High School Football

Daniel Hopkins : I know its about this time every year that you put the upcoming football schedules in the paper. Is there any way you can post the area schedules for the upcoming season? Are they even complete, considering the change in district/class and the new scheduling grid introduced? Thanks! Larry: We are working on that even as you write. Not all schedules are complete at this time. Might be a few more weeks before we have them. But when we do, they will certainly be included in an article.

Stories about Friday night's local high school football games have been posted on AM Stadium. Photos from the Boyle, Danville, Garrard and Lincoln games have been posted on our photo gallery.

Title Town Talk will air from 6-7 p.m. each Thursday on WHIR-AM 1230. Charlie Perry, program director for Hometown Radio Network, and Larry Vaught, sports editor of The Advocate-Messenger, will host the show, which will air each week from Arby's. The show will focus on high school football for the next 17 weeks. Coaches Chuck Smith of Boyle County and Sam Harp of Danville will be guests on the show as will assistant coaches and players from both schools. Fans can participate by coming to Arby's or by calling during the show.

The starting time for Friday's high school football game between host Lincoln County and Bell County has been pushed back to 7 p.m. because of the forecast high temperatures.

The landscape of Kentucky high school football has changed once again. For first time in more than 30 years, additional classes have been added by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Board of Control. Beginning this season, there will be playoffs in six different classes. You can look no further than this area to see a major impact on district restructuring. At no time in the history of Kentucky high school football has district competition been as important as it is now. Schools will continue to play within their own district in the first two rounds of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

People and things. Bob Allen Pigskin Classic The start of the high school football season is a week later than normal this year. Not only does that mean the state title games won't be played until Dec. 12-13 in Louisville, but it also means the opening weekend of high school play Aug. 29-30 is the same weekend most colleges start their seasons. That's why Danville coach Sam Harp is already considering moving the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic games matching Russell County against Danville and Madison Central against Mercer County from Aug. 30 to Aug. 29. "If the Kentucky-Louisville game stays on Saturday and isn't moved to Sunday (Aug.

The inaugural Focus High School Football Combine will be held Saturday, June 14, at Prestonsburg High School. The combine, which is open to all high school football players, will give athletes in Kentucky and surrounding states the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents. All coaches from NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and junior college football programs receive full results from the event. In addition to full results, video will also be distributed to all college football programs.

In yesterday's Advocate there was a story concerning sports editor Larry Vaught being chosen as Kentucky's Sportswriter of the Year. I, for one, think that Larry is definitely deserving of this distinction. He may have won this honor mainly due to his work covering the Bengals, Reds or UK sports. However, I think he is most deserving because of his work covering high school sports; especially football. During my eight years as a head coach in central Kentucky, Larry has written many favorable columns and articles about me and my teams.

Friday, Nov. 24 High School Football Class A playoffs: Semifinal, Mayfield at Danville, 7 p.m. (WHIR-AM 1230) Class AA playoffs: Semifinal, Owensboro Catholic at Mercer County, 7:30 p.m. (WHBN-AM 1420) Saturday, Nov. 25 College Men's Basketball John R. Collier Tournament at Hanover, Ind.: First round, Albion vs. Centre, 8 p.m. College Women's Basketball Julie Costello Memorial Classic at Crestview Hills: First round, Centre vs. Thomas More, 7 p.m. College Football Kentucky at Tennessee, 12:30 p.m. (WRNZ-FM 105.1)

Bob Sphire finally won a state high school football championship this year when Lexington Catholic beat Bowling Green in the Class AAA final. Now he's going to pursue his next championship in Georgia. Sphire accepted the job as head coach at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga., Monday. He's recommending that assistant coach Bill Letton, an all-conference tight end at Centre College in 1984 and 1986, be named the new head coach at Lexington Catholic. "It's just an opportunity that I could not pass up," said Sphire, who has coached against Boyle County, Danville, Harrodsburg and Garrard County.

Members of the George Rogers Clark football team were honored during the team's annual banquet recently.¿Clark standout Pokey Harris was presented the Joe Bordas award by Mallory Flynn and Mike Bordas. Team members honored were A.J. Springate, Wes Wattenberger, Darian Skinner, Sylan Mayes, Garrison Conn, Michael Thornberry, Brent Stephens, Matt Hisle, coach Paul Columbia, Reid Campbell, Connor Shoebrooks, Pokey Harris, Chase Austin and Tyler Creteau.

If you happen to know me or are friends with me on Facebook, chances are during the past 5 years, you heard me hype a little show called “Friday Night Lights.” The fifth and final season of “FNL” aired on DirectTV’s Channel 101 last fall and winter, and debuts on NBC on April 15. (Seasons 3 and 4 had the same set-up, in a cost-sharing situation that allowed the series to live beyond Season 2). It arrived on DVD April 5. I know what you are probably thinking. I love football, and that must be why I am always promoting this show about high school football.

