AdamLakeCumberland

They're going to lose by 4+ scores if they play like they did the first three quarters at Southwestern. The run defense is solid but prone to misdirection fooling them as shown a few time last week. But the secondary is the main weak point. The Ironton QB looks very poised in the pocket and I'm sure the team is well coached. The receivers are going to have a field day if they get an opportunity. Somerset may show flashes on offense but the play calling has also been a hindrance. Not sure if there's a lack of trust with the personnel or what but they have done this every season and I've had a front row seat... 1) start slow against decent competition. 2) The play calling gets shuffled around some and they start doing better 3) they stay innovative and trusting of but not overly reliant on the playmakers and the offense goes on a roll 4) they play increasingly more solid against OCath but come up short. (Hopefully this part they can finally get over the hump on this season) Would love to be proven wrong, I expect Somerset to get caught in the headlights and lose by 4+ scores if the Ironton staff doesn't choose to play with their food.

Ancient thread here but I think in my time watching Somerset, some of the best have been Trey and Tevin Slaughter, Storm Wilson, and of course Kaiya Sheron. Kris and Kam Hughes are 2020s bright spots. Kris has a real chance to become the all-time leading scorer/rusher in school history these next couple weeks.

I think this is one where Somerset breaks the 50-point margin for the first time this season... that is if they are feeling up to it. Clinton does like to throw it around, but I think that may generate more turnovers which would aid in the onslaught. Give me the Jumpers 56-6

Gimme Somerset. The defense is just too hot right now, allowing basically just one meaningful touchdown in the past 12 quarters. The offense isn't shabby either, with playmakers all over the field and the great dual-threat Kris Hughes at QB. This should be the toughest district contest as well, and I would not be surprised if Somerset runs the table the remainder of the regular season. Jumpers 42, Dragons 14

I'm with that too... like separate inferences... inadvertent pass interference, intentional pass interference. but I can just see the possible accusations from coaches and fans if it goes the way they don't want it to.

Would be tough to say spot foul... I think 15 yards and an automatic first down would be good that way there's less incentive to commit one. A lot of the time there are ticky-tack ones or incidental contacts that would be majorly unfortunate for the committing team, but the automatic first down can help offenses stuck behind the sticks by giving them a new set to work with. Maybe if PIs are committed continuously and intentionally you can make it a personal foul call... but that may be too convoluted.

Lake Cumberland Sports Stream will be available on our website at lakecumberlandsports3 | 2025 Somerset Football - at East Ridge

Survey says... Somerset wins big. I get they struggled last week vs. SL but they did crawl back into the game and had a good chance to pull off the comeback until the 50-yard gut punch. Coach Clevenger noted a few bad breaks and mental miscues resulted in 21 points for the opposition. Two lost fumbles, two fourth down penalties to keep the Cardinal offense on the field, one coming after SL's QB Griffin had a snap fly over his head, recover it then lose it again while he was getting sacked several yards behind the line of scrimmage only for it to fall into his hand mid-sack. Hines' offense was clicking, and they definitely exploited the weaknesses of the undermanned and youthful Somerset defensemen. I predicted a SL win last week due to experience, roster size, and SL passing O vs SHS passing D. I think there are a lot of overreactions around the region to seeing the score online without watching the game and knowing the storylines for the two teams. When Somerset got back to their bread and butter (power run) they were moving the ball almost unopposed. Methodical drives and a good mix of modest to chunk gains. Somerset's offense has overcome slow starts in 2023 and 2024 and seems to settle into a groove by district play. I expect much of the same this season. This week will present its own challenges, as they lost their starting QB for the year and will move forward with Kris Hughes and perhaps install another young player at the position if they want to shake things up. Not familiar with East Ridge but given the numbers I expect the Jumpers to come home with a 3-score victory. Final prediction: Somerset 35, East Ridge 10

