Hearsay

Normally, the 1 vs. 4 matchups in the first round of the KHSAA playoffs are foregone conclusions. For the Bardstown Tigers (7-3), they are NOT jumping to any such conclusion when they host the Logan County Cougars (4-6) on Friday night at Garnis Martin Field. Last year, Logan County, admittedly a better team with now-departed do-it-all back Davin Yates, came to Bardstown for Round 2 of the playoffs and staged a furious 4th quarter comeback, falling to the Tigers 51-48 in a shootout. QB Ridge Holman threw for 228 yards and 2 TD’s in that contest, but also 3 int’s that prevented the full comeback. This year, Holman returns to lead a Cougar team that appears to have run hot and cold this season, with a curious loss to Hopkinsville and drubbings by Paducah Tilghman and South Warren sandwiching an upset victory over Warren East. Holman has thrown for over 1800 yards and RB Christian Helle has averaged nearly 100 you since midseason to lead a balanced attack behind Coach Todd Adler. After early-season beat downs by state leaders Cooper and Ashland, and a debacle of a loss during Hurricane Helene at Meade County, the Tigers have reeled off 4 straight victories and are undefeated at home on the year behind a veteran offensive line and the Swiss Army knife skills of RB Amonti Marshall, who has scored running the ball, receiving, thrown for 2 TD’s, returned a punt, kickoff, interception, and fumble return all to pay dirt, to complement over 900 yds rushing since making the switch from QB in week 5. The team has also seen the emergence of sophomore QB Carson Riley, who has thrown for over 1,000 yards and 14 TD’s against just 2 INT.’s, as wideouts Tykeem Taul-Williams and Riley Hatfield, with 27 and 25 receptions respectively, have given the Tigers their own balanced attack. Will the veteran coach Adler game plan a rare 4 seed upset, or will first-year Tiger head coach Justin Grundy get his first playoff victory?

Danville, VOR. I had a son on the field. A daughter who did the film that I re-watched today. And I was in the booth with the refs walkie-talkie. They will attempt to injure your top players, and their team is so bad that there is zero tune-up value to even running your base offense/defense. Unless you all have a miracle drug that controls teenage emotion, it is a recipe for ejection keeping players from playing the second round.

Good luck to Cooper. Great team, respectful fan base. Enjoyed my trip there week 1.

Beechwood needs to protect its players from injury and ejection. Danville is playing for nothing, there is absolutely zero sideline control, in fact they may even egg it on. You cannot even run a useful tune-up game without malicious head-hunting. Get a few scores and then get your top players out of the vanguard.

I was in the booth. We had the benefit of one of the little walkie-talkies the officials were using. In the first quarter, the officials said “keep an eye on #7 and #21 for Danville, they are targeting #7 for Bardstown.” Heard it with my own ears. Later, Danville’s head coach was flagged for unsportsmanlike. The game got really ugly. #7 for Bardstown is our best player, and our guys were retaliating in his defense. We didn’t even put him in after halftime. The coaches AGREED before half there would be no postgame handshake. That was over the walkie-talkie. Bardstown’s 3rd string did score the last play of the game. Danville’s coach came out to midfield animated, and both chest bumped and finger-poked Bardstown’s head coach. And yes, Coach Grundy had to be restrained. The guys from WHIR were unaware of the agreement not to shake hands. It was a good agreement. It would have been an almost-certain brawl. I cannot believe how far the Danville program has fallen.

Will the #4 seed be Logan County or Hopkinsville?

I don’t see 42-6. John Hardin will win, and Nelson does not have the D-Line to contend with the JH power run game. But Nelson has some players. Brayden Smith is a good athlete (if he plays - he missed the second half with a shoulder injury Friday night). SS/TE Ethan Kessinger is a good player. LB Lincoln Boblitt is a good player. QB Kam Morley knows how to throw it, even on the run. DB/K Cooper Thompson is a sure tackler and is good for 3 points from 35 and in. There are some guys to catch the ball. JH’s defense is not great. I see this more as a 35-21 kind of game.

I’ll take Ashland. I just enjoy watching Jennings play ball.