Dear Editor, I called the Heart of Danville for information about the Friday night downtown movie and was informed that it was canceled because of Friday night football. Who made this decision? Was a survey taken? If so, what were the results and when and where was it taken? Or maybe people would like to voice their opinions here in the newspaper. As a former hot shot football player, I am all for high school football, but maybe changing the movie to Saturday night would have been a viable alternative to canceling.

Kentucky senior defensive end DeQuin Evans readily admits he grew up in a dangerous housing project in Compton, Calif., and knows he’s lucky that football gave him a chance to better his life. “When you come from where I did, you learn to appreciate everything you have or get,” said Evans, who led UK in quarterback sacks with six and tackles for loss with 12.5 last year in his first season after transferring from Los Angeles’ Harbor College. He enjoys 5:30 a.m. workouts because he knows it will make him better and enable him to be the team leader that coach Joker Phillips wants.

One spoke in the morning, the other in the afternoon, so they never crossed paths Thursday at the Kentucky High School Football Coaches Association Summer Clinic at Centre College. However, both Joker Phillips of Kentucky and Charlie Strong of Louisville know there is plenty of attention on them as they prepare to start their head coaching careers with a game each other that ABC-TV will televise regionally on Sept. 3. The two have been assistant coaches on the same staff and remain friends.

Did you ever see the episode of "Friends" in which Rachel and Phoebe decide to take up running? It's pretty funny, and years after its original air date now makes me laugh for entirely new reasons. At the beginning of their first jog through Central Park, uptight Rachel is appalled when free spirit Phoebe flails her legs about in different directions, her arms also swinging at random, uncoordinated speeds. Rachel is appalled. People stare. Phoebe doesn't notice. The reason I bring up an episode of "Friends" in a Sports column is because it's been brought to my attention that I'm a lot like Phoebe in the sprinting department.

LEXINGTON ? For years, one knock on Kentucky high school football is that the state did not produce enough Division I offensive linemen. Brad Durham heard that when he played at Rockcastle County before he signed with the Wildcats. "I hear that and the statistics probably do prove it, but we are turning the edge on that and hopefully we will get more recruits and keep the tradition alive," Durham said. The Cats certainly are doing their best to change that image this year.

It's that time again, fans. Last weekend, while other football teams kicked off on the 2009 season, Lincoln County's football Patriots and their fans were chomping at the bit, ready for their turn on the gridiron. The wait is now over. Lincoln County is just one day away from its season opener, with the Patriots set to take on East Jessamine in the first game of the annual Death Valley Bowl at LCHS Friday. "We're ready," said second-year Patriot coach Mike Settles. "After all those other teams have played last week, the kids are ready to play.

What safety precautions are coaches taking to protect players. Who are the most talented players a coach has ever had? Those were questions posed by area readers Gary Whittle and Aaron Coleman for the area's six high school football coaches when readers were invited to submit questions for the coaches to answer. The Kentucky High School Athletic Association does not allow teams to practice or compete when the heat index reaches 104 degrees. Coaches can either stop practice, cancel practice or move indoors to an air-conditioned facility if the heat index reaches that point.

BOYLE COUNTY August 21 - JOHNSON CENTRAL, 7:30 p.m. 29 - vs. Rockcastle Co., @5:30 p.m. September 5 - Pikeville, 5:30 p.m. 11 - Open 18 - at Mercer Co., 7:30 p.m. 25 - at Danville, 7:30 p.m. October 2 - LAFAYETTE, 7:30 p.m. 9 - LEX. CATHOLIC, 7:30 p.m. 16 - WEST JESSAMINE, 7:30 p.m 23 - at East Jessamine, 7:30 p.m. 30 - at Christian Co., 7:30 p.m. @ at Bob Allen Pigskin Classic at Corbin Falls Pigskin Bowl CASEY COUNTY August 21 - CAVERNA@, 8 p.m. 28 - at Perry Co. Central , 8 p.m. September 4 - BOURBCON CO., 8 p.m. 11 - at Clinton Co., 8 p.m. 18 - at Powell Co., 8 p.m. 25 - SOMERSET, 7:30 p.m. October 2 - WAYNE CO., 7:30 p.m. 9 - at Taylor Co., 7:30 p.m. 16 - JACKSON CO., 8 p.m. 23 - at Garrard Co., 7:30 p.m. @ Casey Bank Rebel Bash II Teco Coal Commodore Bowl DANVILLE August 21 - at Mason County@, 7:30 p.m. 28 - FRANKLIN CO.#, 8 p.m. September 5 - at Corbin , 8:45 p.m. 11 - at Somerset, 7:30 p.m. 18 - SOUTHWESTERN, 7:30 p.m. 25 - BOYLE COUNTY, 7:30 p.m. October 2 - Open 9 - BARDSTOWN, 7:30 p.m. 16 - at Fort Knox, 7:30 p.m. 23 - WASHINGTON, 7:30 p.m. 30 - at Frankfort, 7:30 p.m. @ Meadowview Regional Kickoff Classic # Bob Allen Pigskin Classic...