Storm Warning: Trip to Morganfield, KY May Prove to be Awfully Stormy

This would be a miraculous upset, but as we have learned, miracles happen

On paper, it wouldn’t appear our Storm has much of a chance in Morganfield, KY (Union County), Friday night, against the Braves. As we saw just a week prior, “on paper” doesn’t mean much. Simply put, if the Fort Campbell Falcons can beat one of 5A’s premier Kentucky-powers, then we can go to Morganfield and upset a 2-2 Union County team. After all, Union County was soundly beaten by a North Hopkins squad who just lost to a Fort Campbell team we beat on August 30th in Morton’s Gap! Right?!

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball“

Hopkins County Central (1-3) @ Union County (2-2) 

Morganfield, KY: If you crunch the numbers, you will not like what the numbers tell you about the Storm’s chances tomorrow night in Morganfield, KY. Union County is certainly the class of the first district in 3A and may be among the class of 3A Kentucky wide.

Still, the Braves enter the contest 2-2 and this season, if it has taught us nothing else, has certainly taught us any team entering the field of battle has a chance to prevail. Does Hopkins County Central have a chance to sneak out of Morganfield, KY with the Dub? Certainly!

We will break down this matchup for you including the personnel which figure to bear on the fortunes of both ball clubs. At the end, we will give you our projected score.

First, for the Storm…

It all starts with the junior QB we have dubbed “The Little General.” Isaac Earl (’26) has thrown for 497-yards and 4-TDs and rushed for 79-yards and 2-TDs rushing. We will grant you he has thrown for more INTs than anyone would have liked; but, bear in mind, he threw seven of those INTs in the very first game.

Rushing the football is paramount in any offensive attack, particularly in HS. Zayden Parker (’25) has gained 174-yards rushing in 32-attempts and leads the ball club in that category thus far in the season. 

Earl’s top target, and the team’s best down field, beat the defense over the top, guy is Issac Manning (’25). Manning has 173-yards receiving on the year, on eight (8) receptions, two (2) for TDs. Manning is averaging 21.625 yards per reception and forces defenses to “cover deep” which loosens up the run box for gashing opportunities.

Earl and Manning tied for the lead in scoring. Blaze Whitaker (’27) has hit 80% of his PATs; an important and often forgotten phase of a three (3) phase game.

Kamran Harrison (’26) and Sylas Gunn (’26) are tied for the lead in tackles (8). Gunn, who also is a contributor on offense and special teams has proven he may be the best athlete on the roster and certainly a vital cog to the Storm attack.

For the Braves…

Jarren Johnson (’25) plays QB for the Braves offense but his value is far greater than his ability to pass the football. Matter of fact, Johnson is the leading rusher in the Braves’ offense.

Johnson has gained 543-yards in 66-carries with 7-rushing TDs. Johnson gains 8.23 yards approximately per carry and that is with everyone in the ballpark knowing full well he will be the one rushing with the football.

The Braves struggle throwing the football, if we are being honest. Caton Wilson (’25) and Jarren Johnson both split time at QB and the pair have thrown it, roughly, the same amount of times this season.

Johnson is the team’s leading scorer with 10.5-points a game. If it is starting to appear Jarren Johnson is a bit of a “one man parade” for the Braves offense, that is with good reason.

Amare Black (’25) is the top defender. He has 30-tackles, 1.5-TFLs. Black’s contributions his season don’t bear out in the statistics. Black is an excellent pass rusher and draws tons of extra attention from offensive personnel bent on containing his defensive prowess.

Speaking of pass rush specialists, Kamden Davis (’25) has 4-sacks already on the year. At this pace, he will rank among the best sack-masters on the season.

Colton Capps (’25) and Gavyn Black (’28) both have INTs, with Capps has 27-IRNYs. As much as we like to target Manning and Parker down the field, these two back-end stalwarts may well factor in the game Friday Night.

How it looks…

I hate this part, particularly since we are big-time Storm fans. If we are being honest, on paper, we should get drubbed Friday Night in Morganfield.

However, and we thank Fort Campbell for reminding all of us of this fact, HS football games aren’t played on paper. Here’s to hoping we are wrong.

Union County 42 (99%), Central 6 (1%)

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

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