Chris Manning

Storm Warning: Connor Miles, ’28 DE, looks to be setting into a role @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @HopkinsCentral, @_CoachManning, @evans02_mike

May 8, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

What can we tell you about Connor Miles? We can tell you he got three (3) games of run as a sophomore on the varsity. We can tell you he is putting in the work this offseason. We can tell you his coach tells us he is ready to assume a roll on the ’25 roster as a regular and (perhaps) a leader. We can tell you he may be a two-way guy this coming Fall. All of the above aside, Miles finished 5th in Kentucky in powerlifting at one of the sport’s toughest classes (220-pounds). We feel that says a ton (pardon the pun). Enjoy this feature about a kid you might not have know about prior.

Friday Night Fletch

Storm Warning: Aaron Wells proved at the KY Powerlifting Meet he will be difficult for Storm opponents this coming season @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @HopkinsCentral, @_CoachManning, @evans02_mike

May 1, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Wells played in a single game in ’24. However, the 6’2,” 300-plus-pounder in the 2027 graduating class proved the old Stanislavski adage about there being no small parts, just small actors is true even in football. Wells is coming off a third place finish at the Kentucky Powerlifting Meet in the Super Heavyweight Division and the young NG is expected to play along the OL this season in addition to his defensive role. This is a guy readying for a prominent role in ’25, a leading role, and he is putting in the type offseason a young player should looking for that type of varsity PT. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Storm Warning: No one is feeding this Khristian to the lions, Scott is preparing for a huge senior season on Morton’s Gap @HopkinsCentral, @_CoachManning, @evans02_mike, @scott_khristian, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

April 24, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

In latin the practice was know as Damnatio ad bestias, losely translated “Condemnation to beats.” You would know it as throwing “Christians to the Lions” and it was a form of capital punishment where the condemned person was killed by wild animals, usually lions or other big cat. No one is practicing this today, but the vernacular of “Throwing (one) to the lions” has modern day usage usually akin to a young player being thrust into action earlier than a coach would like. Well, no one is throwing this particular “Khristian” anywhere. This guy plans on making a real impact his senior season on Morton’s Gap and then sliding somewhere for some college football. The way he is built, don’t bet against him.

Friday Night Fletch

Storm Warning: Former Maroon and Murray State Racer matriculates to Morton’s Gap to join up with the Storm @HCCHS_Football, @jordanv89292975, @CountyMustangs, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans

April 10, 2025 Fletcher Long 1

Jordan Vaughn was a player we covered regularly when the ’20 OL was owning defenders around Madisonville North-Hopkins. Now the OL coach, who played for Murray State in college, is moving from the OL coach at South Hopkins (Coach Logan) up to the varsity program at Central. The lines of scrimmage are where championships are both won and lost. Central is bringing in a “big gun” in the hopes he provides the edge the program needs to take its next step. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Storm Warning: Colleges finding the way to Morton’s Gap to scout talent. @evans02_mike, @Meloishim3, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @ChiefSmoke10, @_CoachManning, @SylasGunn, @carlos_mason52, @HopkinsCentral, @CountyMustangs

March 27, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Manning has been doing a fine job developing talent colleges want to recruit and sign. Centre College, who has been red, smoking hot on the trail this offseason, stopped by Morton’s Gap to see a certain player on whom the Colonels have set its sights. We think we know who, but could be wrong. In any event, things are going swimmingly as the recruiting interest would certainly indicate. Enjoy the article and be careful out there; looks like a Storm is brewing!

Friday Night Fletch

Storm Warning: Mike Evans Former QB and Former Assistant Coach at Central among the best to ever play on Morton’s Gap @evans02_mike, @Meloishim3, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @ChiefSmoke10, @_CoachManning, @SylasGunn, @carlos_mason52, @HopkinsCentral

February 20, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

We have been hitting the history of the game we love better than any other this offseason pretty hard. Thing is, if we don’t do this then who will? We are telling you about players, coaches, and events which are such a rich part of the fabric of the KHSAA that they deserve to be told, they deserve preservation. This is another of those today. Today, we highlight a guy who is among the best QBs to ever grace the playing service on Morton’s Gap. Ladies and gentlemen…the great Mike Evans.

Friday Night Fletch.

Storm Warning: Isac Earl maybe the best athlete attending Hopkins County Central @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @ChiefSmoke10, @_CoachManning, @SylasGunn, @carlos_mason52, @HopkinsCentral

February 13, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

If you were to look at all the ways Isac Earl contributed to Central’s bottom line over his junior season, you may draw the conclusion we did. He led the team in passing, led the team in receiving, led the team in scoring, was among the leaders in rushing, tackles, TFLs, and FFs. That is a ton of leadership out of one position. The 5’8,” 165-pound dynamo may be the Storm’s best all-around athlete on the roster not named “Gunn.” Enjoy this feature about a young man who brings on the stormy weather for Central foes.

Friday Night Fletch.

Storm Warning: Jaden White commits to Central, commits to the grind @Meloishim3, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @ChiefSmoke10, @_CoachManning, @SylasGunn, @carlos_mason52, @HopkinsCentral

January 30, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

They call him “Melo.” It is a reference to Carmelo Anthony and is an indication of just how good this ’29 can be in two, not just one, sports. Jaden “Melo” White has committed to play his high school ball at the Central Storm and, in so doing, provides an explosive, big-frame athlete who can play on the edge or in the middle of the defenses second level. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Storm Warning: Dariyon Walker from Browning Springs looking to contribute immediately at Central @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @ChiefSmoke10, @_CoachManning, @SylasGunn, @carlos_mason52, @HopkinsCentral

January 23, 2025 Fletcher Long 2

Every year, rosters are charged with replacing outgoing talent with upgrades (if they are lucky). Eighth graders leave middle school, and enter ninth grade, more and more prepared to contribute on Friday nights than at any previous time. Dariyon Walker looks to crack the Storm’s lineup early in his high school career. Will he? We like his chances!

Friday Night Fletch