Somerset's front seven defensively will be stout - without question. Several studs coming back. Alsip, Carter, Bartley, & Lawless create a fearsome foursome who are all three-year starters, Cimala will transition from the secondary into his first year as an outside linebacker, Lawson is a senior but in first year as inside linebacker, and junior Reynolds as the other inside linebacker is sure to be a sideline-to-sideline pursuer like he has been the past couple years. The front seven will rival the entirety of Class 2A if they play how they are capable. Hughes will play free safety, but the real wildcards are the other defensive backs. Senior transfer Tenner Smith will be the strong safety. Clevenger spoke highly of him and his work ethic. Freshman Drew Anderson and sophomore Jett Boyd will be corners. Clevenger praised their experience despite their young ages. There may be a few alterations here and there to the secondary but from what I could gather this appears to be the unit. Clevenger expects the front seven's disruptions at the line of scrimmage to assist the secondary's raw but potent players. Somerset's offense will again need to rebrand itself after some big names graduated in May. At quarterback, they are going with the Taylor County transfer, a sophomore Shannon Lofton. Clevenger touted his explosiveness as an athlete and a runner and described him as an efficient passer with room to improve. They look to build onto that skillset throughout the year. Reigining Commonwealth Journal Player of the Year Kris Hughes will look for another productive season and will likely see action at several positions offensively. The offensive line is experienced and sound. The passing game is the one question mark as the wide receivers aside from Cimala are both freshmen. In conclusion, Somerset's small but talented roster will need to find that blend of depth and savvy with the players they have, and Clevenger seemed very optimistic about that. Despite being outmanned by several of schools on the schedule, he is confident in every player to contribute in a positive way when their number is called. South Laurel turned around in a big way last season, and knowing Coach Hines' offensive philosophy, that young Somerset secondary will be tested early and often. Clevenger gave props to SL's running back as well, citing the team's ability to be multidimensional and keep Somerset's gap integrity honest. It will be an exciting to see the two teams' strengths and weaknesses play out in real time. Final prediction: Toss-up. Clevenger believes Hines' Cardinals will be a worthy adversary, given they are returning a lot of firepower and boast a large 5A roster. I can see this game going one of a few different ways, but if Somerset gives SL fits up front, they should be able to do enough offensively to eke one out. If the youth and inexperience of some of the corners proves to be too much, the Cardinals could head east with bowl victory.

Looking forward to the changes this year. Some fun games on the schedule, I would say SL, Southwestern, Hazard are the biggest challenges. Word from Paris brass indicated their roster lost a lot and lost their head coach to in-county Bourbon. Still looking forward to that trip and the Paris orange field.

The Bengals could catch fire at the right time and go on a 2021 type run... but it would take a lot of things to go right. The good news for them is that 7th spot is up for grabs in the AFC race. Denver appears to be the biggest challenger and they face them head-to-head soon. I'll be watching the Bengals in Nashville in December. Hope they go on a miracle run.

Photo credits to SM Lynch Photography. In 2012 Whitley County played at Somerset for a homecoming game and it was a foggy and murky mess. Not quite the Philly/Chicago Fog Bowl but was similar. Whitley won that game and it was not a fun night for the purple and gold. Very chippy just as the 2011 game in Williamsburg was. Was trying to find pics of 2011 Somerset at Perry Central on a sloppy muddy field on a sleety late October night. Couldn't find them though. Final was 7-3 Perry.

I am a fan of flashy pass offenses so maybe I am biased, but I don't see how many teams can stop a well-oiled aerial assault. A team who has athletes with a good rapport, quarterbacks and receivers on the same wavelength and speed to take the top off of a defense will always be more dangerous because of how quickly they can score. That said, it is VERY hard to find a team and coach that can consistently throw and catch like that, but when they do (especially at the low A levels) they are hard to stop. If you can throw a 25 yard fade and just blaze past corners and safeties who are too slow to keep up and score with just a play, you can make up for a lot of your own defensive woes. Sayre, O-Cath, LCA, Mayfield, Danville... all those teams in the past decade when they made big runs or are still having success all could take the top off a defense at the drop of a hat. But I think having a package for that old style run formation can still bode well for a lot of teams. Just have to have coaches who can implement it and players who can learn the playbooks and that seems to be the biggest issue with the aforementioned schools.

Exactly. I do not follow those schools as I am in the Lake Cumberland area and frankly pretty new to the statewide sports coverage world. But it all boils down to culture, coaching, and students who are willing to buy into themselves for success. No matter what scheme you run, if you don't have an engine or wheels, you can't drive the car.

