(Editor’s note: This series offers a preview of high school football teams in South Central Kentucky. Coming soon: Glasgow.)
GIVES THE TEAM EXPERIENCE AT LINEBACKER.
LCHS HAS SHOES TO FILL, BUT COACHES HAVE PLENTY OF OPTIONS
RUSSELLVILLE — Todd Adler and the Logan County High School football staff have built something over the last seven years.
The Cougars have fielded one contender after another, with a slight dip in the 2020 season altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, they were a compelling success story, taking the KHSAA’s Class 4A, 1st District in decisive fashion before reaching the state quarterfinals and a matchup with Louisville’s Central High School.
The visiting Yellowjackets eliminated Logan County, 55-19, but not before the Cougars won seven straight games, including a 27-17 victory over longtime Class 5A power South Warren, on their way to an 11-2 season.
Adler’s bunch is back for more.
“We want to win a state championship,” Logan County linebacker Eli Hawkins said. “That’s our goal, that’s everybody’s goal, when you get started. Winning a region was cool, but yeah, we want more …
“I think we have good leadership. The effort’s there, in practice. It’s up to us, really.”
JACOB WHITE (LEFT) AND ELI HAWKINS.
TO AN OVERALL RECORD OF 55-17 SINCE 2017.
The Cougars’ makeup will be a little different in 2023, in large part because workhorse tailback Ryan Reyno has moved on to Kentucky Wesleyan’s football team. Reyno rushed for a team-high 2,052 yards and 24 touchdowns in his final season at Logan County, and the Cougars were often able to control the line of scrimmage with a seasoned offensive line.
They’ll be doing things a little differently this year.
Adler likes the Cougars’ versatility at the skill positions, to the point that he’s giving last year’s starting quarterback, Davin Yates, a look at other positions in Logan County’s Wing-T attack. The development of sophomore quarterback Ridge Holman has given the Cougars that flexibility, and it figures to be enough to keep opponents guessing until Logan County opens the season on August 18 against Warren Central in the nightcap of the Lewisburg Bank Bowl at LCHS.
(Crosstown rival Russellville will face Butler County in the first game.)
WITH A BANG, RUSHING FOR
2,052 YARDS AND 24 TDs IN 2022 …
IN SENIOR DAVIN YATES, WHO CAN
PLAY ANYWHERE IN THE BACKFIELD.
“This senior class is working on their own legacy,” Adler said before Tuesday’s practice. “Overall, our program’s numbers are down a little bit, but we’ve got a lot of kids with plenty of experience. We’ve got a group of 12 seniors, which is basically what we had last year, and they’re working hard in practice.
“In our first scrimmage, with (Owensboro) Apollo, our guys exceeded our expectations. They’ve come to practice ready to work.”
Adler said the Cougars’ coaches decided to switch to a conventional 3-4 defensive alignment, after years in a 3-3-5 scheme, because it better suits his team’s personnel.
“We made the switch early in the spring,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of ‘outside linebacker’ types, guys who can get to the football.”
It’s something junior LCHS linebacker Jacob White said the Cougars emphasize in practice.
“We flow to the ball well on defense,” White said. “We’ve got to help prepare the younger guys, too.”
GUESSING WITH THEIR WING-T ATTACK.
Offensively, however, Logan County figures to be in good hands, whether it’s Davin Yates or Ridge Holman taking the snaps. Isaac Poe and most of the Cougars’ offensive line from last season have moved on, giving Adler and his coaches a chance to try different combinations in practice over the last couple weeks.
“It’s a concern, but we liked what we saw in the Apollo scrimmage,” Adler said.
Junior Olijah Woodard is the heir apparent at center, while the Cougars have penciled in two seniors for starting roles on the offensive line — Hunter Rosser at guard and Keige Shoemake at tackle. Sophomore guard Kylie Uhles is also a projected starter, with junior Talen Coursey also in line for a starting job at tackle.
The Cougars’ Davin Yates was an effective passer in 2022, completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,958 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was intercepted nine times.
Logan County’s leading receivers from last year — Zane Batten and JunVontre Dillard — have since moved on, but the Cougars return experience at that position in senior Hunter Butler (five TD catches in 2022) and Brady Hinton.
Defensively, senior LCHS linebacker Eli Hawkins is coming off a big year. He was credited with a team-high 126 tackles in the Cougars’ 13 games, including seven for losses. Hawkins also scored two defensive touchdowns, one on a fumble and another on an interception, while getting spot play in the backfield on offense.
Adler also likes what Yates brings to the table on defense, which is one reason Ridge Holman is getting an extensive look at quarterback. The Cougars value versatility and have learned to use it to their advantage.
OR MORE FOUR TIMES SINCE THE 2017 SEASON.
BY LB-RB ELI HAWKINS, WR-DB HARPER BUTLER
AND QB-RB-LB DAVIN YATES.
Logan County also returns junior placekicker Kyla Bilyeu, who splits her time between the girls socccer team and football. Bilyeu converted 52 of 57 extra-point attempts last season.
The Cougars will play in the KHSAA’s expanded Class 4A, 1st District this year, which includes Warren East (12-1 last year), tradition-rich Allen County-Scottsville, Hopkinsville, Calloway County and Paducah Tighlman, a quarterfinalist last year and the KHSAA Class 4A runner-up in 2021.
“The district’s a gauntlet, definitely,” Adler said. “We might not be the biggest or the fastest team you’ll see, but we’ll hit you. It’s a good group of kids.”
Logan County will play five of its first six games at home, before making the long trip to Paducah Tighlman on September 29. The Cougars will close regular-season play against South Warren on October 27.
ON THEIR WAY TO THE PRACTICE FIELD.
ON AUGUST 18 AGAINST WARREN CENTRAL.