ITS HANDS FULL WITH
FRANKLIN-SIMPSON ON FRIDAY.
RAIDERS COACH JASON FOLEY: ‘WE’VE GOT TO KEEP BUILDING …’
There’s a Renaissance feeling out on Louisville Road.
The Warren East High School football team is off to a 4-1 start, and the Raiders will be looking for their second victory in KHSAA Class 4A, 1st District play when they take the 45-minute trip to tangle with longtime rival Franklin-Simpson (2-3) on Friday night at Mathews Stadium.
Other critical KHSAA matchups in the area include Warren Central (1-4 overall) traveling across town to face Greenwood (1-4) at The Swamp, Bowling Green High School (2-3 overall) playing host to KHSAA Class 3A powerhouse Louisville Christian Academy (5-0) and South Warren (4-1) playing host to Pulaski County (6-0) in a matchup of teams ranked in the Top 15 of the On3/Kentucky Sports Radio statewide poll.
At Warren East, first-year coach Jason Foley likes what the Raiders have done, out of the gate, but he’s still looking for improvement as his team prepares for Friday night’s key district game at Franklin-Simpson.
“We’ve had a good start,” Foley said after Wednesday’s practice on the smurf turf at Warren East. “We’d like to have that one back (a 15-14 loss to Greenwood on August 29), but the team has built a lot of confidence in us, in themselves …
“Winning will help, of course, but I’ve seen some development off the field, too. The way we approach practice has gotten better.
“We’ve got to keep building.”
IN LINEBACKER SAM TUNKS (LEFT)
AND QB BRANDON McCLUSKEY.
ADDRESSES HIS SQUAD ON WEDNESDAY.
Warren East played host to district rival Calloway County last week, or at least the Raiders tried in that regard. There was a partial power surge loss at Jim Ross Field, and after a delay of nearly 45 minutes, the game was moved across town to Warren Central High School. Warren East turned it on, in the second half, on its way to a solid 40-14 victory over the Lakers.
It was a big night for senior Warren East quarterback Brandon McCluskey, who completed 13 of 17 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, while adding 98 yards rushing and three scores on the ground.
“We had too many distractions last year,” McCluskey said. “A lot of people are still doubting us, but we’re 4-1 and we like being the underdog.”
The Raiders also have an iron man in senior linebacker/center Sam Tunks, who does a little bit of everything at Warren East.
“Sometimes I’ll line up at tight end or fullback,” Tunks said, “and I’m the long snapper on special teams … Kickoff return team, too.”
Tunks is off to an impressive start on defense. with 54 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss and three sacks. Junior defensive tackle Xavier Roberts has recorded 57 total tackles, with eight tackles for loss. McCluskey has thrown sparingly, but he’s been efficient, completing 63 percent of his passes for 508 yards and three scores.
Both McCluskey and Tunks are hoping to play college football after graduating from Warren East.
“I think we’re playing more aggressive, with a lot more discipline,” Tunks said. “We’re starting to learn how to fight through adversity,”
IS A DUAL-THREAT QUARTERBACK.
NEXT THREE GAMES ON THE ROAD.
The Raiders will have their hands full with Franklin-Simpson running back Xavier Hampton, who has rushed for a team-high 581 yards and nine touchdowns this season. The Wildcats are looking to bounce back from a 70-28 trouncing at the hands of perennial 4A contender Paducah Tilghman.
“Franklin-Simpson has played some good teams,” Warren East coach Jason Foley said. “We know it’s going to be a big challenge.”
2-3 RECORD INTO FRIDAY’s GAME.
COOLER TEMPERATURES OF LATE …