Hearsay

I agree. Fantastic venue.

Tigers put the ball in the end zone 10 times, but only 6 counted. Over 200 yards in penalties.

Final.

Craig Yeast and Michael Bush are the two best high school players I’ve ever watched in person. Craig’s performance against Bardstown in the 1991 Region title game was epic.

Up until the Ashland game, I would have said B+ run defense, C+ pass rush, and D pass defense. We were terrible up the middle vs. the run against Ashland, so now I don't know.

My thoughts precisely. You will not find a finer instructor in fundamentals than Mike Marksbury, but this is a game where the Jimmy’s and Joe’s runs over the X’s and O’s.

Elizabethtown will make the short jaunt up the Bluegrass Parkway to do battle against Bardstown in another iteration of this independent school rivalry dating back to the 1950’s, on Homecoming Night at Garnis Martin Field. The Panthers (1-3) surprised everyone with an opening night victory over Fairdale, but have since fallen on hard times, falling to Meade County by a touchdown, to Taylor County by two touchdowns, and on Friday night to Hart County 41-19. There’s nothing wrong with the Panther offense, behind the aerial assault from QB Ryan Bowen, who has thrown for almost 800 yards and 9 TD’s. Most of those yards have gone to WR TaQuan Townsend, the 2nd-ranked wideout in 3A sporting a gaudy 150 ypg average. The defense, however, has been gouged on the ground for almost 1,100 yards, including 380 by Meade and 371 against Hart. The Tigers (2-2) are still licking their wounds fresh off a 50-13 drubbing at the hands of Ashland, in a game where Bardstown drove into the Ashland red zone 4 times but failed to come away with points. Bardstown moved the ball on the ground particularly between the tackles against Ashland, but suffered from an inconsistent pass game, a fumbled snap returned for a TD, a fumbled kick return returned for another, and a grounding penalty in the end zone resulting in a safety. This game features two teams still searching for an identity, and may well come down to old-school concepts like field position, penalties, and ball control. Will the Tigers wipe away the blood in time to prevail, or will the Panthers spoil the Tiger Homecoming Night?

Long way to drive for a butt kicking. Tigers have more issues than I know where to start, from the broken down bus on the drive up to the final horn. Only thing to be done is put that one in File 13, clear the heads, regroup and start thinking about E-Town. On the lighter note, colors starting to change on drive up 64, beautiful football weather tonight, Putnam Stadium is flat out impressive, friendly knowledgeable fans, really good BBQ dinner at Smokin’ J’s Ribs and Brewhouse, and Braxton Jennings is fun to watch. I guess if you’re going to get your tail kicked there are worse venues for it.

One of the more difficult teams to pinpoint/figure out this preseason has been the Elizabethtown Panthers, a team that has really struggled the past few years and was invariably predicted to struggle again after graduation losses, roster depletion and the resignation of their head coach. However, new coach Tyler Mattingly came away with what can only be described as a surprising opening day win over typically-strong Fairdale, followed by a nail-biter loss 42-35 to an upstart 6A Meade County Green Wave team. The aerial assault from Senior QB Ryan Bowen to WR TaQuan Townsend and RB Connor Johnson had the media airwaves discussing resurgence and revitalization. However, Fairdale is now 0-3, fading the luster from the opening day triumph, and then the Panthers laid an egg Friday, crashing to earth with a thud in a 41-29 loss to previously winless Taylor County. Taylor rushed for 371 yards and dropped 5 rushing TD's on the E-Town defense, in a game it appears Townsend may not have played in. Conversly, during the years E-Town has been down, the Hart County Raiders have undergone a never-before occurring renaissance under head coach Chad Griffin, whose 2022 team went 9-3 falling in the second round of the 3A playoffs, and then a fantastic 13-1 in 2023, falling by 2 points to Bell County in the state semifinal. Hart appears to be in the same position again in 2024, behind the three-headed rushing monster of Brenan Griffin (coach's son?), Kameron Asbury, and Christian Martin, who have combined for 1,010 rushing yards in wins over Nelson, Larue, and Green Counties. Elizabethtown's performance in this game against a strong opponent may shed more light on whether they are Jekyll or Hyde. Are the Panthers up to the task or will the Raiders cruise to victory as they have done with their previous three foes?

Is this game being streamed anywhere?

For this Ashland-Bardstown game, both @16thBBall Fan and @TCR have referenced Fat Patty's and Smokin J's. I've always wanted to eat at a Fat Patty's. We are there for two days, though, so any others? Breakfast spots? Looked at something call "The Mill" and "The Winchester." Anyone know anything about that?

