Hardin County Preps

John Hardin 2026 Schedule August 6th vs Central Hardin (Scrimmage) 6:00pm August 21st vs Hancock County August 29th at Seneca September 3rd vs Bardstown September 11th at Fairdale September 18th at Marion County September 25th vs Nelson County October 2nd vs Bethlehem October 16th vs Taylor County October 23rd at Elizabethtown October 30th at Mercer County

Former John Hardin high school football player, Jeremy Harness, was hired as the new Football coach back in January of this year. He replaces Doug Preston, who retired after coaching six seasons at John Hardin. Harness spent the last two seasons as head coach at Warren Central in Bowling Green where he went 6-15. He was a great athlete during his time with the Bulldogs rushing for 3,112 yards, 1,745 receiving yards, and 63 TDs. He helped John Hardin to three region championships and a 2009 state runner-up. He went on to play football at Murray State as a receiver, totaling 2,326 yards on 204 catches and 12 TDs. Along with a new coach, the Bulldogs must replace QB Austin Richardson and standout RB Cavalli Pittman. Key returning players include TE/DL DJ Hightower, Elijah Luna, Trae Martin, at RB, and Aiden Franklin in the backfield. He was also their leading receiver from last season with 315 yards on 17 receptions. Luna returns as the Bulldog leading tackler with 66 total tackles last season and will be counted on to carry this defense early in the season. BJ Stewart also returns on the defensive front with 55 tackles on the 2025 season. The Bulldogs must shore up a defense that allowed 1558 rushing yards on the season in 2026 and 1287 passing yards. Also gone is RB Cavalli Pittman who totaled 6,238 rushing yards in four seasons at John Hardin. John Hardin must use the preseason to establish a QB who can manage this offense and identify a key replacement at the RB position.

The four possible wins for the Bruins this season are: Elizabethtown, Warren East, Daviess County, and North Bullitt.

Here is the link to the News Enterprise post from July 7th 2026 Regarding Coach Gregory and the Central Hardin Bruins upcoming 2026 season. https://www.thenewsenterprise.com/sports/bruins-focused-on-revamping-o-line-linebackers/article_373e9069-d8a2-5109-bf33-cdf672680a68.html

The 2025 season was tough for the Bruins and new coach Lance Gregory, as they started the season 0-9 before beating North Bullitt and finishing 1-10. Hopefully things will change in 2026 with a new group of players. Opening night at Atherton should see Caleb Wilson at QB and a different backfield. Harrison Hamilton is the lone returning receiver as coach Lance Gregory will look for the offensive line to improve from last season after losing three linemen to graduation. The defense loses their top six leading tacklers and will see some changes as well. The schedule will mirror last season with Elizabethtown, North Hardin, CAL, Atherton and South Warren along with Meade County on the schedule. The Bruins, who were held to 88 points; second fewest in Class 6A last year, do return junior guards Austin Bly and Xzayvieon Farrar who should be the leaders of the offensive line this year. Central Hardin graduated its top six tacklers from a season ago, a unit that gave up 455 points on the season but will lean on juniors Thayden Geiger and A.J. McKinley and seniors Conner Dupin, Everett Beckley, and Areel Wilson to lead the defensive backfield. The Bruins battled the injury bug all season in 2025 and finished with their fewest wins since a 1-5 record during the COVID-plagued six-game 2020 season. The returning players have responded well to offseason workouts. In a New Enterprise article dated July 7th 2025, coach Gregory stated that “We've had a core group of guys really committed to getting better this offseason, and those same guys have been showing up to every June workout,” Gregory said seniors like Cory Crain, Everett Beckley, and Caleb Wilson have led the way. “They’ve gotten stronger, faster and have really made an effort to do the things it takes to be successful this season,” Gregory said. “We also have a great freshmen group coming in this year that we're really excited about.” Some of the core returning players stated that they have had a productive offseason and have shown up every day and are committed to the process. Gregory stated that they are emphasizing the difference between being committed or just interested in getting the Central Hardin program back on track. Gregory stated:” We still have too many guys that are just interested, if I'm being honest, but I'm incredibly proud of our guys that have made the decision to commit to being the best they can possibly be and to making the 2026 team the best it can possibly be.” Some of the returning players are excited for this season. I think they have a chance to surprise a lot of people this year. They’ve got a good group of returning players like Caleb Wilson, Tony Hinton, Everett Beckley, and Austin Bly, who have been putting in a lot of work this offseason, along with several younger players, are ready to step up into leadership roles. The energy around this team is different from last year. Everyone has bought into what the coaches are asking of them, and they have been pushing each other, every day, to improve in the weight room and on the field. The team chemistry, work ethic, and experience are going to give the Bruins a chance to compete every Friday night. This returning group is excited about proving people wrong and showing what Central Hardin football is all about this season. I think that Central Hardin can go 4-6 during the regular season, which would be a step in the right direction and lay the groundwork for getting this program back to its winning ways.