Every year I see teams run Wing-T or other run heavy variants of offense and it just seems too one dimensional if they completely abandon the throwing game in lieu of these exotic run schemes. Not to say they don't have their merits, but I think having a large enough team to implement a package for a Wing-T while also having a pro-style or competent downfield passing subset of the playbook would be the best of both worlds. Somerset has this to an extent. They have a jumbo set they run that is like a partial wing T with only one running back. They use it on goal, short yardage, or just when they feel like cramming it down the d's throat. A lot of these mountain schools run it to much success and have for several years but they go face a school that can defend it well enough to control the TOP stats and can burn them with their own passing games and they lose. Generally, a team who can throw well in today's game, much like in college and pro, will have the most success. I have theorized for years that if a small 1a or 2a school has dominant passing offenses, they will almost always be at the top of their classifications and that's what we're seeing. But that also comes down to personnel and coaching. Kids have to put in the work and so do the coaches.

This afternoon I watched the NFL's YouTube channel release a Top 10 worst weather games in NFL history and was curious about the anomalous weather experiences with high school football in the Bluegrass. I don't believe I have ever witnessed a snow game in Kentucky, but I am sure there have been a good amount of them that the general public on here have witnessed. What are some snowy or other wild weather games that some of you all have been to here in Kentucky?

Glasgow was the better team. I think Somerset left a lot on the table tonight however and it should’ve been closer. Somerset had their opportunities both offensively and defensively but weren’t able to finish. Mental and positional errors cost them greatly. Missed tackles. Some penalties. Offense was MIA in the second half. Hats off to the Scotties and good luck in the playoffs!

Had a chance to watch some Glasgow film vs Hart County. This is going to be Somerset's toughest test since Campbellsville. The Scotties are a tough bunch and played the unbeaten Raiders very closely. Appear to be very well coached and experienced. The ultimate difference will be made in the trenches. If Somerset can generate enough pressure on Gumm before he can find his dangerous targets Jaylen Bradley and Jerrick Martin, and clog Cam Bulle's running lanes, it will help their causes. The offense will be playing a very disciplined defense that only allows 19.2 points per game, weighted by a couple 30 plus allowances. Somerset's offense will need to play clean and effective football and spread the ball around against a defense that will be hungry for a Senior Night win. I think, despite their record disparity, the Scotties will be able to eke this one out at home 21-13.

I am sad about it too since I was in high school they’ve been in the same district which was 2011 and I think they were in the same district before that as well. No one really talking about it but last week may have been the final time that Danville gets to play Somerset for a long time. Or maybe ever. I sure hope not

Somerset took care of business tonight. 4 first half TDs from Hughes, the O-line is still steadily improving, front seven dominant as ever. A couple of diamond in the rough underclassmen were maybe discovered in mop up time. 3-0 and another district crown. 4 straight wins to move to 6-3. They really ran this iteration of district 6 and I look for them to continue that next rotation against an admittedly stronger set of teams, Clinton is more competitive than Danville has been and Metcalfe and Green are like Leslie and Breathitt in some ways but have been a little more stiff the last couple years.

Not sure. Don't know the ins and outs of how those communities and school systems interact with one another. It has happened to plenty of schools throughout the years. Maybe the best of both worlds could happen and they can keep Jenkins open as a sister school in the Letcher District but allow the kids to play sports at other schools. City and county school systems often have pretty complicated histories though. Sad to hear this happened. Sad for the kids.

Danville has a few good youngsters. I hope they can keep them together and get more bodies on the football team. High school football in KY isn't quite the same when Danville isn't good. Good luck to them and the future of the program

No one seems to be giving the Warriors much of a chance in this one (30-0 in favor of the Maroons currently in the polls). I don't disagree. Southwestern has dominated Pulaski over the last half decade but I think we're witnessing a shift in the matrix on how things will go for the next little bit. I expect Pulaski to roll in this one 35-7

From what I have seen, Collett is having a nice senior season and both teams come in with identical records, but the blowout loss to Breathitt is alarming considering the Jumpers handled the Bobcats. Can't always play the common opponents game with football, but I do expect a Jumpers victory. The front seven should apply enough pressure to help out the suspect back end, however I do expect Collett to hit a few big gainers through the air. Kris Hughes and company should find holes to run through all evening behind the Purple and Gold Wall. Prediction: Somerset wins 41-21

Maybe he come can play for Kentucky he should have one more year of eligibility... LOL