apparently a band tower and has never been used by the football staff. So who knows!

 

You are right about the officiating crew. They've been to Garrard a few times over the years and it always seems to get rowdy when they work. To me that's the main reason any high school game gets rowdy is a lack of control from referees. On the contrary, the crew that worked Garrard/Estill a couple weeks ago, another hard-hitting and intense game, worked hard, ran to spot the entire night, and there were no issues. One would think a game that will likely determine the district champion should have at least warranted a better crew.

I understand your point. And the Garrard coaches have been in that spot for a couple years now, which I'm not really sure why. There are two rooms in the press box for coaching staffs of both schools. Neither side used them last night.

 

For the Somerset folks, you've now seen Casey, Taylor, and Garrard three straight weeks. Garrard plays Taylor next week and at Casey after that. Would you guys say Garrard would be a favorite in those games?

 

And as for playing Breathitt, it would certainly be tough. We know, we've been two years in a row. But seeing how they struggled with Estill County last night and have been really spotty this season I don't really know what you could expect from them. I know I'd love for the young kids of Garrard to make a regional final this year, even if it does mean having to go to Somerset to play it.

 

Garrard should have no trouble at all with either Taylor County or Casey County. Casey County is the better team of the 2 but they lack any real speed and shouldn't stay within 3 touchdowns of the Golden Lions.