Hearsay

The program is fine, they have a large roster and had a lot of returning starters but the graduations at QB and WR/DB have proven to be of greater magnitude then I had anticipated. Bottom line, we don’t throw it particularly well and don’t defend the pass well at all right now. However, it’s a good coaching staff, they’ve encountered difficulties like this before, they’re working on it. I think we will know more after Meade County.

Should be a nice night for football at E-Towns nice facility. These two teams don’t like each other, could go either way. Bardstown played Ashland tougher than I thought they would, also discovered at least a modicum of a passing game. I’ll go with the Tigers.

Strader’s left collarbone is confirmed broken. I feel really bad for the kid. I will say this: any team in the state would be overjoyed to have Brandon Houston as their QB. Strader went out midway through the 3rd, and it was 27-10. Houston led scoring drives on 3 of the 5 series he was in from that point, and their run game, which Bardstown had stuffed to that point, opened up dramatically, but he also made several 3rd and long throws. I know they lose him on the edge, but my guess is they will just fine until Strader returns around playoff time.

Ashland is disciplined, talented, well-coached. No what I would call individual superstars, just really solid at every position. Offensive line is criminally underrated, really solid tonight. Really proud of Bardstown’s battle tonight. Moved the ball, stalled in red zone several times, blocked FG, discovered a passing game, still can’t defend it.

Agree that Bardstown is on the struggle bus.

Bethlehem can throw it and has a very solid RB in Martavious Smith. However, they had significant graduation losses and struggled in the trenches against Adair County. Lloyd should win.

As I said in the prediction thread, Nelson County’s emergence last year was due largely to some really good lineman who have now graduated, along with a few dynamic skill players. While they have a couple good skill players and a couple good lineman back, their depth is lacking.

34-3 Taylor. 9:37 to go in game. Lightning delay. This is not the same Bardstown team that played against Cooper last week.

Everybody is all over the board on this one. That makes it fun. Bardstown’s run D is pretty good. I just think they are better in the trenches. It is really hot outside.

South's JV defeated Nelson's JV 40-8. Certainly apples to oranges, but I do think emphasizes my point about Nelson's current depth.

Manual shut down one of the top running backs in the state. Hard to believe Central Hardin would fare better.

I'm torn. My niece attends NO and dates WR Gray Schmittel, but Mike Jackson is an old Centre College teammate and good dude. I guess I'll go with North since I'll have to hear about it more often if I don't. I like @Purple88's score, 21-20.

The Tigers travel to Campbellsville fresh off a loss to the Cooper Jaguar juggernaut, to take on a Taylor County squad that suffered what some would describe as a deflating loss to Mercer County. Bardstown was actually quite good against the run vs. Cooper and will seek to contain the Cardinals' star #21 Peyton Smith, while the Cardinals defense that struggled at times against Mercer will have to contend with the Tigers' 5'5" multipurpose star, Tyleeq Williams. Neither team throws it, or defends the pass, particularly well. Who wins this 4A Central Kentucky battle?

I think this is an interesting test game for the Cardinals. I don't think Bullitt Central was very good. While Nelson returned some of their skill players, they graduated a whole bunch of those really good lineman from last year, and I think experienced depth could be an issue. K/P Russell Lux is one of the best unknown weapons in the area, and can make you play in bad field position any time he wants to.

Mercer deserves plenty of credit. #61 on defense was awesome, QB very athletic, love the throwback pass TD, and Ratchford (?) looks like a great two-way player. But that 3rd and 1 call was galactically stupid.

That 3rd and 1 call was unbelievable.

Freddy D down or Hoban just outstanding? Combo of the two?

Is this game live-streamed anywhere?

The Cooper folks in the booth with us tonight, including O’Hara’s dad, agreed that this was a really good Week 1 tune-up for both teams. Cooper played a team that goes hard and never quit. Bardstown got a taste of what it’s like to play against D1 caliber players. Pretty much a drubbing, but I saw a lot to build on for Bardstown. Cooper knew we couldn’t throw and had 7-8 defenders in the box, and Bardstown was still able to punch holes and get 3-4-5 yards a run. Bardstown was really good against the run. We were really good on special teams. We didn’t have anyone that could defend Alexander or Johnson or block Lonaker. Ballgame. Plenty to build on. I think Cooper can challenge for a 5A title.

Yes, on the Tiger YouTube channel. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/@bardstownmedia/streams

This Class looks top-heavy in the East, with Boyle, Corbin, Johnson Central, CovCath, Ashland, Mason Co. and others all eliminating each other prior to semi-state, whereas in the West it looks like a PT, Bardstown, Franklin kind of thing. Am I reading that right?

Though LexCath threw it around last week vs. Bardstown, I remember thinking that they did not look like a top tier team. Good, no doubt, but not Top 3.

I’m going to go with Ashland because they’re on Bardstown’s schedule, but if I’m wrong I’ll buy the drinks again the next time you’re down here.

Trinity woodford Co. Bowling Green Freddy D Ashland

Fair enough. So if Bardstown can keep this 5A school with 3-5 D1-D2 recruits (I count Alexander, Johnson, O'Hara, Lonaker and Mulvihill) within two touchdowns, then we can consider that a positive Week 1 accomplishment.