JumperPride1

This game was billed as a prime time matchup last season and the Jumpers didn't show up. Somerset has a long standing history of losing to the northern part of the state. Can the jumpers get over the hump? They're much better but Beechwood is obviously still Beechwood despite the loss of experience from the state runner up team.

Agreed on that, rock is gonna be a tough out for anyone.

If Somerset continues to improve defensively they'll be in the mix.

Great breakdown! Add Somersets Jordan Doan 16 rush for 155 yds and a TD along with Mason Reese 15 rush for 103 yds and 2 TDs to the rushing and it looks good to me

Mason has indeed improved. Much more physical than a year ago. They'll win some ball games if they play like they did Friday.

Good teams capitalize on the mistakes of their opponents, high snap or not Somerset made a great play to go after it and get a defensive TD; don't know much about Fleming but I know Mason is much improved. That being said Somerset was clearly the better football team, wasn't even close. Two receivers that never drop balls for Somerset dropped a ball a piece that would've been touchdowns early in the ball game. Mason has a lot of speed and they get to the football pretty well, hoping they have a great season ahead of them.

Mason Reese runs for 103, Jordan Doan runs for 155. Neither team threw the ball very well. Somerset ends up rushing for 300ish on the night. Best I can give you from the radio wrap up. Mason was held to just over 100 yards total offense on the night.

Somerset won big last year and is significantly improved. That being said its at Mason Co., long trip for the jumpers. We'll see. Still have to believe that Somerset is 4-5 TDs better.

I believe that Somerset is being under valued, hopefully they can prove that Friday. Much improved defensively and much bigger/stronger up front. They also return 9 starters both ways.

Their inside 7 were physically weak and young last year. That group has all 7 starters benching 300+ and squatting in the upper 4s to low 5s so I'm told. They apparently had a monster off season in the weight room. I would add that they were all freshman and sophomores at those positions last year and they were really talented just weren't physically ready to play... That will not be the case this year...

Their interior was weak last year. I don't think that will be the case this year, defensively the secondary could be one of the best as a unit that Jumper fans have seen in a long time.

They sat a few guys the other day to get young guys reps AND because it was less than 48 hours out from playing 8 games at the Lindsey passing tournament; they don't have any injury problems (knock on wood) currently.

Somerset locked in a 2 year contract when their former offensive coordinator took the head coaching job there in the 14-15 season... This is the back end of that obligation even though he is no longer there.

No problems with either making it, both are going to have good seasons and return a great deal of talent. My only argument is Somerset taking Hazard to the wire last year on the road and beating rock. Jumpers lose Hatcher at qb and a good lineman... Outside of that they return everyone. All this talk means nothing if Somerset can't perform though.

Having rock and hazard in without a mention of Somerset is a stretch I think.

Somerset in final four, lost all their pool games and came back in tournament play to beat Pulaski in first round of tournament play and Campbellsville in the second round.

Probably unfair to assume a groups "closeness" unless you're actually a part of it. I can't speak to that but will say from what I saw they ALL seemed to know and like each other. I'm not entirely certain that the past two groups weren't close, last year was a few plays shy of being 8-2 in the regular season; a good season by any measurement. The year before they were literally in every district game until the last few minutes and could never pull it out... The pieces were young during both campaigns, this group has been through a lot and by my estimation seem to have grown stronger with more resolve as a result. This may be the best measurement of "closeness" that one can assume as an outsider looking into the everyday workings of a locker room. Regardless of opinion I agree with the sentiment that we all want to see them do well and many believe that this group, and the ones following, have the make up to be strong this year and years to come.

Somerset was very strong defensively for the better part of a decade. I'm hoping weight room and age has helped the roster.

I'm assuming you meant a "one" seed and I hope (think) you are correct. All three teams have weapons upon weapons. Is it enough to compete with NCC and, just as importantly, the west... Time will tell.

Instead of resurrecting an old thread I just started a new one. Had the opportunity to stop by a weight lifting/indoor session at Clark Field yesterday. Jumpers have added a few new faces it seems. Looked to be about 45-50 players for a June workout session (I'm not an expert but that seems pretty good). one of the coaches let me know that when all are there they have close to 70 kids rostered. The bulk of the team is now upperclassman as most of the faces were familiar. Looking around the weight room there were several groups of kids benching in the upper 200's and some in the lower to mid 300's for reps! That's a welcome change from the past couple years. They have size and speed this year akin to the nice run they had from 2009-2013. The district is going to be tough sledding for all 4 teams involved I would imagine but this group has the pieces to run the table if quarterback play can catch up to everything they return I believe.

Ford won at Caverna and would likely still have been there but they couldn't get him locked into a teaching position. Somerset won a lot of ball games with him coordinating the offense. Two state finals appearances, one win with Lex Cath and an appearance with Somerset... No I'd say for that program it's a home run of the grand slam walk off variety.

District 7 looks to be loaded, the way that the KHSAA envisioned it when they put it together I'm thinking. LCA returns a ton, Somerset returns a ton and Danville is back to being Danville. Looking forward to some great games come October for this group. I believe the Ads will miss their interior D-Line, they were athletic and played with great pad level.

Experience returning all over the field, plus from what I gather they actually have some strength at all positions that they were lacking. They've all had birthdays, they've been young for two years in a transition period so I think 9 is about right for the Jumpers. They were the only team in the district to play with Danville for 3 quarters and hold them far under their season average and (to be real honest) should've beaten Hazard on the road save a Hail Mary and couldn't tackle at LCA but (excreted a yellowish bodily fluid out of their urinary track since I was flagged for a language violation) both games away. Get those two wins they should've had and they're a respectable 8-2 last season and wouldn't have had to go on the road to Leslie. They'll be better, how much so TBD but they'll be better. Hatchers escapability and play making ability will be missed but outside of him the exiting seniors only had a couple of good players (Red Smallwood was one but after an injury in the Danville game the jumpers had to figure out how to play without him and did ok).

Consider me excited to see this years District 7 in 2a. I think the Jumpers made some strides last year and they have solid classes all across the board now. Throw in Josh Cornett, Logan Gadberry, and a host of other Jumpers to the names that were mentioned in the original post that have gotten MUCH stronger in the months since the 2015 campaign ended and I think they will contend for the east again. When the alignment came out I think everyone expected District 7 to be very competitive and I'm thinking this is going to be the year that there are at least three teams that could be considered in the the top eight of the class overall in one district... Should be a fun run. The incoming freshman class has somewhere around 25 kids, great numbers for a 2a program in one class. The seniors that are there now have started or seen time for multiple years, really looking forward to the upcoming season!

He'll end up with it on 43 carries, don't worry. The Kobe Bryant of 2a district 7. Grats in advance admirals. Good luck against the north next week, looking forward to seeing you all next October.