2024 Record – 9-4
Head Coach – Justin Grundy
2024: If ever anyone had big shoes to fill, it might have been Justin Grundy following David Clark after his successfully long tenure. Grundy did quite well as he did have a pretty good core of experience and young talent up and coming as the Tigers actually won nine games and made a Regional Final. Statistically, the Tigers were very similar to the 2023 team and with the move back to Class 3 A only time will tell.
Offense: The Tigers love to run the ball and did it again with much success gaining 2,655-yards while throwing for 1,513-yards in 2024. The running game will look a little different with only Sevyn Hamilton returning (603-yds) and the graduation of workhorse backs Amonti Marshall (1,267-yds 17-TDs) and Kenyin Calhoun (414-yds). The passing game will be in the hands of returning QB Carson Riley (1,381-yds and 16-TDs), but only Montgomery is the only returning receiver (15-catches) with both Taul-Williams and Riley Hatfield gone. The Offensive Line could look very different with only Landon Phelps and Kasen Riggs back, so Grundy will look for replacements.
Kicking: With Alex Wood gone, Brayden Butler will most likely be the starting kicker after making 4-of-7 extra points.
Defense: The defense was also sterling allowing only 427-points in thirteen games as opposed to 276 in 2023 in thirteen games, but there will be changes here as well. The Defensive line will return only Phleps with Keydon Brooks and Caden Ferrell gone, while the Linebackers which were the heart of their run stopping defense will lose their top tackler in Kaden Stone, Tristen Taylor and Kenyon Calhoun. The secondary will return Christian Youcm, Lucas Kiser, Jayvyn Montgomery and Jaden Lamkin and should help a secondary which picked off seven enemy passes.
SCHEDULE: The Tigers begin their regular season on the road @ Elizabethtown (4-7), then at home against Fern Creek (6-6) to end the month of August and then against John Hardin (9-3) to start September. Then Bardstown will become road warriors for three straight games against Nelson County (2-9), Owensboro Catholic (14-1) and then a special Thursday night game at Mercer County (7-5) before the start of October with a home game against Casey County (0-11), another road trip to Garrard County (8-4) then finish up the regular season at home against Lexington Catholic (7-7), then a BYE week and then Washington County (8-4). In all, the Tigers are facing five teams with winning records and several with plenty of returning starters including a game against their old coach David Clark (Lex. Catholic).
Summation: With the move back to 3-A and some new faces in different spots, the Tigers should be successful again and it will be fun to watch this year’s team as they continue to grow and improve.