JellyRoll

Etown has zero ability to stop the run. I am gonna have to go Bardstown 42-21

How is Bardstowns defense?

This one won’t be close although it may be. But more competitive than the thrashing Hart put on them last season. Etown put up 27 but most of that came after the running clock and in junk time. Etown is very young and doesn’t have a ton of depth. They have struggled mightily to stop the run game. I’m taking Hart 42-14

Obviously JH got close a couple times in the Mark Brown coaching era

Lightning in a bottle. Happens very very rarely. I’ve been around Hardin County sports for 30+ yrs. Etown is the only one to truly get close and they are 3A. North Hardin had their best season of recent history in 2019. 13-0 going into the final four against Trinity and got absolutely waxed 54-7. Joe Jaggers was a legendary Coach and was at NH for a long time and couldn’t get them to a SC game. BE has a great youth program and those kids play together their entire lives. That certainly helped them get there and win it but it is still an anomaly. Hardin Co has too many youth programs that go in all different directions. And things only get tougher next season with NH moving to a Louisville district and South Warren joining 6A and Central Hardin’s district.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but CH and NH are never going to compete for an SC in 6A. Central doesn't have the athletes and North doesn't have the coaching. You combine that with having to face the likes of Trinity, Male, St. X, FD and next year SW among several others and its just not going to happen. The best they can hope for in their best years is a region championship and even that hasn't happened often.

Incredible play to end the half for Etown to get them to within 7

Meade finally decided they were obviously the bigger team. Got out of the spread and went I formation. They are running it down Etowns throat now. Etown just doesn’t have the size to compete with that.

They have some good young talent and will be good in a couple years. They are playing several freshmen. Coach Mattingly and his staff have done a tremendous job at getting buy in from the players, parents and community. He is an excellent coach. It was a great thing for them to get that first win to instill confidence in the players. While I hope the winning continues I believe Meade will be too much for them. Fairdale was awful and Etown made them pay for their mistakes. Meade 42 Etown 24

Where did all of Taylor's players go?

Congrats to Coach Harness and the rest of the staff and players. Big for that program to start 1-0

Sounding like JH May not be as back as some may have thought

The son.

Don’t be surprised if the new HC ends up being a former HC from down the parkway that has Nelson Co roots.

It’s Stockdale. Not sure when they will officially announce it. To be honest, I think they scrambled a little bit after 3-4 candidates turned the job down.

2023 Outcome Record: 4-8 2023 was a tough season for the Panthers as they only had 3 wins in the regular season and a first round win in the playoffs of Garrard Co. Losing to eventual State Champ CAL in the 2nd Rd. ? Trey Durbin (RB/WR/DE), Greyson Hainer (QB/DB), Tyrin Jurnett (RB/DB), Braydon Dean (RB/DB), Alex Evans(TE/LB), Carter Moberly (OL/DL/LB), Sincere Washington(WR/DB) ? Jquan Williams (WR/DB), Will Lynch (OL/DL, Connor Johnson (FB/LB) 2024 Outlook The Panthers will be under the direction of new HC Tyler Mattingly for the 2024 season. This will be the 3rd HC in 3 years for the program. There are massive holes to fill on both sides of the ball with graduation depleting most of the talent that was there in 2023. Jquan Williams can be a dynamic playmaker but injuries the past 2 years have seen his seasons cut short. Connor Johnson will have the most, if not the only significant experience returning to the backfield. With all the positions that are void of returners and experience, possibly the most glaring is the QB spot. Out of the 4 players who threw a pass last season, Hainer and Durbin both graduate and Caleb Irwin transferred to Central Hardin. The Panthers will also be on the road for 7 out of their 10 regular season games. It will be a rough year for these young guys. There is some talent coming up in the freshman class and some of those guys may have to step into varsity action before they are physically ready but if they can get through these next couple seasons I expect to see the Panthers back in the hunt.

If that’s the case then why haven’t they announced Jackson as the new HC?

Any updates on this opening? I’m told Jackson turned it down. Also hearing that Josh Jaggers May be in the running.

My question is…Why are they still on the team??

Great Hire! Panthers will be in somewhat of a rebuild phase the next couple seasons but I think Coach Mattingly will get the job done!

He had an interview. Personally, I think he would be an excellent choice for the job. He already has a SC under his belt as the OC for South Warren in 2021. Worked as an OC for his dad at CH before that.

I've heard that interviews are happening as we speak. I would expect an announcement by the first part of next week. Whoever the next coach is has some rebuilding to do over the next couple of seasons. The cupboard is somewhat bare at Etown with the current group. With QB Hainer gone, his backup transferring to Central Hardin leaves a huge question mark at that position. Add that to the loss of Trey Durbin, Alex Evans, Braydon Dean, Tyrin Jurnett, Carter Moberly and a few others and they have a lot of holes to fill and not a lot of talent to fill it with. The MS group is good but it will likely take a couple of years for them to truly make an impact. I would expect this season to be a 1 maybe 2 win season and it doesn't help that 7/10 games will be on the road. Not ideal for an inexperienced group.

I'm fairly certain that Tyler Jackson, the current DC has been the HC in waiting. I’d be very surprised if he’s not the next HC.

Any hints as to who it might be? I know one younger coach who has applied. Comes from a coaching family and already has a SC under his belt as an OC.

Not much. Seems very quiet which is surprising. The applicants they have must not be who they want because I know they’ve reached out to some other people. I'm afraid they are going to miss the boat which could have major affects on the middle school group they have.