Barren County Football Preview
By Perry Swack
Barren County Trojans
Coach: Tommy Muse, First Season (Interim)
Record at School: 0-0
2020 Record: 2-6
Lost to North Hardin, 42-6, in the opening round of the 6A Playoffs
Starters Returning: 6 on Offense, 5 on Defense
New Barren County football coach Tommy Muse laced up his cleats and took the field for the Trojans 26 years ago this fall. After 14 years as an assistant coach (11 as defensive coordinator), Muse will now take the field as the head man of Barren County Football. He will be taking over a program that is on the rise. The Trojans won their first district game in 2020 since moving up to Class 6A. They will now return eleven starters and hope to improve in 2021.
With six starters returning on offense, Barren will look to be more efficient on that side of the ball after averaging only 13.5 points per game a season ago. Quarterback Jameson Buie will be under center for a third-straight season after throwing for over 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns in 2020. Buie will have experience at the skill positions in Ryan Shirley at running back and Gage Allen at wide receiver. Shirley rushed for 69 times and 234 yards, while Allen caught 10 passes for 164 yards and four touchdowns. Both seniors, Shirley and Allen will look to take the next step in 2021. Offensive linemen Hunter Compton, Jaxen Arms, and Chase Garrison also return as well. On the “offensive side of the ball, I feel Ryan Shirley, Gage Allen, Jameson Buie, and Drew Fisher (will) have a strong season,” Muse said. Fisher is listed as a wide receiver on the team roster but will also presumably see some time at running back.
On defense, Muse and his staff will look to their returners to lead the way. We are “looking forward to big things from Cody Rito, Carmello Francis, and Aiden Miller on the defensive side of the ball,” Muse noted. Rito and Francis return to anchor the defensive line, while Miller will line up at linebacker alongside Shirley. Fisher – also a wideout – will star in the secondary. In the Trojans’ two victories last season, they held opponents to 9.5 points per game. They will look to repeat some of those successful performances this year.
As for Barren County’s schedule, the club will face five teams it has not faced in a few years according to Muse. The Trojans will open the season in Metcalfe County and travel to Russell County and Monroe County within the season’s first four weeks. Four straight home games will be a reprieve between mid-September and mid-October for the Trojans as they invite North Laurel and Russellville to town before beginning district play on October 1 with Central Hardin.
With the season set to start in two weeks, the Trojans are ready to roll into the 2021 campaign with their new head man. “There has not been that much of an adjustment to step into the role of head coach,” Muse stated. “I have watched a lot of these players grow up through little league.” As for expectations, Muse said the players know them well. “My expectations for the team is for each player to be committed to the team/program each day whether it is practice or a game. I want them to give me their best effort everyday. I will push each player to give 110% in everything they do and ask them to let me worry about the outcome.” With that on the forefront of their minds, the Trojans will begin to build something new in the Tommy Muse Era.
