Storm Warning: Central played Union County tougher than many expected, they have the week off then brace to travel to Webster County…

Union County beat us 49-13 a year ago but found it a little tougher sledding this year

We told you leading into the season that Central had a good first string but could ill afford injuries. One of the team’s best players, ’27 ATH Sylas Gunn, has been “playing hurt” and the inability to get everything from him in all three phases, and limiting him to mainly a single side of the football, has badly hurt the Storm’s bottom line. Still, there are some young kids coming on and some other weapons we certainly can target who have before proven themselves capable. One thing is for sure the off-week couldn’t have come at a better time and the Storm comes down the homestretch with two winnable games in Webster and Crittenden, with a date with Murray High missed in between (huge opportunity to make a statement).

HB Lyon, Senior Scout, “KPGFootball”

Morton’s Gap, KY: To say we need to get Sylas Gunn (’26) back healthy and operating in his three-phase capacity is one of the more understate football sentiments in the KHSAA universe. The amazing part is, even injured and limited, Gunn is still among the more productive roster pieces at the availability of the Storm coaching staff.

Gunn played another half a game against Union County and had another solid game. Gunn threw for over 100-yards and a TD and rushed for 125-yards and a pair of TDs. Gunn scored 12 of the team’s 22-points and registered seven (7) tackles.

Gunn’s play has further reinforced our position he is among the commonwealth’s best, all-around football players at any classification. He has done all of this largely injured for much of the year and limited, physically, to what he can contribute.

We called for Isac Earl (’26) to get more “targets” or opportunities and it appears somebody may have listened. Earl snagged three (3) passes for 66 receiving yards and a TD while contributing three (3) stops on defense.

Freshman Neilan Bruce (’29) continued his strong play. Bruce contributed eight (3) tackles on defense and missed on his only passing attempt. Bruce’s roll has diminished some as Gunn has started to shoulder some more of the ball club’s burden. Bruce’s day is coming friends, you can bet that.

Jude Mitchell (’26) had a strong game at PK. Mitchell converted two (2) of his three (3) PATs. Connor Miles (’27) converted a two (2) pointer and contributed four (4) tackles. Gunn, Earl, Mitchell, and Miles scored all 22 of Central’s points against Union County.

Khristian Scott (’26) led the defense with two (2) TFLs. Issac McKnight (’27) had the club’s only QB-sack and contributed 12-tackles.

Now, let's turn our attention to the upcoming stretch...

After the game with Union County, the Storm is now 1-5 on the year. The Storm will only play nine (9) regular season games as the game with Kentucky Country Day was taken off both schedules owing to the lightening delay, formerly scheduled game the parties mutually agreed not to reschedule. Now one would think the Storm would be favored over Webster County (1-6), an underdog to Murray High (7-0), and a “pick ’em” game with Crittenden County (4-3, 2A D-1) mostly because the game is on Morton’s Gap.

The Murray game is an interesting one. Murray is new to 3A, District I. Murray plays Central between its match-up with district bully Union County and a Caldwell team which stands at 5-2 and has been a surprise for much of the year.

That makes Central a “trap” game for Murray’s Tigers. What a story it would make if we could catch the Tigers looking past us and slip up and bite them?

Were that to happen, and should we enter the playoff riding a three game winning streak, we would have to number among the hotter teams, entering playoff time, on the western end of Kentucky in the 3A classification. Stranger things have before happened.

For now, we need to enjoy the time off and get some of our injured players healed-up, as they say. Should that happen, this season could fulfill some of its immense promise it provided back when it was new and freshly starting.

KPGFootball says: Let's take this week off to heal and get ready for this important three (3) game stretch upcoming before playoff time!

At the end of the day, Murray High has become the “class” of the first district in 3A and maybe in 3A football in general. That being said, Central has found a way to hang around other teams it has before played and which appeared to have more talented rosters. We are still waiting for Central to give us a “shock the world” moment. Maybe sometime over these next three (3) will be the right place/right time.

To be the type program we all are striving to be, we can’t run away from games like Murray. We can win that game…now get healed up and ready to go do it.

Fort Campbell over North Hopkins (’24) and Owensboro Catholic over Bowling Green High (to open this year) are the type games which have shown us any team can win, on any given night. Let next weekend (October 17) be the Storm’s time to get on this run!

The Storm needs the fans to pick them up after their recent stumbles. We need to come out to Morton’s Gap and cheer on our team.

The team has to show up. The players have to show up and so do the fans! See you after the week off at the game.

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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