Hart County and Union County meet again in the postseason
By Perry Swack
In recent history, the southcentral Kentucky area has been a hotbed for talented football teams. During the 2010s, it surprised no one if three teams featured in the state championship game. However, the ball bounced differently in 2023. While eight reached the second round, only two teams survived to play in the state quarterfinals. Perennial Class 5A power Bowling Green hosts Fairdale, and Class 3A upstart Hart County puts its undefeated season on the line as it welcomes Union County to Munfordville. Will both cruise to the state semifinals or will their season be cut short? Continue reading for in-depth previews on the Purples and Raiders.
(Rankings are reflective of the KHSAA RPI within class)
#5 Union County (11-1) @ #2 Hart County (12-0)
A season ago the Hart County Raiders traveled to Union County and were eliminated in the Class 3A playoffs, 34-20. It was the last time the Raiders have been defeated, as the Munfordville program has won twelve-consecutive games to reach the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. As for Union County, the Braves are featuring in their third quarterfinal in four seasons.
The Raider run game has been unstoppable in 2023 as senior Clark Rexroat and senior Hunter Monroe have each rushed for over 1000 yards and combined for 14 rushing touchdowns. Fellow senior Joshua Dan Crump has scored 13 times on the ground and tallied nearly 700 yards, while senior Jordan Bradley has five scores and nearly 700 yards as well. Hart County’s rushing offense currently ranks third in the entire state across all six classes at 320 yards per game.
Defensively, three players have accrued more than 125 tackles on the season, led by senior linebacker Jaxson Shoulders’ 139 tackles. Fellow linebackers AD Milby (128 total tackles) and Brenan Griffin (126 tackles) help spearhead the vaunted defense. Milby also has 13 tackles for losses, while Crump leads the team with 5.5 sacks. The Raider secondary has picked off opposing quarterbacks twelve times, led by juniors Kohnner Trent (four INT) and Konner Walters (three INT).
Union County enters the quarterfinal matchup looking to reach the state semifinals after falling short in their last three opportunities. The Braves began the season 9-0 before losing the regular season finale at Greenwood, 27-12. A 28-6 win over Adair County set up an exciting round 2 matchup with Franklin-Simpson. Jarren Johnson rushed 22 times for 136 yards, two scores, and an important two-point conversion as Union clipped the Wildcats, 23-22. The Braves racked up 256 yards on the ground, a little below their season average of 290; however, it was enough to get the job done. Johnson is the state’s seventh-leading rusher across all six classes with an average of 158 yards per game. The junior running back is amassing a whopping nine yards per carry.
The Braves are allowing only 15 points per game, have tallied 31 sacks, 16 interceptions, and nearly 900 total tackles in 2023. Waylon Wheatley leads the way with 116 tackles, while Logan Hall checks in with 104 tackles. Kamden Davis leads Union with ten sacks, and Amare Black (8.5 sacks), and Leland Fought (7.5 sacks) are not far behind.
When the Raiders and Braves take the field Friday night, it will seemingly be a battle of wills. The two teams are strikingly even when it comes to numbers. Hart County is scoring 33.7 points per game, while Union is averaging 33.4. Hart County is allowing 14.8 points per game, while Union allows 15.0. Both teams average 300 yards per game on the ground and both allow around 100. With the tale of the tape being so similar, it makes me think we are going to get a game for the history books. Hart County. Union County. Who makes history in Munfordville?
I’m going with a late touchdown by Jarren Johnson to push the Raiders into the state semifinals for the first time in school history.
Hart County 27, Union County 25
*If Christian Academy-Louisville (CAL) defeats Louisville Central, the winner of Hart-Union will travel to CAL next week. If Central defeats CAL, the state semifinals will be hosted by Hart or Union.
