2024 Football Preview: Bardstown Tigers
Head Coach: Justin Grundy
2023 Record: 8-5
2023: After coming off a Class 3-A State Championship game appearance, the Tigers were flying high, but despite being hit by graduations and a 1-3 start, still had a respectable season going 5-1 to end the regular season and then an Elite Eight appearance for the Region Title before falling to Franklin County in a wild game (37-29). The 2024 season will bring something old and something new as there will be a heavy senior class in plenty of skill positions and for the first time in a long time, there will be a new guy walking the sidelines as Justin Grundy will take over.
Offense: There was a little drop off from the 2022 season as the offense under a different signal caller scored 431-points compared to the 513 in their Dream season. Amonti Marshall will be back for his senior season after completing 51-passes for 953-yards and nine touchdowns. The running game will take a hit with Tyleeq Williams gone, but Marshall, who was the team’s second leading runner and Devin Newsome will pace the running game as will Jayvyn Montgomery. Williams was also the Tiger leading pass receiver with 25-catches, but Tykeem Taul Williams will be back with 12-catches as will Riley Hatfield, Jayden Chancellor as well. The OL will return pretty much everyone as John Floyd, Tristan Taylor, Lucas Butler and Caden Ferrell will be back for their senior season as will Tyler Harmon, who has gotten an offer from KY State this summer.
Kicking game: With Tate Blincoe gone, Alex Wood should handle the kicking duties after going 20-of-24 on PAT’s and 1-for-1 on field goals.
Defense: The defense did bend a little bit after allowing just 211 in 2022, it did allow 276 in 2023 and will be some changes as the Defensive line will lose Alfonso Pena, Kris Sauter and Aiden Riley, but senior Lucas Butler and Chad Hughes will be back. The linebackers will return Caden Ferrell, Jayvyn Montgomery, Kaden Stone and Devin Newsome and DB’s Tylan Spalding as well. The Tigers defense recovered 9-fumbles and intercepted 11-passes while sacking the Quarterback 31-times. This group should continue to improve.
Summation: There’s no question that David Clark was a big reason why the Bardstown football program was on an even keel during his time as head coach. He has seen the good and some of the bad times, but it’s time for someone else to step up. The Tigers were still pretty good with a lot of returning starters and Grundy should be able to navigate through his first season with ease as long as injuries don’t’ derail the team.
Coach Speak with Justin Grundy: “As far as the outlook on the season, it’s positive. We’ve had coach Clark at the helm for over 20-years and he’s seen us through the good times and the lean times and he’s always stayed steady. So, the goal is always to be in the position to win Region, semi-state or State in whatever class. We have a lot back in an experienced senior class. Tykeem Taul Willaims is primed to have a good year as he is a state champion in high jumping and all district in basketball and football. We have a lot of guys who were out like Kenyon Calhoun, who’s one of our best running backs and one of the fastest on the team and a leading carrier in 2022. Seven Hamilton is another guy who got hurt early last year and is a speedy. Tyler Harmon is another one who is one of our biggest strongest defensive and offensive lineman and garnered a lot of interest from colleges. Our offense will have the same looks with offensive coordinator Keanu Young and co-offensive coordinator Hunter Ballard. Kaden Ferrell is another guy to watch as he will be a four year starter at linebacker. Kaden Stone will be one of our fullbacks and a four year starter at linebacker so we have a lot of experience. DeAndre Shackles, whos’ an outside linebacker wide receiver guy, who broke his hip last season will do big things for us this year and Chad Hughes, who will also play well.”
