Prep Football Preview 2009
Top returning players: Casey Cochran Sr. WR-DB; T.J. Asbury, Sr. OL-DL; Kyle Fuller, Jr. OL-DL; Corey Roy, Jr. RB-DB; Cody Roy, Jr. RB-LB; Will Hatter, So. QB-DB; Tyler Stephens, So. OL-DL; Zach Frederick, So. OL-DL.
Team strengths: For the first time in years, Casey isn’t starting over with a bunch of new players, with 47 out for the squad this season. The Rebels return eight starters on offense and seven on defense from last year’s 2-8 team. Coach Andy Stephens says that should translate into improved play this fall.
“We worked hard and had good spring and had a good winter in the weight room, so we’re expecting a lot out of these guys. We are and have been a power team for years. That’s what we rely on. We try and play good, physical football. And I think the kids are a lot stronger and more physical and I think that’s going to play into what we like to do,” Stephens said.
Sophomore quarterback Will Hatter is back and Stephens is excited about his potential. He also has running backs Cody Roy, Corey Roy and Arturo Rodriguez returning in the backfield.
“We’re actually going to have more speed than we’ve had in a long time,” Stephens said.
Stephens said his offensive line, which returns all five starters in Tyler Stephens, Kyle Fuller, Zach Frederick, T.J. Asbury and Trent Lee, should be improved. And the Rebels also have depth up front.
“Our offensive line is probably where we’re most experiecned,” Stephens said. We took 17 down to the Down and Dirt Camp (at kentucky Christian) and they did a super job there, so we’re excited about how we’ll be up front.”
On defense, Case returns its starting secondary with Case Cochran, Hatter and Corey Roy leading the way. Sophomore James Burton is also a returner Stephens will be counting on.
Team weaknesses: Even with all the returners, the Rebels are extremely young with just six seniors.
“We’re going to be sophomore-dominated again. But we’ve got some good juniors that are going to step up and help us,” Stephens said.
Casey also lost its two starting linebackers, and Stephens said there are six players in the mix at that spot.
“That’s probably the place where we’re the most inexperienced,” Stephens said.
Keys to the season: Casey has to improve on both sides of the ball after scoring just 14 points and giving up 37 per game last season. And that improvement starts with the lines.
“We gave up a lot of points last year. Both fronts have got to be good this year,” Stephens said. “We didn’t score a lot and we gave up a lot, that’s not a good situation for us.”
While primarily a running team, the Rebels are going to have to get something out of the passing game to keep teams from just stacking the line.
Stephens said he knows the Rebels may not be in a position to win this year, but he likes the foundation being laid with his young squad.
“We started early in the winter. Coach (Sam) Marple wanted to put ‘Purpose’ on our shirts for weightlifting. And every time we talk, everything we do we talk about doing it with a purpose, that’s all we talk about,” Stephens said. “We have a purpose for what we do and why we do it.
“We’re hoping that’s a thing we can rally around and get the guys going in that direction. They want to win, and they act like they do. We told them we can get them to where they can win, they just have to let us.”
Player who must emerge: Stephens think Hatter will show improvement in his second season as the Rebels’ starting quarterback. And he’ll have to be better to get the ball to his receivers and open up the ground game for a Casey offense which averaged just 235 yards of offense last year.
“Will’s got to play good at quarterback,” Stephens said. “He’s got to make good decisions when he as the opportunity to make good decisions. Will had a good spring for us. He went to the Lexington Catholic quarterback camp and did a nice job.
“He’s a little different style quarterback. We’re going to run him a little bit and were going to do some play-action. He’s had a god summer and we’re happy where he’s at right now.”
Most underrated player: Jacob Byrd, who is out for the team after sitting out a couple of years, has a chance to break out as a senior.
“I think people are going to be surprised at how good of a football player he is,” Stephens said. “He’s athletic, he’s fast and he’s strong.”