Lynn's closed down back in 2013. Fantastic restaurant, zany themes, huge portions, eccentric owner.

I thought there might be a bit more chatter about this game. Some Bardstownians are staying the night in Ashland after the game. Anything going on up there to do on Saturday?

I'm beginning to think that as well. #1 is elite, #2-#7 appear to be very strong, and then a dropoff to #8-#10 where there could be shuffle, including shuffling with other 4A teams. For example, I never want to count out the coaches at Spencer County, Logan County, and Desales. Top to bottom the East Region is a veritable Murderer's Row.

Bethlehem has been better than I thought they would be.

Statement game, IMO. If North can play well in the trenches they can be very formidable.

One of the more interesting non-district matchups in the ever-more-formidable looking Class 4A takes place Friday night at the newly-remodeled Putnam Stadium in Ashland, as the Tigers make the 3 1/2 hour trek across the state to battle the Tomcats. After falling in Week 1 to Cooper, the #10 Tigers (2-1) have worked out some kinks in convincing victories over Taylor County and 55-6 last night over Thomas Nelson. Senior QB/RB Amonti Marshall scored 4 TD’s in three different ways, reaching pay dirt twice on runs, once on an interception return, and once on a nifty strip-fumble return. Bardstown has started to develop a multi-pronged offensive approach, utilizing sophomore QB Carson Riley for longer throws to Senior wideout Riley Hatfield to complement short burst running by Marshall, Senior Kenyin Calhoun, and juniors Devin Newsome, Jayven Montgomery, and Sevyn Hamilton. The Tiger defense, led by Senior Caden Farrell, has been fairly stout vs. the run, but it remains unclear whether they can perform against good passing teams . . . . . . which the #6 Tomcats (2-1) definitely have. Paced by Senior QB LaBryant Strader (who this author would suggest does not get nearly as much deserved BGP love as, say, Cooper’s Cam O’Hara), Ashland brings several 3-year starters to the table, an outstanding, well-coached, fundamentally sound defense, and a cadre of running backs led by Braxton Jennings, Cameron Davis, and Marcus Ashby to complement Strader’s pass attack. After cruising to victories over Raceland and West Jessamine, the Tomcats fell 26-10 last night to highly formidable Harvest Prep of Winchester, Ohio. That game may provide some scouting for the Tigers, who will need it, as they seek revenge for last season’s 45-24 dismantling by Ashland in the Bourbon City in a game where Strader’s regular season was ended by a broken ankle. Can the Bourbon City Bengals rise above travel lag and pull the upset at Putnam, or will the Tomcats have the bigger claws in this big cat competition?

Final.

Having seen Cooper live, I offer this opinion: 1) their offensive line is not as good as last season's offensive line. That said, O'Hara can certainly deliver the ball even on the run; 2) I think Cooper is vulnerable to between the tackles running. I think they miss Lonaker. I noticed a tendency of inside linebackers to pick a side rather than take on blockers. I say those things with nothing but respect for Cooper, who has been a great opponent and classy team and fans for two seasons.

I think there is the capacity for this week to be a very telling week in 4A. Boyle of course is the heavyweight champ. PT seems really good, but PT has been really good before and flubs their dub at some point so a game against a down a tad Mayfield could be revealing. Corbin is good, but not quite as good as last year against Lexington Catholic who is not quite as good as last year. Covington Catholic has a reasonable possibility of starting 0-3. Warren East gets another bigger school and is on the "contender v. pretender" list. North Oldham has the blue field and the media hype following a convincing win over Desales, so I think their performance against a 6A Tates Creek team and their power running could be potentially affirming for them. The Johnson Central-Belfry matchup seems like a huge "which team is back" mountain matchup. Lots of intrigue this week.

Boyle County seems to be an unstoppable force right now and I think they would win a head-to-head matchup. Basis for opinion is the normal mishmash of common opponents, clips I've seen on Hudl, etc. etc. I still think Trinity is Kentucky's flagship football program on an annual basis.

Seneca by 2-3 scores, in a game featuring the two schools with the highest percentage year-over-year test score increases in JCPS (‘22-‘23). Score one post-Covid for teachers. Bethlehem is solid, but not spectacular. The loss by Doss was a dud.

North is good at the skill but mid in the trenches. Creekers figure that out and pound the ball and the clock all night. No joy in Goshen. Creek 27 North 21.

If you listen to the social circles in the ‘Ville, these two teams actually compete for players more than CAL-KCD. Fighting Jacksons by 2-3 scores.

Home team has the edge in this tight one.