Articles by Fletcher Long

About Fletcher Long
Two-time winner of Kentucky Press Association awards for excellence in writing and reporting news stories while Managing Editor of the Jackson (KY) Times-Voice

Keshaun Tipton looks to take the next step in his high school progression for his program @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @LasatersCoffee, @FC_FALCONS_FB 

February 3, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

We are always looking for the next big thing on any high school’s roster. It is no secret the Falcons will have to replace a pair of all-timers and all-staters in Perryman and Dixon. From where will the “next wave” of production come? Well, we have studied the situation and would be very surprised if Mr. Keshaun Tipton didn’t take a huge step forward in his sophomore season. What he did as a freshman is cause for optimism we would submit. Congratulations to Keshaun Tipton for being our ‘Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (or Tea)’ Player of the Week from Lasaters Coffee & Tea where you are more than served, you are loved!

Friday Night Fletch

Centre Colonels pluck top Florida safety (Justin Rode, Fort Myers) for ’26 signing class… @CoachRodeBV, @JustinRode_, @H2_Recruiting, @CoachSimmons_CC, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @eCampusdotcom, @LasatersCoffee

February 2, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

The Centre Colonels recruit better than almost any small college in the Kentucky area. Chief among the reasons the Colonels are viewed as such a prestigious offer by area prospects is Centre’s standing among peer institutions, the quality of the education it both help funds and provides to it student body, its prestigious history, its second to none facilities, and its second to none social, academic, and even athletic opportunities the school provides to and for its student body. Centre is a big leagues school which attracts big time talent to its athletic programs, football included, (perhaps) football especially. Centre has struck oil again plucking out of Fort Myers one of Florida’s premier safeties. Justin Rode is a coach’s son, has the football IQ that entails, carried a 4.1-GPA and an SAT of 1200, and brings an element of power, speed, and twitch which should be reminiscent of another former Colonel great from E-Town. Enjoy this feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Jackson Wyatt from Calloway County is our Bank of Cadiz feature of the Week @KatherineL58069, @WyattRobbins9, @MurrayQBClub, @LasatersCoffee, @eCampusdotcom, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @Ale8One, @CountyColonels, @HopHighTigers, @murrayFB

February 2, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

We continue on with our offseason coverage not really discussing players of the week so much as discussing featured players and prospects. Jackson Wyatt is a kid with a ton athletic ability and potential who found himself on the varsity playing field, under the Friday Night Lights, more than most expected. Wyatt will be called on to be “The Man” going forward as Calloway loses some all-timer types from off the roster this Spring to the graduation platform. Wyatt is among the commonwealth’s better players among ’29s and is already enjoying varsity success in other sports. Wyatt is the kind of kid coaches want to coach and, in the end, that may be the finest compliment which can be paid to him. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch.

DJ Wren was a lucky find for the Wildcats (Lynn Camp) from Corbin @campcoach, @Nick_King25, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom

January 31, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

DJ Wren was a tremendous running back at the 1A level for the Lynn Camp Wildcats from Corbin, KY. Wren averaged nearly 9-yards per carry and close to 200-yards a night. Wren was the team’s leading passer, rusher, scorer, tackler, and tackler behind the enemy line. Wren is a varsity basketball player too who figures to have a bright future ahead of him regardless of where or in what sport he happens to spend it. This guy is just one of many examples of outstanding football players who go undiscovered, every season, throughout the Bluegrass. Enjoy this look at a kid who made our Small-School All-State Football team this past season.

Friday Night Fletch

Mason Trimble pledges to the Colonels from Centre College and is our @bigassfans Kentucky Comfort Creator of the Week @StXTigersFB, @trimble_mason, @CoachKWallace, @CoachAndyFrye, @CoachOrts, @CentreFootball, @CoachLandis22, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

January 30, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Mason Trimble did a ton of stuff in 2025. He was ranked a top-5 Kentucky QB by nearly every national publication which publishes such rankings, he made our large school all-state football team, he led his team to 10-wins, threw for over 2,000-yards, around 26-TDs, ran for another 8-scores and did all of this against the hardest schedule played by any KHSAA football team at any level of competition. Now, in ’26, he has pledged himself to Kentucky’s most prestigious, liberal arts, small college football program. However, there is nothing small about being a Centre Man. Enjoy the feature and let’s keep it comfortable out there, Kentucky!

