Central Hardin (6A) vs John Hardin (5A) August 29th at Central Hardin
Last season the Central Hardin Bruins football team finished with their best record (11-2) since Kentucky High School Athletic Association started keeping stats in 1998. In fact, it may be the best season the Bruins have ever had since the school opened in 1991. In 2013, there was a familiar opponent that was missing from their schedule that had been on it for the past ten consecutive seasons, John Hardin Bulldogs.
Oh how the Bruins and their fans would have liked to have seen that match-up last season since they have never won a game against the Bulldogs in ten attempts dating back to 2003. The Bulldogs have dominated each game outscoring the Bruins 423-102 over the past ten seasons.
2014 brings these two teams back together again for the 11th time in a featured Battles in the Bluegrass game. The rivalry between these two schools is amped up with John Hardin looking to keep their perfect record against the Bruins, and the Bruins looking to break through with a win to prove they are for real and get the stigma of not being able to beat John Hardin off their backs.
There is much optimism in the Bruin Nation for this season as there should be with many key players return on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Quarterback Koree Krupinski returns for his senior season. Krupinski had and outstanding 2013 throwing for 1,904 yards with 20 touchdowns and running for another 664 yards scoring 8 touchdowns. Krupinski’s leading receiver senior Zack Helton returns looking to build on his 715 yards worth of receptions last year with seniors Stephen Lindsey, Tyler Long and juniors Justin Rouse and Ken Browning all returning accounting for 1,400 yards combined receiving. Leading rusher as a sophomore last season with 830 yards and 19 touchdowns, Xavier Arnett brings his speed and quickness to an offense that is well balance and explosive.
Defensively, the Bruins are in good shape returning 7 of their 11 starters. The dynamic duo, junior Linebackers Dalton Parr and Seth Bryan led the team in tackles last season with 84 and 87 each return to make things difficult for opposing teams trying to run on the Bruins. Seniors Alex Hawkins, Zack Helton, Chase Hicks, Dakota Coogle along with juniors Gavin Krupinski, Alex Bibb, Aaron Chandler return and look to make a serious run at a (6A) state championship.
Despite going through a coaching transition, the Bulldogs ran quite smoothly under the new man Chad Lewis. Although they lost two regular season games (snapping their unbeaten regular season streak since 2008), John Hardin still ran like a well- oiled machine once again piling up eight regular season wins and had Bowling Green on the ropes after falling behind 27-0 at one point. Once again, the Bulldogs were one game away from reaching the finals and were unable to do it. So now the question will be if they can continue that pace despite once again losing multiple athletes in the skilled positions.
Not much different in 2013. The offense scored 478-points in 14 games and was extremely effective despite playing one of the more difficult schedules. Senior Quarterback Patrick Anderson was the triggerman for the last two years, but with him gone that leaves a big hole under center. Behind him was backup junior Shay Stone, who got quite a bit of playing time as many of the John Hardin games were under control early. If something were to happen to Stone, then Lewis will look for replacements for a passing game which gained 1,179-yards through the air. The running game put up 4,067-yards last season and with Khalil Frazier, Dimitri Cooper and Chris Smith gone, Lewis will look to Josh Miller (90-720-yards) as the most effective back left from that group. Elijah Smith and C J Hill will, also be in the mix. The passing game will look a little different too with Sophomore Robert Shorter and senior’s Justin Carter and E J Piernes remaining from the 2013 team. The offensive line which opened up holes for Bulldog backs will return Ethan Cobb and Jared Given, so Lewis will have to look for replacements at three of the line positions. Jacob Drexler is gone so Devonte Guillory will take over the place kicking and kickoff chores.
The Dog Pound Defense was once again defensive. Allowing only 190-points in fourteen games and was a senior dominated group. The front wall allowed just 1,414-yards on the ground and with all four linemen gone it could be a work in progress for the first several games. Also, the linebackers will look different as all three were seniors last year. The pass defense leaked only 1,314-yards which isn’t bad considering opposing offenses were forced to pass early when they fell behind (which was usually all the time). Only senior C J Hill will return and he will have a few new faces in back there with him in what could truly be a rebuilding year for the other side of the ball.
Summary: Get your tickets for this game early. It will be a packed house and could be history in the making for the Central Hardin Bruins or an early statement game for the young John Hardin Bulldogs.
