October 4, 2018 – CASEY ALLEN – Bluegrass Sports Nation Breathitt Football Columnist
Can you believe it? Breathitt will be playing their eighth game of the season this Friday night as they travel to Morgan County for district competition with the Cougars. Breathitt holds a record of 4-3 overall and 2-0 in district play. Morgan comes into this week’s matchup with a record of 2-4 overall and 1-1 in district action.
Breathitt is coming off a hard-fought victory over a scrappy Estill County team. You could describe the game many ways, as the field was wet and sloppy with the jerseys covered with mud. Although the playing conditions were not ideal for the Breathitt County Bobcats, they did what they have done the last four weeks . . . They found a way to win.
With the field being a soup bowl filled with mud and water, the Bobcats leaned heavily on their running game. Led by Braxton O’Hara who rushed 19 times for 164 yards and four touchdowns. Breathitt finished the evening rushing for 315 yards and 6 touchdowns. Tyson Gross and Dalton Manns combined for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 attempts.
The “hogs” on the line really stepped up for the Bobcats in the adverse conditions. Breathitt won the battle up front and controlled the line of scrimmage. Chase Banks, Nick Shelton, Ethan Moore, Dusty Deaton, and Braxton Eiserman opened holes that a Mack Truck could run through sealing the win 40-22 over the Engineers.
Breathitt’s offense has proven to be multidimensional as they have won games on the ground as well as through the air. The same can be said about the Bobcat defense. The Bobcats have held their own against teams who run different types of offenses. As Breathitt travels to Morgan County, there isn’t much this team hasn’t seen.
The Head Coach of Morgan County is Mark Easterling. Coach Easterling has the Cougars trending in the right direction as they got their first district win of the season last week against Magoffin County. The Cougars bring a balanced attack offensively. Led by dual threat senior quarterback Garrett Adkins, Morgan County provides a real threat to Breathitt’s ultimate goal of a District Championship. Adkins has thrown for 12 touchdowns and added 8 touchdowns on the ground, and accounted for 83% of the Cougars touchdowns this season.
The Cougar defense will be tested and will have to step up if they want to upset the Bobcats. Morgan County has been outscored 211-173 on the season. If we are comparing apples to apples, both teams have a common opponent on the season in Estill County. Estill beat the Cougars by a score of 45-30. Breathitt beat Estill 40-22 in terrible conditions. Had the field been in better condition who knows what the outcome would have been. Morgan has an excellent complex and field and the Bobcats can use their full arsenal!
Keys to a Bobcat Victory
- Don’t turn the ball over
- Stop Garrett Adkins
- Take care assignments on the defensive side of the ball.
Breathitt has a lot to play for going into Friday night. With a Bobcat win, their destiny remains in their hands when it comes to a district crown, and would move one step closer to the first winning season since 2013!!!!! Morgan County can upend the Bobcats plans with a victory Friday. Beating Breathitt will also keep their hopes alive for a district title.
One thing is for sure . . . . Friday night in Morgan County will be rocking. If you can’t make the trip stay tuned to all the action by liking our Facebook page, and by visiting our website at www.bluegrasssportsnation.com daily. We will have pregame interviews with both coaches, a full photo gallery of the action, the post game thoughts of Coach Kyle Moore, and a game recap as well!!!
Our sponsors of the action this week are:
First National Bank of Jackson,
Lakeside Homes of Jackson,
Breathitt County Tire, and
Ison Insurance Agency of West Liberty!!!