For the second straight week, Bardstown played a pretty complete football game in all three phases, especially considering they were without leading scorer Amonti Marshall, who had over 400 all-purpose yards against John Hardin last week. Several Tigers filled the breach, including Senior Kenyin Calhoun, who returned the opening kickoff for a TD and ran for another; Senior wideout Riley Hatfield, who caught a 50+ yd. TD pass and guided the team cold turkey as QB when Carson Riley left the game late 3rd quarter; Junior RB Sevyn Hamilton who became the bell cow RB and had two scores; and Sophomore FB Jayden Chancellor, who made his varsity debut as a starter and was an impressive lead blocker and scored once. Nelson County got a gutsy performance from Junior QB Kam Morley, who threw for two scores and ran for another on the last play of the game despite being under constant pressure and taking several big hits; Senior TE/SS Ethan Kessinger, who had a long TD reception and was all over the field defensively despite the game being out of hand at halftime; and Senior RB Brayden Smith who found some success running the ball in the first half but unfortunately did not return due to shoulder injury. Bardstown gets a needed week of rest before concluding the regular season on Senior Night against Danville. The Cardinals host an important district game against John Hardin to determine who gets second and a home playoff game.

Final.

Yowza, what a win!

You are correct. I sometimes forget that Bullitt East is 6A.

I tend to agree, but the downside to that is 1) it can't happen with RPI; and 2) that schools who don't have to schedule won't schedule against teams that don't fit their agenda. Part of me wants to believe that the market bears what the market bears, but I just don't think that is always true.

Lotta blowouts this week. Maybe Western Hills keeps it within 4 scores? Otherwise, lotta runnin clocks.

Nelson County County (2-5) makes the 5-minute trek across town for renewal of the annual rivalry against Bardstown (5-3). The Cardinals and Tigers are the answers to two trivia questions: 1) who is one of only 2 teams not named Trinity, St. X, or Male to win the big school state championship since 1992; and 2) who was the only team to beat them that season? This game was the last game of the season for many years and traditionally drew a couple thousand spectators. Not quite that prolific these days, the teams are now district foes, but the Tigers have won 13 straight contests against the Cardinals, and 25 of the last 34. The Cardinals last beat Bardstown on August 27, 2010, and will look to ride behind RB Brayden Smith (772 yards) and defenders Lincoln Boblitt and Ethan Kessinger to stop the Tiger attack. The Cardinals, under new head coach Mike Rogers (who was on staff during that ‘96 state title run), were idle on Friday following a loss two week ago to Louisville Holy Cross. Bardstown put together its most complete game of the season in a crucial district win over John Hardin 39-27. The Tigers were paced by senior Amonti Marshall, who had over 400 all-purpose yards and 4 TD’s (including a punt return), and LB’s Caden Farrell, Kaden Stone, and Deandre Sheckles, who had 15, 16, and 14 tackles respectively. Will the Cardinals finally be able to get the Tiger off their back, or will Bardstown continue its dominance over its crosstown rival?

Anyone have a KHSAA link to the District pairings this year for Rounds 1-2? Is it District 1 plays 4, 2 plays 3, 5 plays 8, 6 plays 7? And then RPI East/West for Round 3 and overall RPI Round 4?

This was a solid football game. The Tigers ran out to a 22-0 first quarter lead behind a solid run defense and senior tailback Amonti Marshall who had a long TD run and a punt return for a score. However, Doug Preston’s Bulldogs clawed back, adjusting the run game behind Cavalli Pittman and also hitting a few big waggle passes to backs out of the backfield. At halftime Bardstown led 25-13. The Bulldogs drove it down to the Tiger 30 to start the 3rd quarter, aided by some Tiger penalties, but used about half the 3rd quarter clock and were stopped on 4th down. The teams then traded blows from there, with Marshall getting the sealing TD run from about 50 yards with 2:30 to go to seal it. On the night, I thought Marshall (5 TD’s) outpaced Pittman (4), but they were both very good. Marshall’s runs were long. Pittmans were grinding power runs. Tiger LB’s Caden Farrell and Kaden Stone were outstanding and FS Kenyin Calhoun deserves credit for several TD saving open field tackles on Bulldog waggle receptions. Superior special teams also played a role for Bardstown. All in all, this was a street fight with both sides accosting the other by the collar and striking head blows until the other passed out. Bardstown was the initial aggressor. Very, very chippy game. Impressed with John Hardin’s improvement, they will be no pushover come playoffs.

Final.

