The Richmond Register

Sports

August 24, 2012

H.S. FOOTBALL: Southern set to take on Bourbon County in opener

By Tim Mandell Register Sports Writer

RICHMOND — In Jon Clark’s first game last year as head coach of the Madison Southern football team the Eagles took on the high-octane offense of Bourbon County.

The Colonels roughed up the Eagles, scoring a 60-21 victory.

Bourbon County went on to go 8-4, eclipsing 60 points three times on the way to averaging 38 points per game.

Southern, meanwhile, went 2-8 and gave up 40.7 points per game, allowing more than 50 points four times.

A year later, Bourbon County is off and running again, opening the season last week with a 34-0 victory against Middlesboro.

Southern, which spent the offseason hitting the weights in an attempt to get bigger, stronger and faster, had last week off.

The Eagles hope the offseason work means a different result when the Eagles play at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Bourbon County.

“We’re bigger, we’re stronger, we’re faster and we’re more experienced,” Clark said. “We have the talent, the question is, is the football knowledge there yet, is the football savvy there yet?”

Southern returns most of its offense this season.

Back is sophomore running back Damien Harris.

In just six games last year he rushed for 742 yards and 11 touchdowns on only 62 carries.

Harris averaged 11.9 yards per carry before being injured midway through the season.

Senior Coty Russell last year rushed 104 times for 790 yards and nine touchdowns.

Also in the mix will be senior Wes Proctor, who was slated to be the starting running back last year before breaking his leg in the preseason.

The fullback position will be run by committee.

Brett and Aaron Sipple and freshman Logan Coomer should all see time at that position.

While playing in a two-quarterback system last year this year’s starting quarterback Adam Simpson ran 50 times for 374 yards and five touchdowns and was 7-for-21 passing for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Simpson is expected to take all the snaps under center this season.

Another key player will be tight end Spencer Stone, who is the team’s leading returning receiving, having caught 14 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown last season.

“A lot of teams overpowered us last year,” Stone said. “We feel we’re as strong or stronger, and as fast or faster, than everybody else. Most of the time up front we were getting pushed around last year. This year we definitely feel the difference up front. We’re ready to turn things around and we feel this is the year to do it.”

The Eagles will need that strength and speed to shut down the Colonels, who  got the season going with a bang last week, scoring first on a 99-yard interception return by Charles Johnson.

Quarterback Dalton Pope was 6-for-10 for 75 yards and a touchdown and also ran eight times for 65 yards.

Running back Kentayvous Hopkins rushed 17 times for 120 yards and a touchdown and Hayden Cox rushed twice for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Despite being shutout, Middlesboro was able to move the ball against Bourbon County, driving inside the Colonels 20-yard line three times, but come away empty each time.

The Eagles will need to take advantage of those types of opportunities to pick up the road victory.

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