FSfan

Another fumble for FS recovered by Greenwood at the FS 47. Gators lead 14-0 after one quarter. Just a disaster so far for FS, much like the Adair County game.

Levi Wyatt to Schwarzkopf 16 yard TD pass. Greenwood 14-0 at 1:45 in first. So far a penalty-killed TD return, a fumble, a dropped interception and 3 or 4 offsides penalties on FS.

FS returned the kickoff for a TD but it was called back for a block in the back. After getting a first down, FS fumbled a snap and the ball popped up in the air and was recovered by Greenwood.

Cayden Schwarzkopf 8 yard TD run for the Gators. Greenwood 7-0 at 6:25 in first.

FS wins the toss and defers. Gators to receive.

Kickoff in 13 minutes.

I think the advantage is not so much a public vs. private question but a question of “how many other school districts can you draw players from?” When a school has one, three, ten or twenty other schools in their county to draw from, they have a natural advantage, no matter if they are public or private. All of the traditional powerhouse programs have at least one or more other school districts in their county from which they can draw a few players who can strengthen their team without adding enough enrollment to increase their classification. The key is to be the best program in those higher population areas. Not all private schools excel at sports. Some of the best programs are public schools. Just for an example, look at Boyle County. They were rarely mentioned statewide until the late 90s. Danville dominated football in the county. For a while both teams flourished, now it’s all Boyle County. It is almost impossible to keep the cupboard full of talent unless you have a lot of population to draw from. The school has to put forth an effort to improve their facilities, feeder program, coaching etc. so that the home grown athletes will want to stay there to play football and also some kids across town might want to come there, too. Boyle County has put in the work and made itself into a powerhouse in just about 25 years. The real disadvantage is with the schools that are the only one in their county. By and large, they have to play with the kids that are there. The talent pool is up and down and it is very hard to get players from some other school just because of distance if nothing else. My alma mater, Franklin-Simpson is one of those schools. We have 4 state titles. We have been state runner-up 6 times, 3 of which were losses to Highlands. FS is probably the most successful school in state history that never had another school in the county from which to attract more players. We had 2 or 3 great classes of players in 1979-80 and 2017-18 that went back-to-back. Most of the time FS struggles to get to the third round, which hasn’t happened since 2019. Frankly, we were fortunate that all the 4A powers today were in other classes in 2017-18. Johnson Central couldn’t get over the hump in 4A either until Covington Catholic and Highlands moved up to 5A a few years ago. FS has lost a few players to South Warren in the last few years as well. There will occasionally be champions like Bullitt East and Scott County were in 6A in the last decade-plus, but they were exceptions to the rule. Last year in the 3A playoffs, there were some great battles between the likes of Union County, Franklin-Simpson, Hart County, Bell County and Belfry, but everyone knew they were fighting for second place behind CAL. It’s hard for a county school to overcome a piece of the Louisville talent pool.

One step forward and two steps back. Kentucky will never be a major player in college football.

Simon Kenton Scott County Bardstown Whitley County Bullitt East Shawnee

I’m wondering now which school is going to throw a big pile of money at Vandy’s coach this off-season.

Army and Navy are both rolling today and on the way to 5-0. I doubt that has happened since the 40s or 50s.

FS wins its homecoming game. FS stands at 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the district and has a bye week next week before hosting Greenwood. The Wildcats could force a 3 way tie for first in the district with a win over Hart County. That seems like a tall order, though. FS has only 4 seniors who get any significant playing time. The younger players have made a lot of improvement in the last couple of weeks. Glasgow turned the ball over twice inside the FS 10 and once near midfield. FS fumbled inside its own 10 and Glasgow blocked an FS punt which it recovered at the FS 7. Both miscues led to TDs for the Scotties.

Final score FS wins it 35-21.

Brady Delk to Colin Anderson 47 yard TD pass. Gutsy call out of the goal line set. Anderson was wide open. Would have been better if he had just gone down after the first down but it’s hard to not score in the open field. FS 35-21 with 1:40 to play.

FS picks up one first down and now has it 2nd and 5 at the Glasgow 48. Timeout Scotties and they have one left. FS 28-21 with 1:59 to go.

Kickoff out of bounds and FS will start at the 35.

Stone with a 7 yard TD run for Glasgow. FS 28-21 with 4:08 to go.

Glasgow blocks the FS punt and will start at the FS 7.

Glasgow punts on 4th and 30 to the FS 47. FS 28-14 with 6:23 to go.

Alford caps off the drive with a 2 yard TD run. FS 28-14 with 10:03 to play.

58 yard run by Alford sets up FS at the Glasgow 7.

Glasgow pass falls incomplete on 4th down. FS takes over their own 35 leading 21-14 at 48 seconds in third.

FS drive stalls out and a 25 yard field goal attempt is wide right. FS leads 21-14 at 4:07 in third. Glasgow starts at their own 20.

Glasgow fumbles it back to FS at the FS 48. That is their third turnover of the game.

FS punts to Glasgow 30.