5 Takeaways From Week 3 in Football
Year 2 under Bryan Walker is going a little smoother. Last year, the Eagles struggled to a 4-8 season, but in the second year under coach Walker, things are going a bit smoother. Bethlehem is currently a 2-1 team with their only loss to Providence (IN) in week one (29-20), but since then, the Eagles have scored 118-points in their last two games including a 69-7 blowout at Thomas Nelson last week. The defense has played more consistant and the offense behind quarterback Ryan Mattingly has been putting up points. Still, after Nelson County next week, the schedule will get a little more challenging with Eminence, Lynn Camp and Holy Cross.
Panthers Rebound. After struggling to finish up against North Hardin a week ago, Elizabethtown traveled to crosstown rival John Hardin to renew an old rivalry which had been dormant since 2004. It was the right kind of road trip as the Panthers built a 21-0 first quarter lead and cruised to a 37-6 win to get back on the winning track. With 406-yards of total offense, Elizabethtown blew the game wide open quickly and the defense shutout the Bulldogs (John Hardin’s only score was a punt return). The Panthers are surging up (2-1) while the Bulldogs are surging down (0-3).
…And So Are the Bruins. Last year, Central Hardin scored 77-points in their first three games while posting a 1-2 record on the way to an injury plagued year. what a difference a year makes. The Bruins are 3-0 and have averaged 50-points a game while allowing only 36-points in three games. Last week’s victim was Apollo, who was the latest team to watch senior Gavin George (who is appearing on several D-1 college teams radar as well as he was seen at the EKU-Louisville game last Saturday) put on a show. First with four catches for 98-yards and a score and then a 72-yard punt return for six as well. The running game behind senior Kyler Lee (135-yards) piled up 354-yards and senior back Deonco Wilkerson (129-yards and a TD).
Undefeated Green Wave! Well, at least after two games. Still, their 2-0 start is the best since 2014, when Meade County went 11-3 and made a Final Four appearance in the KHSAA State Tournament. Coach Larry Mofield followed up their five point win over Franklin-Simpson with another road win over PRP, 41-20. Runningback Austin Oppel followed up last week’s 145-yard rushing effort with a 306-yards against the Panthers and brought his touchdown total to eight touchdowns. All told, the Green Wave are beginning to look like the Wing T offense of old and piled up 478-yards on the ground. Also, their defense has been consistant as well.
Big Blue! North Hardin also remained undefeated after week 3, but it took a great effort by the Trojans defense and the running game fueled by junior back Lavell Wright. Ballard gave the Trojans everything they could handle as scoring was at a minimium in a 10-6 win as the two teams totalled 398-yards. the game came down to just a handful of plays and most of them fell in the Trojans directions. North built a 10-0 halftime lead and blew several chances to score or put the game out of reach, but after the Bruins got a touchdown to make it 10-6, North hardin came up with a couple of interceptions to close the door.
