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

Keagan Maher aiming higher, bent on excellence, in it for the team @KeaganMaher @danrmaher @CooperFootball @AustinSchaffer2 @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @840WHAS

April 2, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

We don’t run across athletes at the high school level who run 4.43-second, 40-yard dashes, 4.01-second pro-agility shuttles, or 6.72-second, three-cone drills. We certainly don’t see too many 37-inch verticals and 9.1-feet broad jumps out of 5’8″ sophomores. When this type dynamic athleticism is encountered it should be featured. So, here you go. Friday Night Fletch.

Ethan Pittman demonstrating excellent line play in football is a family tradition @Noah_Pittman55 @EthanPittman52 @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @840WHAS

March 30, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

Those Pittman brothers from Monticello, Kentucky sure are tough customers. Big brother Noah, ’24, just signed to play college ball with the University of the Cumberlands and Ethan just finished his sophomore season as a two-way stalwart for Coach Tyler Guffey’s Cardinals. Enjoy this look at another Pittman headed somewhere on a ride for college when this HS eligibility exhausts. Friday Night Fletch.

Colton Veltkamp, ’25 WR/LB, from South Warren is the @1776Bank Revolutionary Player of the Week @ColtonVeltkamp @Coach_Helton @DavisMerritt @minguabeefjerky @840WHAS @WarrenCoSchools @SouthWarrenFB

March 29, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

This prospect has a brother named Caden who showed in Western KY’s bowl game, a year ago, he was nothing at which to sneeze. That particular Veltkamp looks to be headed to the portal, or maybe has already shipped out; we don’t know, we cover the high school game. This Veltkamp is a freaking football player and plenty versatile. He will challenge for “Mr. Football” next season and will likely be the district, region, and maybe even classification’s “Player of the Year.” Enjoy this feature and don’t forget to get by your local Independence Bank and discover why and how our people, financial products, and services have started a revolution in the Kentucky banking industry. Friday Night Fletch.

Jamey Lee Patterson from Lexington Christian Academy is the @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @1776Bank @jleepatt25 @CoachDCharles @Oakley_Watkins @840WHAS @KyHighFootball

March 27, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

We have been featuring versatility this offseason and we have one for you hear. This guy plays LB,G in football as a two-way guy, wrestles, and is a middle infielder, third-baseman, outfielder, right-handed pitcher on the varsity baseball team. He also is a member of the 1,000-pound club in the weight room and all of this while having just completed his sophomore season on Kentucky’s deepest roster. If there was ever anyone deserving of some beef jerky, this guy would have to be it. Enjoy this feature and and don’t forget to #SavorTheFlavor of the country’s very finest beef jerky products. Friday Night Fletch.

Prospects vs. “Friday Nighters;” Josiah Hope from North Hardin is quite a prospect- @AthleticsNHHS @JosiahHope6 @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @KyHighFootball @840WHAS

March 26, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

Josiah Hope played on a roster which “officially” posted a 1-10 in ’23 notwithstanding its having two “Power Fives” in its lineup. Well, most of the “Ls” were actually “Ws” turned by forfeit for self-reported violations, so don’t cry for North Hardin quite yet. Either way, the Trojans boast another top-flight, in-KY guy that the “big boys” are clamoring to impress and recruit. This feature will help you understand what makes a player a prospect and not just an outstanding Friday Nighter. Friday Night Fletch.

Landon Walton has plenty of size, power, strength and versatility @LandonWalton71 @CoachFields01 @840WHAS @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank

March 25, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

Line play can be hard to evaluate. When evaluating linemen, as the offensive variety really don’t have much in the way of statistics beyond “games played” and “pancakes” (if the team keeps such a statistic and not all do), one often has to look for characteristics of line dominance in making a decision regarding who to offer. Strength, power, feet agility, balance, speed, spacial quickness, hand quickness, punching power are all examples of characteristics sought. Enjoy this look at an under the radar lineman programs would do well to research thoroughly. Friday Night Fletch.

Will THEREALMALIK [Butler], please stand up! @Malikbutler23 @FSFootball @FSHSathletics @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @840WHAS

March 23, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

Malik Butler’s handle on Twitter is “THEREALMALIK.” Anyone who was a fan of syndicated game shows, or shows they may be old enough to remember in primetime, should remember the television show, “To Tell the Truth.” Well Franklin-Simpson’s Malik Butler is the truth and he is here to tell it. Enjoy the feature. Friday Night Fletcher.

Kanyon Johnson is the @1776Bank Revolutionary Player of the Week. @all_ameerican_me @minguabeefjerky @840WHAS @KyHighFootball @KanyonJohnson9

March 22, 2024 Fletcher Long 0

Kanyon Johnson is an athlete playing football in the KHSAA to whom people ascribe almost mythical feats of athleticism. We have seen him perform some of these feats and can attest to the truth comprising the legend. Still, this guy is a “hard take” if you’re coaching college football in or around the Bluegrass. Enjoy this feature and don’t forget to get by your local Independence Bank and discover why and how our people, financial products, and services have started a revolution in the Kentucky banking industry. Friday Night Fletch.