Returning at QB for the Bruins should be Caleb Wilson. He has been part of a core group who has dedicated themselves during the off- season workouts. Everett Beckley will be the teams top returning tackler on defense. Central Hardin seems to be getting more "buyin", or commitment from players who have shown up every day and committed to getting this program back to its winning ways.

Bruin 7v7 schedule: July 14th 7v7/ lineman challenge at Nelson County 6:00 pm July 16th 7v7/ lineman challenge at Taylor County time TBD July 17th 7v7 Greenwood, time TBD July 21st Marion County 7v7/ lineman challenge 6:00-8:00pm at Central Hardin Spencer County 7v7 6:00-8:00pm at Central Hardin

Jeremy Harness is a great hire for John Hardin. He graduated from John Hardin in 2012 and was part of a football program that went 40-3 in his last three years in the program. In his senior season, he rushed for 1562 yards with 447 receiving yards. That team was beaten in the state semifinals on a Bowling Green hook and ladder in the waning moments of the game. He knows what it takes to return John Hardin to an elite program and become a destination school for football in Hardin County.

Same schedule as last season. Home and Away just flipped.

At the HS level, success is easier to predict by one simple formula, quality of coaching!

In the 17th District, I expect Elizabethtown and North Hardin to be the fronrunners for the District crown. I think John Hardin will be an improved team followed by Central Hardin and Fort Knox. I think Region 5 favorites next season have to be LaRue County and Taylor County.

After watching both games Monday night, North wins the Region comfortably. Who is going to guard Berry?

My prediction: North over Adair and Caverna over Taylor County to set up an epic 5th Region final of North Hardin vs Caverna. I think this is North Hardin's year to represent the 5th Region at Rupp!

I think North Hardin can come out of this region. In the past few weeks they have beaten Warren Central, Adair County and Bowling Green. They are peeking at the right time!

2026 Central Hardin Bruins Football schedule is out. Nowhere to go but up!

I was impressed with this team last season when they played Elizabethtown in the second round of the playoffs. They have many underclassmen returning for the 2026 season They have the potential to be 9-0 going into the last game of the season vs.. South Warren at home.

I talked to him on Thursday and he said his team would be disciplined and his off -season weight room regimen would make a difference next season. Great, down- to- earth human being who played against the great Fort Knox teams and RB Derek Homer during his time as a RB at North Hardin. I would love to see Fort Knox return to relevance on the High School football scene in the Hardin County area. Best of luck coach.

I think I would put Caverna and North Hardin above Taylor County and LaRue County.

If you managed to make it out of The Bruin Den and attend 8 or more JH games each season during their golden years you would know that they could pass and were way more balanced on offense than any CH ever dreamed of being. By the way, I missed seeing you at Kroger Field Friday and Saturday, December 5th and 6th for championship weekend. Didn't see you at Boyle County for the quarter and semifinals either, come to think of it?

John Hardin was 13-1 in 2011 and lost to Bowling Green in the semifinals, 62-20. Jeremy had 1562 yards rushing and 22 TDs his senior year on 127 rushing attempts for an average of 120 yards per game. He also had 447 receiving yards on 29 pass attempts. In addition he had 1526 yards rushing during his junior season. He comes from a winning pedigree and knows what it takes to win and be a successful program. Hoping for the best for Jeremy and the John Hardin football program going forward.

The hope that Central Hardin could finally, after 35 years, make a legitimate case for being a threat to win the fifth region, were dashed at home as North Hardin made a statement that they are the team to beat in the 17th District and may be a legitimate threat to challenge for the 5th Region. The Bruins have NEVER won a Region Championship in their 35 seasons as a high school and don't seem any closer to attaining that goal this season.

After seeing all 6 championships in person over the last 2 days, these are the teams that passed the eye test, in order. 1. Trinity 2. South Warren 3. CAL 4. Boyle County 5. Owensboro 6. LCA 7. Owensboro Catholic 8. Franklin County 9. Pulaski 10. Murray 11. KCD 12. Raceland

Trinity rolls 45-14

With the nucleus of CAL starters coming back next season, I don’t see anyone beating them in 3A next season either.

Not sure why Raceland coach didn’t t call a timeout on the 4th and 1 with the importance of that play in the game.