Spread Offense

LIBERTY - Casey County coach Andy Stephens leaves no doubt about what a win in his team's season-opening game at Henry County on Saturday could mean for the Rebels. "I think it is very important for us to play well. We have worked hard this summer, and that needs to pay off. The players need to know that when we work hard, we can reach our goals," said Stephens. Casey is coming off a 3-8 season and lost its best offensive performer, Marcus Patterson, to graduation. However, Stephens thinks the Rebels have other potential playmakers this year.

Mercer County is looking for some momentum. After getting their first win against Lincoln County last week ? which assured them of a playoff spot ? the Titans are looking to build on that win heading into their season finale against Class AAAAA, District 7 champion Pulaski County. "We have to build on the positive and continue to improve areas that were not up to par," Mercer coach Bill Mason said. "We have continued to improve throughout the year, and I expect nothing less this week.

Running fast is something that has always fascinated Andrew McCloud. He still remembers when he was young going to watch his father, Greg, drive in drag races. "All the drivers brought their families to watch. All the kids would always run and race like the cars were doing," McCloud said. "All we did was run all the time. "We would get Kroger bags or Wal-Mart bags and tie them up with strings to make our own parachutes like the cars had to stop them. We were pretty into it. I remember every bit of it. Looking back, it was probably pretty redneck, but it was fun. " McCloud has not stopped running - or enjoying fast cars.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky's players didn't overreact when defensive coordinator Steve Brown told them they ranked among the nation's top 10 defenses based on their numbers in UK's first two games. Click here to hear Jeremy Jarmon talk about the team. "It's nothing to get overly excited about right now," end Jeremy Jarmon said. "We are off to a good start, and want to keep it that way. Personally, I don't even look at the stats. Our job is to be prepared. " Click here to hear Justin Jeffries talk about the team.

The Colonels are on a roll at maybe just the wrong time. Centre College has won three straight games, including last week's win over Trinity, heading into Saturday's finale at winless Colorado College. So with his team playing its best football of the year, coach Andy Frye hates to see the season come to an end for the Colonels (6-3, 4-2 SCAC). "I really do. I wish we would have started out stronger. I think if we'd been playing this way earlier in the year, we'd be talking about a lot of different things right now. Maybe even the playoffs," he said.

Coming off two straight conference road wins, Centre College coach Andy Frye doesn't think thinks playing Millsaps in front of the home crowd Saturday will lessen the energy or intensity the Colonels had on the road. "I'm not sure if there is a different energy (on the road)," Frye said. "There's a greater energy at home. It gives us, hopefully, another variable we can take advantage of. " And the Colonels (3-2, 2-1) will need all the advantages they can get against the unbeaten Majors at Farris Stadium in this Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference contest.

LIBERTY - Last year's game ended with the two head coaches exchanging angry words at midfield, but both coaches agree that will have no bearing on Friday's Casey County-Garrard County game here. Garrard beat Casey 43-28 in last year's emotionally charged game. It was the first time Garrard coach Steve Stonebraker had coached against his former team since leaving Casey in 2002. Garrard quarterback Spencer Crutchfield was also knocked out for the season with a dislocated hip with the Golden Lions ahead by two touchdowns in the final minutes.

Pulaski County's personnel has changed, but the Maroons have not changed their overall philosophy from what they used against Boyle County last year. "They are doing the same stuff in the same system. If you are a good program and a good team, you have a system you use," said Boyle coach Chuck Smith. "Their system has been working and this year they have just plugged new players into that system. " Boyle beat Pulaski only 32-27 in a regular season matchup last year before routing the Maroons 63-14 in the Class AAA playoffs.

Chuck Smith has a warning for his Boyle County Rebels if they hope to win a sixth straight state championship. "We have some difficult games ahead that will make or break us," said the Boyle coach. "We can either come together and compete or we are going to fall apart and not compete. The players know what we have to do. " Smith's team was upset 43-42 by host Lexington Catholic Saturday in what could turn out to be a Class AAA state title game preview. The Rebels had a 35-14 lead in the third quarter before Catholic rallied to go ahead 43-42.