Published: October 09, 2009 10:14 am      

Fear 'Les' Forecast

Les Dixon

No. Laurel at Harlan Co.

Where: Black Bear Field, Harlan County High School

Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

Team Records: North Laurel 4-2, Harlan County 4-2

The inside scoop: Week in and week out it is all about matchups, schemes, game plans and stats, but this week it all goes out the window as Chris Larkey travels to Harlan County to take on his dad Tom Larkey and the Black Bears.

After years of coaching along side his father, Larkey has turned around the North Laurel program and has alreadycoached them to more wins this season than the Jaguars have seen in a long time.

Larkey is trying to approach Friday night as just another game, but he admits it’s going to be different.

“We both want to approach it as just another game,” Larkey said. “But when we get there, it will be a different story.”

Fans will not see the traditional hand shake before the game.

“When we meet on the field before the game, I will just give him a big hug,” Larkey said. “It won't be a hand shake.”

Larkey knows facing his father will not be the only tough part of the game, the elder Larkey will have a solid team waiting the Jaguars. The Black Bears have a 4-2 record and are capable of producing big numbers.

“He’s got a good offense and a really good defense,” Larkey said. “They are going to try to run over us. They are a big physical team.”

Although Larkey has the Jaguar nation excited with his first four career wins as a head coach, he understands that stealing one from his dad will be tough.

“His kids have really bought into what he wants them to do,” Larkey said. “They have a really good defense and he has always preached defense. It’s going to be tough to win. Heck he has over 240 wins and I have four, maybe he will spare one.”

Fear ‘Les’ Forecast: The son will win this one, 28-21.

Letcher C. at Whitley Co.

Where: Colonel Stadium, Whitley County High School

Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

Team Records: Letcher Central 4-2, Whitley Co. 4-2

The inside scoop: The Whitley County Colonels continued their streak of wins against a district opponent, dating all the way back to last season.

The Colonels defeated the Clay County Tigers 30-26 last week, making it their seventh straight win against a district foe. With the win, the Colonels moved one step closer to securing a playoff berth, but coach Jim Black and his squad will not be satisfied unless Whitley can pull out a win this week against Letcher County Central.

“There are scenarios in which two wins will not get you into the playoffs, and we don’t want to be in those scenarios,” said Black. “We want to make sure that we secure a playoff spot, and if we get three wins, we will be in.”

Black called today’s game against Letcher Central the most important game of the year.

“This game will be the most important game we have played up unto this point,” said Black. “Our mentality is to take it one game at a time, and the next game is the most important for us. We hope we can come out and play well and get the win.”

Fear ‘Les’ Forecast: This is a HUGE game for the Colonels. So with that said, I’m going with the Colonels, 35-21.

Pulaski Co. at So. Laurel

Where: Gilliam Field, South Laurel High School

Date: Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

Team Records: South Laurel 2-5, Pulaski County 4-3

The inside scoop: The South Laurel Cardinals will need to win their next two games to earn a home playoff game and they will be forced to start with a good Pulaski County team that holds a 4-3 record.

The Maroons have put a lot of points on the board this season. They have scored at least 33 points in five of their six games. Last week’s win over Lincoln County was the result of a forfeit.

Although the Maroons lost their most explosive player, quarterback Chris Muse, during the second game of the season, they have pulled together.

“They lost Muse, but the guy that replaced him has stepped up,” South Laurel coach Larry Welch said. “He can throw the ball and he can pull it down and run with it.”

Pulaski County dropped a 35-34 heartbreaker to Barren County two weeks ago, but Welch knows they have had a week off to prepare for the Cardinals.

“It’s always tough to face a team coming off an off week,” Welch said. “They have had time to work on some things and to throw in some new things.”

What Welch does know about the Maroons is the way they like to spread things out.

“They really like to spread you out,” Welch added. “They will throw it short and then turn on the jets. They have some receivers that can catch the ball. They have a high powered offense.”

Tailback Alex Abner has led the Maroons in rushing this season. Abner carried the ball 17 times for 194 yards and a touchdown in his last outing. Quarterback Zach Eastham added 51 yards on the ground.

“We can't give up the big plays,” Welch said. “We need to slow them down and keep them from making the big play. On offense we need to move the ball and control the clock. We will try to keep them off guard.”

Fear ‘Les’ Forecast: The Cardinals played Southwestern close last week, and I believe they’ll do the same thing today, but will lose in the end, 28-7.