Hearsay

To be honest, I've been watching some of these CAL HUDL films and really don't see a weakness. Run game seems a bit herky jerky, and I will say that they seem to get away with a lot of holding. But other than that, receivers run clean, crips routes, Hodge is a master at taking what you give him, and their defense is just plain sound. They don't miss tackles. Special teams is well coached. I don't really know. I don't think the edge would be productive. OC tried it and got killed. Maybe find some double-teams and pound your best player in there, hope for good surge on 1st down, chew clock, keep their offense off the field, get a turnover or two, maybe spring a punt return?

Greenwell had surgery and is done for the year. Clark's broken collarbone was to his non-throwing shoulder, slightly displaced. He had a quick surgery with pin and plate placement and has been working his hind end off to rehab. I still think he is a week away, two if he wants to run it like he was running it.

The upstart Nelson County Cardinals (8-3), fresh off of an upset road victory 37-34 over Henry County, will attempt to avenge a 43-16 September 30 loss at the hands of their cross-town rival, the Bardstown Tigers (11-0), when they make the short journey to Garnis Martin Field for the first-ever postseason meeting between the two teams Friday night. The Cardinals' rise to success under 3rd-year head coach Philip Stockdale has been impressive. Following their 1996 Class 4A State Championship, Nelson County in the years following Mark Brown's departure has been a perennial doormat, posting 8 straight losing seasons and 13 of their last 17, including one stretch from 2015-through the start of 2021 when they were 1-49. Friday night's playoff victory marked the first playoff appearance for the Cardinals in 8 years and their first victory in 9. They have not been to a region championship game in a quarter century. Nor have their prospects been any better against hated enemy Bardstown: The Cardinals are just 3-13 against the Tigers in the David Clark era, and have lost 12 straight. However, Stockdale, the former offensive line coach at Louisville Male, upon his arrival established a formal strength and conditioning program during the daytime class period, insisted upon his team's participation in off-season wrestling, and has focused upon physical offensive and defensive line play. That has manifested this season in a physical line led by seniors Aaron Goff, Cameron Turner, and Carson Mattingly. And Nelson County is not without talented skill players as well: Senior Joey Goff has rushed for 1,016 yards and 10 TD's, and went 16-155 and 3 scores against Henry; senior Trevor Beam has rushed for 715 yards and 7 TD's and also has 7 INT's on defense; and complementary speedy-senior Evan Hicks throws in 342 yards and 5 TD's to his name. Junior QB Paul Briney, himself a wrestling state-qualifier at the 165 weight-class, has thrown for 702 yards and 9 TD's and run for 432 yards and 11 scores. The Cardinals also boast a certifiable weapon in Junior K/P Russell Lux, who kicks the majority of his kickoffs out of the endzone, is an expert punter to the coffin-corner, and is pretty much automatic from 40 yards and in on FG. You would never know it from their level of blue-collar humility, but the senior class of football players at Bardstown boasts the highest 4-year winning percentage of any football class in the history of Bardstown High School, with a 4-year record currently at 40-6 (87%). However, their march to an undefeated season this year has not come without heavy cost. They lost their leading producer, senior RB/OLB T.J. Greenwell, to a season-ending torn ACL in the Elizabethtown game. Then they lost senior QB Brayden Clark to a broken calvicle in the earlier Nelson County game. Clark had completed 81% of his passes for 1018 yards and 12 TD's when he went down. Clark has rehabbed tremendously trying to get back in the action, but is probably doubtful for Friday night. Bardstown has also lost a veritable legion of other 1's and 1A's to injury, their sideline at times looking like a hospital medical ward. In Greenwell's absence, the Tigers have been led by the toughest 5'5" powder-keg of dynamite in the state, junior Tyleeq "Ty Ty" Williams. The hero of the season-opener with the last second hail mary TD catch vs. Greenwood, Williams has amassed 1068 yards rushing and 16 TD's, together with 24 receptions for 414 yards and 5 TD's receiving, 2 punt return and 1 kickoff return TD's, 42 tackles and 5 tackles for loss and 3 interceptions from his safety spot. In recent weeks, he has served as a "wildcat" QB in Greenwell's absence, even throwing for 1 TD. Tiger faithful believe that Ty Ty is worthy of All-Bluegrasspreps.com and All-State consideration, paricularly given the load placed upon him by circumstances. Senior WR "Baby" Shannon Tonge has also been invaluable in gluing the team together, hauling in 25 catches for 504 yards and 8 TD's to complement 242 yards rushing and 2 scores. In the earlier game, Nelson County actually led the game early in the second quarter, 16-14, before the Tigers settled down and scored 29 unanswered the rest of the way for the win. While the Cardinals defended the edges, junior fullback Kyan Lydian ran up the middle for 100 yards and 2 TD's, and Clark himself kept the ball for 2 more scores. Back in the day, this rivalry game would attract a couple thousand locals and was typically standing room only. With the weather expected to be warmer than usual, many in this highly pro-military town (Bardstown lost more servicemen per capita in the Vietnam War than any other small town in America) taking off for Veterans Day, and the magnitude of the game, attendance may well be at record levels. Will Nelson County ride the "hard to beat a team twice in one season" mantra to their first region title game in 25 years, or will the non-nonsense junkyard dog Tigers take care of business and move on to the 3rd round?

I think this one falls into that category of “hard to beat a team twice in one season.“ I’m going to go with Lawrence County.

Fighting Marksbury’s by a score.

Campbellsville knows Holy Cross is a one-man band. They advance.

Henderson big.

Elijah Creech’s return from injury adds a throwing element for Manual. Crimsons in the upset.

I would love to see the sons of Liberty pull the upset, but don’t think it will happen here.

Metcalfe, particularly if they are hot out of the gate. Most Danville insiders agree this team bickers with each other when they get behind.

The rain in Fridays forecast favors Greenwood.

I think ETown will give them a game. No running clock.

Final. The Cardinals continue to impress.

My man

Chuck took a year off a while back and coached the defense at Bardstown. Great coach, great guy.

Didn't get to listen Chief. Who did he name?

I wish more people could watch Lofton Howard. He just does so many things like a Division 1 football talent, but perhaps gets overlooked for these types of awards because he is not a true "skill position" RB or QB. Quite literally Greenwood is able to play uneven numbers on defense because the opposition will not go to Howard's side. Even the hard-core naysayers from Bowling Green admit he is a stud; one of his best games of the year was in a losing effort against BG. In a year where it does not look like there is a clear-cut offensive dynamo, it may be a year in which an LB/TE sneaks in to take the hardware. Just my .02.

After Western Hills' cancellation of their game with Bardstown, throw me firmly in the "there are too many playoff teams" category. Total dumpster fire.

By Jove, we are still having out Tiger Feed spaghetti supper tonight. But it won't taste as good.

I don’t see any upsets here. Maybe Glasgow gets salty and knocks off Union, but I doubt it. Taylor without the Smiths is a non-starter vs. PT.

Frankly it depends on what teams on their schedule do. If Greenwood, Spencer County, Nelson County, and Elizabethtown all manage wins, I don’t think Bardstown will drop much at all and might even go up.

E-Town kind of seems Jekyll and Hyde this year. I really like the Durbin kid as a player. I'm gonna say that Mr. Hyde shows up, E-Town plays well and pulls the upset on the road.

The Eagles have a lot of firepower on offense, but Campbellsville found a way to contain them. If Sayre can replicate that then they can prevail. If not, Bethlehem has the advantage.

Appreciate the props, but we are going to have a difficult enough time in rounds two and three figuring out how to play QB by committee against 9 in the box.

A lot of games being played Thursday to accommodate official shortages.