Outlook: For Meade County, 2020 looked a lot like 2019, but with one game less on the record. Offensively, they struggled to score points, but did allow fewer points and coach Larry Mofield’s team struggled with the problems dealing with the pandemic year as well as they were waiting for their new football field to be completed and had to reschedule an earlier home match against (Louisville) Central at the Middle School which was originally meant to be played on Friday night and changed to Saturday afternoon. Mofield must also retool a defense which took a big hit as it was senior dominated.
It was all Oppel. To say the Green Wave offense ran around do-everything back Austin Oppel would be an understatement. Oppel rushed for 800-yards, scored nine times on the ground and actually played a few games under center throwing for 397-yards and 2-touchdowns. With his departure, Mofield will have to look for other backs. Seniors Levi Stull and Conner Geise will most likely get more carries in the offense and senior quarterback Kyle Parker (57-completions for 470-yards and 4-TDS) will be back. With JJ Richardson and Oppel gone, the only reliable receivers coming back will be senior’s Lawson King and Levi Stull. The Meade County offensive Line lost five interchangable parts and mofield will be hard pressed to find replacements. There could be several who could step up like Juniors Jasper Adams, Dylan Bratcher and Caden Collins.
Kicking Game. Both Carter McCoy and Grayson Ploock will be back. McCoy was 4-for-4 in PAT’s and Pollock was 0-for-2.
Lot’s of changes defensively. Mofield’s defense struggled during a four game stretch in which it allowed over 30-points, but overall it played very well at some points. They allowed 241-points in ten games (as opposed to 337 in 2019). The problem is there were senior starters in most positions and that’s a lot of changes and adjustments. Meade County allowed 1,639-rushing (as opposed to 1,059 the previous year) and 1,093 through the air (1,513 in 2019). They sacked the quarterback six times, forced 11 fumbles and intercepted 8-passes. The DL lost Marshall Jackson, Eli Ridgeway, Cole Knopp and Aiden Neal. Mofield could move several other guys into those spots like junior’s Jacob Hughes, Jose Perales and Dillion Henderson could via for those spots. Senior Seth Seirano could also move in as well. Linebackers Bryant Rhoades, Ben Banks and JT Godley are gone, but senior Mason Braden and juniors Nate Banks and Jacob Pike are possible options as could be senior Bryan Riggs. The defensive backfield lose JJ Richardson, Brayden Curl and Zach Clarkson. Only senior Kyle Parker will be back. Junior’s Cody Blevins and Garrett Heiner could move in and senior Levi Stull could get playing time as well.
Summation- Meade County struggled mightly during a pandemic year, but this could mean a more consistant 2021 if Mofield can found the right combination on defense and can get some more offense. It seems like quite a while since they have made a serious run for State in Class 6A and the landscape isn’t getting any easier, but only time will tell.
A tough 2021 schedule. Meade County usually plays a tough schedule every year and this time around isn’t an exception. Elizabethtown, DeSales, and Bullitt East are there and the district foes North Hardin, Central Hardin and Barren County are there as well. Add to that a very tough John Hardin team and you have several team’s with undefeated regular season records last season and several up and coming as well.
