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

Slow Motion Replay: “Mr. Mojo” had his teams Risin’ @OwensboroSports, @1027TheGame, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @CoachEdge11, @OCath_Football, @HCCols_Football

May 5, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

His name was James Hollowell. He was from Henderson, Kentucky. He played high school football for Barrett Manual High and later for the University of Louisville. He was a teammate of Johnny Unitas at Louisville. He coached the great Sam Ball in high school who would later star for both UK’s Wildcats and the NFL’s Baltimore Colts. Everyone called him “Mojo,” and Mojo Hollowell brought good fortune, good luck, and good “Mojo” every coaching stop along his career path. Enjoy this look back at a guy who was among the better guards to ever lace them up in the KHSAA (or its forerunner) and to ever blow a whistle, or call a play, on a KHSAA sideline. Get your Mojo Risin’

Friday Night Fletch

Kinnett Willis bringing a Magic set of Skills to the Mighty Lakers! @kinnett_wills_, @RC_MightyLakers, @Frenchie564, @KYEXPOSURE, @KYHighFootball,  @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball

May 5, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Kinnett Willis plays for the “Mighty Lakers” from Russell County High. Russell County went 5-6 a year ago but were in the thick of things in all but two of its ball games. Head Football Coach, Steven French, is at the helm of a rebuild and is doing a fine job. Then again, he is a “French (Larry French’s son).” Willis is hoping to bring along a little “Magic” to his ball club over the course of his senior season. Should he, it may look a little like “Show Time” in Russell Springs, KY my friends. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Marshall Ray Graham was Dedicated to the Fight and Devoted to the Victory @grahamfam1975, @Doug_Preston1, @LCAEAGLESFB, @MSUEaglesFB, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball

May 3, 2025 Fletcher Long 3

Most of Marshall Graham’s friends call him “Ray,” or so we are told. We are also told Ray Graham is a coach who made a penchant for doing more with less. As far as X’s and O’s, there is just no one in the KHSAA who is much better than Coach Graham. Overall, Graham won 252-games. More importantly, Graham, a very devout man, believed his coaching football was a “calling” and Graham answered God’s call and lived his faith everyday of his coaching career. Graham came up with “DTF-DTV” which stands for Dedicated to the Fight/Devoted to the Victory. Graham’s kids played both with dedication and devotion and they both finished and proved themselves victorious in more games than not. Graham got the very most from their physical capabilities much of Graham’s career. Enjoy this feature about a Kentucky High School football coaching icon, a “lifer” as those of us similarly afflicted are prone to pronounce.

Friday Night Fletch

Kam Wells has gotten himself ‘game ready,’ already @CoachAtchley, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @ColonelFootball

May 3, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Kam Wells is a beast whose frame can virtually finish anywhere. He is strong as a bull, wins the leverage game against about anyone, has tremendous leg kick and explosion, and elite strength and power. Wells will likely have to be deployed “both ways” this coming Fall even though he will be a freshman. We have seen freshmen start at really good programs and acquit themselves very, very well. What will Wells do? We would be surprised if he did anything less than dominate many of his mirrors over the course of his initial campaign. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Bryson Ford would rather give you a song than diamonds or gold @CoachAtchley, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @ColonelFootball

May 2, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Bryson Ford is one of ’29s finest at either MLB or TE. It isn’t likely he plays both ways at 6A Christian County, at least not as a freshman. It is highly likely he gets varsity early run on defense. They call him “Cowboy” and the nickname just fits. Unlike the song written by Ed and Patsy Bruce, letting your son grow up to be this particular “Cowboy” isn’t nearly as bad a prospect as the other type of cowboy. This kid has enviable length, a solid frame, and has his strength and power numbers close to where you would like to see them. If we can get a little height and more density we will be cooking with grease. Enjoy this feature about one of our favorite players.