— Hal Morris
CASEY COUNTY REBELS |
||
DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME |
Aug. 21 |
CAVERNA |
8 |
Aug. 28 |
at Perry County Central |
8 |
Sept. 4 |
BOURBON COUNTY |
8 |
Sept. 11 |
at Clinton County |
8 |
Sept. 18 |
at Powell County |
8 |
SEPT. 25 |
SOMERSET |
7:30 |
Oct. 2 |
WAYNE COUNTY |
7:30 |
Oct. 9 |
at Taylor County |
7:30 |
Oct. 16 |
JACKSON COUNTY |
8 |
Oct. 23 |
at Garrard County |
7:30 |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Driving directions to sites outside the Advocate’s coverage area where area schools will play this season (all directions are from Danville unless noted; mileages are estimated):
Anderson County (Lawrenceburg) — From Harrodsburg: U.S. 127 north to Lawrenceburg, school entrance is first right past intersection with U.S. 62. Miles from Harrodsburg: 20.
Campbellsville — From Harrodsburg: U.S. 68 to west Campbellsville, left on Columbia Avenue or Hoskins Avenue, right on West Main Street, school is less than 1/4-mile on left. Miles from Harrodsburg: 50.
Christian County (Hopkinsville) — From Danville: U.S. 150 west to Bardstown, Bluegrass Parkway west to Elizabethtown, Western Kentucky Parkway west to Nortonville, Pennyrile Parkway south to Hopkinsville. Turn right at end of parkway on U.S. 41A south (Fort Campbell Boulevard), left on Bypass U.S. 68 (Eagle Way), left on Jerry Claiborne Way into Tie Breaker Park. Stadium is just ahead on right. Miles from Danville: 196.
Clinton County (Albany) — U.S. 127 south to Albany, school is 3 miles south of intersection with Ky. 90 on left. Miles from Liberty: 54.
Corbin — From Danville: U.S. 127 south to Danville, U.S. 150 east to Mount Vernon, Interstate 75 south to Corbin. Exit to U.S. 25E (exit 29), left off ramp to U.S. 25E South (Cumberland Gap Parkway), right on U.S. 25 South (Dixie Highway), left on Bell Avenue, immediate right on Laurel Avenue, left on Barbourville Street, field is just ahead on left. Miles from Danville: 70.
East Jessamine (Nicholasville) — From Danville: Ky. 34 and U.S. 27 north to Nicholasville, right on business U.S. 27, right on Ky. 39 (Maple Street), left on Maple Leaf Lane, school is 1/4-mile ahead. Miles from Danville: 23.
Estill County (Irvine) — From Lancaster: Ky. 52 east to Irvine, cross Kentucky River and go straight on Ky. 89 north (Main Street), school is 3 1/2 miles ahead on left. Miles from Lancaster: 45.
Fort Knox — From Danville: U.S. 150 west to Bardstown, Blue Grass Parkway west to Interstate 65, Interstate 65 north 1 mile to U.S. 62 (exit 94), left off ramp on U.S. 62 (Mulberry Street), right on Ky. 3005 (Ring Road), right on U.S. 31W (Dixie Highway) north to Fort Knox, exit to East Bullion Boulevard, take first right past checkpoint on Park Road, right on Dixie Street, left on Missouri Street, left on Mississippi Street, school is on right, field is behind school. Miles from Danville: 85.
Frankfort — From Danville: U.S. 127 north to Frankfort, left on U.S. 421 north (Bald Knob Road), right on Benson Avenue, left on Kentucky Avenue. Bellepoint Baptist Church is 1/10-mile ahead on left; field is behind church. Miles from Danville: 43.
Marion County (Lebanon) — From Harrodsburg: U.S. 68 west to Lebanon, school is 3/4-mile past intersection with Ky. 1195. Miles from Harrodsburg: 30.
Mason County (Maysville) — From Danville: Ky. 34 east and U.S. 27 north to Lexington, left on Ky. 4 west (New Circle Road), left on U.S. 27/68 north/east (Paris Pike) to Paris, stay on U.S. 68 to Maysville, school is 1/4-mile past intersection with AA Highway (Ky. 9) on right. Miles from Danville: 98.