Friday Night Fletch

Rylan Kelsey from Johnson Central High standing tall among the ’29s in the KHSAA @JCEaglesInfo, @jcfootball2025, @coachjessepeck, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

January 29, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

There are a ton of good football players in Painstville, Johnson County, Kentucky. There are some mighty good wrestlers too. That goes back to the days of the great Jim Matney who was a Hall of Fame coach in both sports, football and wrestling. Rylan Kelsey is an accomplished wrestler who showed he was also a darn fine football player. Not too many freshmen contribute to an 11-win, 4A roster to the extent Kelsey did in 2025. Enjoy this look at a guy who will develop into a multi-phase threat in football and is already a contender at his weight class in wrestling.

Friday Night Fletch

This Jeremiah [the one named ‘Burbage’] ain’t no bullfrog, but he is a darn fine football player and our @eCampusdotcom Big Man on the eCampus @cornell_burbage, @JeremiahBurbage, @Oakley_Watkins, @Aspirationsgym, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans

January 28, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

We are proud to add eCampus.com to our list of sponsors. These guys have set the industry standard for savings, selection, convenience, and customer service and have committed themselves to helping college students more easily afford to better themselves and develop. Now, eCampus.com is helping high school football players gain notice, attention, and opportunities to play at the next level when their KHSAA playing days are through. Join us each week as we inform you about a KHSAA, high school football player who is a “Big Man on (our) Campus” and should be a Big Man around your Campus too. Thank you, eCampus.com for taking this step to provide worthy high school kids this type opportunity.

Friday Night Fletch

Steven Lovan hopes to catch on with the Christian County Tigers and help stabilize the lines of scrimmage and is our Lasaters Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Feature of the Week @KatherineL58069, @coachclsmit, @ChiefSmoke10, @LasatersCoffee, @bigassfans, @CoachJEzell, @eCampusdotcom, @HenryMi74881410, @HopHighTigers, @FC_FALCONS_FB

January 27, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Stephan Lovan brings something to the table programs desperately need, particularly programs competing at the 6A classification. Lovan has a big body and a very versatile skill set with a variety of talents which lend itself well to playing in multiple phases of a football game. Lovan was among the offensive and defensive leaders for the former Christian County Colonels this past Fall and is set to lead the newly configured, conglomerate High School. Lovan’s multi-faceted, athletic tool belt and large, sturdy frame makes him more, not less, recruitable to colleges around the commonwealth. Enjoy this feature brought to you by our friends and neighbors at Lasaters Coffee & Tea where you aren’t just served, you are loved!

Friday Night Fletch

Aiden Ellington is coming on the varsity roster and is our Bank of Cadiz featured Wildcat! @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @KatherineL58069 

January 26, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

We continue on with our offseason coverage not really discussing players of the week so much as discussing featured players and prospects. Aiden Ellington is a kid with a ton of tough, great size, and who played middle school ball last year and will play varsity this coming Fall. Aiden is only going to improve as he fills out and develops. Ellington is already enjoying success with the powerlifting team on the high school level. Ellington is the kind of kid coaches want to coach and, in the end, that may be the finest compliment which can be paid to him. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch.

Silas Sandusky, Trimble County, as versatile and talented as they come @TrimbleGameDay, @NCKCathletics, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @eCampusdotcom, @bigassfans, @LasatersCoffee

January 24, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

There are good players on every roster in the commonwealth of Kentucky competing in the sport of football. Silas Sandusky is an example of this principle. If you look at the percentage of production he has contributed to his team’s bottom line in 2025, it is hard to believe he was only a sophomore. Sandusky is the kind of kid this publication exists to find and feature. If we don’t tell you about him, the chances his story will ever be heard is exceedingly remote. You’re welcome.

Friday Night Fletch.