Friday Night Fletch

Donavan Smith, ’27 LB, from Knox County Central High is the Kentucky Comfort Creator of the Week @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball, @donavon_smith42, @KnoxCentralFB, @CoachMillsKCHS

May 2, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Donavon Smith from Barbourville, Kentucky is among the very best the ’27 graduating class has at the LB position anywhere on the eastern end of the commonwealth of Kentucky. Smith is a 6’0,” 210-pounder who hits like a ton of bricks. Smith registered 116-tackles, over his sophomore season, and contributed seven (7) QB-sacks, four (4)-TFLs, 2-FFs, and 2-FRs, one of which he scooped and scored. Knox Central is pleased to have this type talent returning in its defensive second level and we are glad we get to enjoy this cat another two seasons. Enjoy this feature about a kid whose performance made the unbearable heat a tad more bearable and who hopes his performance brings comfort to the home fans around Knox County, KY this upcoming Fall. Let’s keep it comfortable out there, Kentucky, and allow us to help you out in that regard.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Mark Spader evincing the characteristics consistent with his high school nickname @CoachSpader, @spadermom, @CoachKWallace, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @BGHSPurplesNews, @PurplesFootball

May 1, 2025 Fletcher Long 1

We called him Bruno in high school. One of the reasons was at 5’8,” 180-pounds, he was still tough enough to move out to tackle and man the post well enough to help the team get to the title game at the fairgrounds in Louisville, KY against Danville High in 1984. Bowling Green’s Mark Spader was a smart player. It only tracks he would make a fine coach. He certainly has. Spader is a winner. Spader has won (big time) at BGHS. Spader has three titles and a runner up under his belt right now. No telling how many he ends up with if he continues on the present arc. We believe him a future Hall of Famer, so we wrote about him in the series we have for such coaches. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch.

Storm Warning: Aaron Wells proved at the KY Powerlifting Meet he will be difficult for Storm opponents this coming season @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @HopkinsCentral, @_CoachManning, @evans02_mike

May 1, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Wells played in a single game in ’24. However, the 6’2,” 300-plus-pounder in the 2027 graduating class proved the old Stanislavski adage about there being no small parts, just small actors is true even in football. Wells is coming off a third place finish at the Kentucky Powerlifting Meet in the Super Heavyweight Division and the young NG is expected to play along the OL this season in addition to his defensive role. This is a guy readying for a prominent role in ’25, a leading role, and he is putting in the type offseason a young player should looking for that type of varsity PT. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Kayson Holland, from Marshall County, is our Mingua Beef Jerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @KaysonhollandFB, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @CountyMustangs, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball

April 30, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Kayson Holland from Marshall County is our Protein-packed Performer of the Week. This kid was electric in only eight games of run over the ’24 season. Holland had 36-tackles, broke up seven (7) passes, scored a rushing TD, and only had a pair of passes completed over him all season. Pour in his 3.2 GPA and 24 registered ACT score and you have a very recruitable athlete who also clips off 40-yards in 4.5-seconds. Enjoy this feature on a kid very deserving of some of the world’s finest beef jerky products and don’t forget to #SavorTheFlavor out there in Benton, KY.

Friday Night Fletch

Gavyn Combs from Betsy Layne may spell his name funny, but his game-play is straight fire! @BLBobcatsFB, @GavynXLCombs33, @Mike_Stoops41, @UKCoachStoops, @vincemarrow, @khsaafootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @KyHighFootball

April 29, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Gavyn Combs is a real ’27 prospect. He is 6’5,” 275-pounds and had 84-tackles, eight (8) TFLs, two (2) sacks, and a FF as a sophomore on a nine (9) win, 2A, District 8 ball club. We probably would have spelled his name with an “i” instead of a “y” if it had been up to us. We probably wouldn’t have spelled Betsy Layne with a “y” either and we darn sure wouldn’t spell Coach Jarredd Jarrell’s name with all those “r’s,” “d’s,” or “I’s.” Then again, as long as it works. Buddy, it is flat working! The Bobcats from Floyd County may make a deep run in ’25 and, if they do, that “stork” of a DL/DE will have some say in why they did. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch