Harrodsburg, Kentucky is an interesting town. It is the seat of governmental authority with a population between 9-10,000 people in a county with a population between 21-22,000.
They play quite a bit of football around those parts too. Mercer County High is in the 4th district of the 3A classification and has to contend with Christian Academy-Louisville (“CAL”), year in and year out, just to reach the third round of the playoffs. As CAL entered last year’s playoffs the highest, commonwealth-wide seeded team in 3A, it stands to reason a trip through Louisville each year to reach the Regional Final is no pleasure cruise.
Mercer County was coached by David Buchanan. Buchanan led his charges to an overall 9-3 record in ’21. They were rudely bounced from the playoffs at the hands of the Centurions (CAL) in the second round.
In January of this year (’22), Coach Buchanan felt the time was right for both Mercer County and him to make a change. So, each of them did.
Former Head Coach at Kentucky Wesleyan, Craig Yeast, has taken the rains. Yeast was formerly a RB/QB for Harrodsburg High who went on to star at UK at WR. Harrodsburg High School merged with Mercer County Senior High in 2006.
Yeast’s taking the job was a chance to come home. So, that’s what he did.
Mercer loses its QB in Trosper Buchanan (over 1,500 yards passing and 16-passing TDs), its leading rusher in Brayden Dunn (over a 1,000 yards on the ground in ’21), and its leading receiver in Jackson Peavler (led the team in number of receptions) all to the graduation stage.
One of the leading targets was only a sophomore in ’21 (Thaddeus Mays). Another interesting prospect, who we believe is set to launch like a rocket in ’22, should enter the lineup on both sides of the scrimmage line.
His name is Landon Yates. He is a member of the class of ’25. He is built like a “brick crap house” and ready to launch!
Yates is 6-3 and weighs in between two bills and two-bucks, ten (200-210 LBS). Yates has plenty of length and plenty of frame to put on good weight.
The only thing unclear to us is on what side of the ball will he primarily play? He only had two games of varsity run over the course of his freshman season.
Still, he managed registering 6-tackles, making the most of his limited defensive appearances. Yates played MLB.
Yates didn’t get a target on offense at TE. He was an active and capable performer, blocking in the run-game, when given opportunity.
His opportunities will go up exponentially this coming Fall. We believe he will make the most of it.
This prospect certain fits the physical bill. Now it is time for him to play as well as he looks. We are sure Coach Yeast will applaud any such effort mightily.
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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