Storm Report: Neither wins nor losses rank equally- @1776Bank @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @MaxPreps @minguabeefjerky @HopkinsCentral @evans02_mike @840WHAS @sfitz_840whas

The Storm “showed up” last night, just without enough gas in the tank

In our minds, around the magazine, we sort of thought the Storm losing by 21, when the computer foretold a loss with twice that margin, would be an indicator the program is being solidly constructed. Sure, we let the North game get away from us, margin-wise, when we emptied the bench in the 4th-quarter. Then there was the Crittenden game, where we almost snuck out of Marion with a much needed “W.” On the whole and for the most part, we feel the Storm has played pretty well in ’23. Last night did little to dampen our enthusiasm as the Storm did some pretty terrific things in losing to a vastly superior opponent by 22-points.

HB Lyon, Scouting Diretor, KPGFootball

Morton’s Gap, KY: Let’s get this one thing straight and right out of the way. Union County is the class of our district and, perhaps, our classification on the western end of Kentucky outside the Derby City.

Union County was coming to Morton’s Gap to attempt to run its record to 5-0 after having already beaten North-Hopkins by seven (7), Crittenden by 36, and Murray High (3-1) by 20. The Braves had also scalped a Caldwell County team we beat opening night.

Now, we’re going to tell you something you can either believe or discard. Not all losses are similarly constructed and the same may be said of wins.

The computer algorithm, around the office, told us Union was going to roll Central last night by over 40-points. The Braves had put a 36-point “beat down” on a Crittenden County team to whom we had just lost by five; so, the math sort of added correctly, or so it seemed.

The Braves found the weather a little stormier than they were anticipating. The Storm lost, by 22-points, but there were some great individual performances, the team’s performance was positive in spots, and the final margin is probably a number Coach Manning and staff can “abide.”

Central exits last night 2-3 with several remaining, district games in which the Storm figures to compete. Some of these games we anticipated being favored.

Isaac Earl was quite good to borderline “brilliant” last night against the best defense he will see, even in the playoffs. Earl completed 12 of his 27-passing attempts for 169-yards and a pair of TD tosses. Earl also gained 108-yards rushing in 9-attempts and scored another TD rushing.

Isaac Manning caught five passes (5) for 104-yards receiving and a TD. He, like Earl, had his best night on the year against the season’s toughest opponent.

Overall, the Storm had 316-total yards of offense, 16-first downs, and averaged 13.5 yards a reception. These are numbers which will equal a victory most Friday nights and not the type of numbers usually surrendered by the Brave defense.

Comparing scores is not the most accurate way to measure teams visa vie the other. However, it is both done and not entirely inaccurate either.

Losing to the Braves by 22, puts us in the area of being on par with 3-1, 2A power Murray, within 14 to 15 points of North-Hopkins, and better than a Crittenden team we really should have beaten had we performed to our capabilities. In other words, our performance against the Braves painted a fairly accurate portrait of what kind of team we have been, can be, and likely are this year.

Hopkins County Central travels to play a hot Webster County team in Dixon, Kentucky September 23rd. Like Crittenden, this is a “winnable” game and one which the Storm needs if they are to compete in this district.

These next four, Webster, McLean, Trigg, and Hancock, are all games we can get. We’re good enough to sweep the table here, particularly ending the regular season with a Fulton County team that is really struggling.

Seven wins is right there for the taking. Five in a row is right there for the taking. Now, let’s go take it!

We’re plenty good enough. Last night, in a weird way, should have proven that.

This is Fletcher W. Long, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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