Carl Spackler

Should be well rested then.

I think Somerset always has a reduced practice schedule during fall break. I'm sure the coaches were using the extra week to get a game plan together.

The Monroe County Falcons travel to Somerset for their first ever meeting with the Briar Jumpers. Both teams come in undefeated in District 3. A win by Somerset would give the Jumpers the District Championship, and a number one seed in the playoffs. A win by the Falcons would set up a game with Green County next week that could give them the championship, or leave a 3 way tie for first. Getting the number one seed is huge this year, as it means staying away from a likely trip to Lexington Christian Academy in round 2 of the playoffs. Monroe County enters the game with a 5-2 record, with their only losses coming to undefeated Glasgow (14-3), and 1A number 4 Campbellsville (48-42). The Falcons are led by Senior Quarterback Branson Williams. On the season Williams has thrown for 878 yards and 9 touchdowns against only 1 interception, while rushing for 355 yards and 5 touchdowns. Last week in their shootout with Campbellsville, Williams exploded for 346 yards passing and 4 touchdowns, while adding 51 yards on the ground and another touchdown. Fellow senior Braydon Baxter leads the Falcons in rushing with 535 yards on 79 attempts (6.8 per carry) with 7 touchdowns. Baxter also has 12 catches for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns. Monroe's leading receiver for the year is another senior Brison Nuckols, who has hauled in 20 catches for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns. Somerset, who is coming off of a bye week, has a 6-1 record on the season. After losing their starting quarterback for the season, and dropping their opener to South Laurel, the Briar Jumpers have reeled off 6 wins in a row in blowout fashion. During the 6 game with streak Somerset has put a running clock on all of their opponents except Southwestern, who they defeated 35-7. The Jumpers offense is keyed by senior Kris Hughes. After moving from running back to quarterback when starter Shannon Lofton went down with an ACL injury in the opener, Hughes seems to have gotten more comfortable each week. He has thrown for 638 yards and 5 touchdowns with one interception while completing 63 percent of his passes. On the ground, however, is where he has done the most damage. Hughes has rushed for 906 yards on 88 carries (10.3 yards per carry) and 19 touchdowns. Junior Corban Cimala is the team's second leading rusher with 333 yards on 47 carries (7.1 yards per carry) and 5 touchdowns. Somerset's receiving corps is led by a pair of freshmen. Alex Decker and Xavier Wooldridge have combined for 28 catches, 456 yards and 3 touchdowns. This should be an interesting matchup. Somerset has had a stingy defense this season. Since allowing 33 points in the opener, the Jumpers have allowed only 7 total touchdowns, with only 2 of those coming against the starters. The Briar Jumpers have a very young secondary, and teams have found some success through the air against them. And Monroe County is coming off a huge passing game against Campbellsville, so you would except the Falcons to see if they can attack Somerset's secondary. The Jumpers will likely be without cornerback Xavier Wooldridge, who missed the last game after a knee injury against Metcalfe County. Wooldridge is expected back before the playoffs, but it might not be this week. The only problem with trying to air it out against Somerset is trying to give your quarterback enough time to find his receivers. The Jumpers come into this game with 26.5 sacks on the season, with senior Jacob Bartley leading the way with 9. Monroe County meanwhile, just surrendered 415 yards in the ground to a very good Campbellsville team, and will have to find a way to slow down the Jumpers on the ground. If this game turns into a shootout, it probably favors the Falcons, but can they put enough points on the board to get it to that point? Then there is the question of how last week effects both teams. Does the close loss to Campbellsville show that the Falcons have found something in they passing game? Or did it expose a hole in their rush defense? Did the bye week allow Somerset time to heal up and come in more prepared? Or, since school was out for fall break, does the interruption of the routine have them out if synch?

Southwestern's uniforms look sharp.

Pretty physical game so far.

DuPont Manual Nicholas County Cincinnati Elder Frederick Douglass Cathedral Tiebreaker 46

Comparing scores is tough for sure. But the North Laurel/Madison Central score certainly shows that expecting the top 7 to run the clock on the Jaguars is far from a given. I think their body of work on defense deserves a little more respect than that.

Didn't North Laurel beat Madison Central 9-7? The same Madison Central that beat #6 Scott County 34-14.

North Laurel is putting together a nice season. Should be 3 fun matchups down the stretch with them, South Laurel, and Pulaski in that district.

Rock salt(y). Good luck the rest of the way.

Those 9-1 regular seasons don't mean much when they don't have you prepared for the speed and physicality of real competition.

Rockcastle County doesn't appear to be nearly as fast, not as physical as advertised. I can't see them making a deep run in 3A. Solid team, but that schedule made them look better than they are.

Another Clinton County punt followed by another Kris Hughes touchdown run. 35-0 running clock now.

After a shotgun snap over the quarterback's head, a couple of penalties and a sack, Somerset gets the ball back after a Clinton County punt. The Briar Jumpers score 2 plays later. Kris Hughes with another touchdown run. It was set to by a long pass from Hughes to Jaxx Griffith. 28-0 Somerset.

Southwestern is looking at a 1-9 season it appears.

Their soft schedule does them no favors when they get to this game.

Somerset forces another 3 and out. Kris Hughes with a 4 yard touchdown run, 21-0 Somerset 0:04 seconds remaining in the 1st quarter.

Clinton 3 and out. Somerset goes about 50 yards in 2 plays. It was a 25 yard touchdown run. But we're sitting in the opposite end zone, so I'm not sure by who. 14-0 Jumpers 6:10 remaining in the first quarter.

Clinton County picks up one first down but has to punt. Somerset goes 53 yards in 3 plays. Kris Hughes with a 14 yard touchdown run 7-0 Somerset.

I sent a text to the normal broadcast crew, they didn't make the trip tonight. I was going to tell them about the request to hear the band. This field is pretty rough. Need to get out of here with all ankles intact.

Highlands St. Xavier Frederick Douglass North Laurel Trinity 46

I'm afraid the Warriors have won the only game they will win all season. Pikeville 31-14.

Somerset (5-1) travels to Clinton County (1-5) for a district matchup. This is the first ever meeting between these programs. Clinton County has scored some point in their losses, but they have give up at least 25 points in every game this season. The Bulldogs are coming off of 42-14 loss to Monroe County in their first district game of the season. The Briar Jumpers, winners of 5 straight, are coming off of a 42-6 district win over Metcalfe County. This game has the look of an early running clock in Somerset's favor. Does anyone see anything different in this one.

Solid effort from Somerset. They scored on their first offensive play, and it looked like this the night he headed for a first half running clock. A couple of big penalties put the Jumpers behind the sticks on drives later in the half, and the Hornets didn't quit and hung in there for a half. They are well coached and play hard. Somerset seemed to try and focus on their passing game, and that should benefit them going forward. The biggest problem that I saw for the Jumpers tonight was that they are really struggling with their punt/field goal snaps. That led to a missed field goal, and almost caused 2 punts to be blocked. They have to get that cleaned up. Kicker/punter Julian Carroll can be a real weapon in the kicking game for Somerset. But the snaps are preventing that. That will cost you against a good team in a close game. Hopefully the injury to Xavier Wooldridge wasn't as bad as it seemed. He's only a freshman, but a real difference maker on both offense and defense. I thought the Jumpers handled all the distractions of homecoming week: the float building, parade, tug of war, etc pretty well. Hopefully they continue to improve and get healthy against Clinton County next week before taking on Monroe County for what should decide the District Champion.

That's some if the worst officiating I've ever seen. I'm not saying they Hazard got in the end zone, but the inability to make a call, and spot the ball was ridiculous.