Possibly, but the flip side is that if one of the co-Defendants has made a prior statement against another co-Defendant, and the case is consolidated and that co-Defendant does not testify (which he does not have to do), then the inculpatory statement cannot be used at trial. Definitely a double-edged sword. Black letter law. Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123 (1968). So, if one of the Lawson's made a statement implicating Houck, the co-Defendanrts were all tried together, and the Lawson did not testify, his statement against Houck cannot be used at trial.

OK. I think he was the head coach at Garrard then in 1993 Region final at Bardstown. Garrard missed a field goal as time expired that would have won it. My brother was the QB/K of that Tiger team.

Our Judge here considered Christian County as a venue, but the logistics of the courthouse there just were not what he felt was necessary for a trial of this likely attendance. Warren County is an interesting venue, with several TV stations. From a legal standpoint the more interesting question is whether or not Judge Simms will continue joinder of the cases with the co-Defendants.

What is Coach Perry's coaching background? Was he the head coach at Garrard County in the early 90's?

E-Town got most of its yardage passing, and some of its scoring in garbage time. Bardstown stuffed their run. Not sure how that applies here.

The real question in this game is whether the ridiculous performance by Bardstown at Meade County 2 weeks ago during Helene was who they are, or an anomaly. I still don't know. Nothing against Breckenridge County can be relied upon (nor can anything against Thomas Nelson be relied upon by John Hardin). While we can pay lip service to alternatives, the reality is that if you stop Pittman you stop John Hardin. This game was 31-0 last year and Pittman was 11 carries for 69 yards. They tried to throw it 19 times and Austin Richardson was 4-19. The Tigers had 7 sacks that night. Of course, that was with David Clark diagnosing the enemy defense and doing the playcalling, and that's not here this year. Neither is Tyleeq Williams and his 211 yards rushing. While JH is 6-1, the level of competition has been poor. This group of Tiger seniors saw significant play time as sophomores in the state championship, so it is a veteran crew as well that is not playing to their potential. Their passing game is much, much better than it was last season. Doug Preston is a good coach and a smart guy. He knows that Bardstown's key to the game will be to keep Pittman off the field and ball control the offense with a combo of runs and mid-range passes. This game should be more about JH's defense and if they prevent Tiger receivers from getting separation than it is about Cavalli Pittman. If they do, they win. If Carson Riley's primary receiver gets open and they are converting 2nd and 3rd down plays, the Tigers win. Its not complicated. In the end, while JH is better and Bardstown more inconsistent than last season, I don't think there has been a 31-point swing from last year. It doesn't appear weather will be an issue. I think overall Bardstown is still the stronger team, but the gap has certainly narrowed. Bardstown 35 John Hardin 21.

4A Bardstown travels to Brandenburg against 6A Meade County Friday night in a battle of two 3-2 teams. Gone are the days of “Death Valley,” Larry French taking opposing coaches fishing, and pickup trucks pulling up to the fence behind the visitor endzone to shine their headlights on the chewed up grass field. The Green Wave’s new field features turf, and sunken surround-wrap visitor’s stands with an eight-lane track devoid of old drainage problems. The Tigers are fresh off of a 42-20 Homecoming night victory over common opponent Elizabethtown. Bardstown was very physical, particularly linebackers Javen Montgomery and Jaden Lamkin, but still not yet sharp, as they turned the ball over twice and amassed over 200 yards in penalties that negated at least 3 visits to the end zone. The Tigers did get over 100 yards and three scores from junior RB Sevyn Hamilton, and over 100 yards and 2 TD’s from senior Amonti Marshall in a RB capacity, as they slowly shift the QB duties to sophomore Carson Riley, who threw a TD pass. Meade County notched a 28-14 win over Daviess County. QB Cade Scott continues to air it out 25-30 times per game, though he appears prone to interceptions, with wrestling star Branson Stull being a favorite target. Roques Wren has taken the bulk of carries running the ball for the Green Wave. Elizabethtown is the common opponent, with Meade County also beating them in Week 2 in a 42-35 thriller. Both teams seem very susceptible to the pass, which undoubtedly will play a role. Meade County’s opponents are a combined 6-19. Bardstown’s losses have been to Cooper and Ashland. Last year, Meade County overcame 3 Cade Scott interceptions to beat Bardstown 20-17 at Bardstown in a game the Tigers were plagued by penalties, fumbles, and special teams gaffes. Will Bardstown finally put together a complete game to beat Meade County on their turf, or will the Green Wave aerial attack drown the Tigers once again?