Meade County (Brandenburg) — From Stanford: U.S. 150 west to Bardstown, Blue Grass Parkway west to Interstate 65, Interstate 65 north 1 mile to U.S. 62 (exit 94), left off ramp on U.S. 62 (Mulberry Street), right on Ky. 3005 (Ring Road), right on U.S. 31W (Dixie Highway) north to Muldraugh, left on Ky. 1638 west to Brandenburg Station, right at end of road on Ky. 448 north to Brandenburg, left on Ky. 1051 west (Bypass Road), right on Ky. 710 (Old State Road), school is 3/4-mile ahead on left, field is behind school. Miles from Stanford: 115.
Perry County Central (Hazard) — From Liberty: U.S. 127 south to Phil, left on Ky. 910 south to Windsor, left on Ky. 80 east to Nancy, left on Cumberland Parkway east to Somerset, straight on Ky. 80 east to London, Hal Rogers Parkway east to Hazard. Exit to Ky. 15/80 (exit 59), right off ramp to Ky. 15 south, first left on Crawford Mountain Road, left at end of road on Combs Road (Ky. 1088), field is 1/2-mile on left. Miles from Liberty: 125.
Powell County (Stanton) — From Liberty: U.S. 127 north to Danville, Ky. 34 east and U.S. 27 north to Lexington, right on Ky. 4 (New Circle Road) east, exit to U.S. 60 east (exit 13, Winchester Road), left on Interstate 75 north, right on Interstate 64 east to Winchester, right on Mountain Parkway east (exit 98) to Stanton. Exit to Ky. 213 (exit 22), right off ramp to Ky. 213 north (South Main Street), left on Ky. 11/15 (West College Avenue), school is 1 mile ahead on right, field is behind school. Miles from Liberty: 110.
Pulaski County (Somerset) — From Harrodsburg: U.S. 127 south to Danville, U.S. 150 east to Stanford, U.S. 27 south to Somerset, left on McKee Road, right on Stanford Road (old U.S. 27), left on Ky. 1575 (University Drive), school is 1 mile ahead on left. Miles from Harrodsburg: 52.
Rockcastle County (Mount Vernon) — From Stanford: U.S. 150 south to Mount Vernon, left on Ky. 461 north, right on Ky. 1326 (West Main Street), right at Rockcastle County Middle School, field is behind school. Miles from Stanford: 24.
Somerset — From Danville: U.S. 150 east to Stanford, U.S. 27 south to Somerset, left on Ky. 80, right on Barnett Street, field is in Meece Middle School complex on right. Miles from Danville: 45. From Lancaster: U.S. 27 south to Somerset, left on Ky. 80, right on Barnett Street, field is in Meece Middle School complex on right. Miles from Lancaster: 41.
Southwestern (Somerset) — From Harrodsburg: U.S. 127 south to Danville, U.S. 150 east to Stanford, U.S. 27 south to Somerset, right on Ky. 1577 (Oak Hill Road), right on Ky. 3261 (Oak Hill-Saline Road). School is 3/4-mile ahead on left. Miles from Harrodsburg: 59.
Tates Creek (Lexington) — From Harrodsburg: U.S. 68 east to Lexington, right on Man O’War Boulevard, left on Tates Creek road, right on Armstrong Mill Road, left on Greentree Road, right on Centre Parkway, straight on Spendthrift Road into school campus, field is to the left. Miles from Harrodsburg: 33.
Taylor County (Campbellsville) — From Lancaster: Ky. 52 west to Danville, U.S. 150 west to Perryville, left on U.S. 68 west to Campbellsville, school is less than 1 mile inside city limit on right. Miles from Lancaster: 59. From Liberty: Ky. 70 west to Campbellsville, right on U.S. 68 east, school is 1 mile on left. Miles from Liberty: 30.
—Mike Marsee