HB Lyon

Slow Motion Replay: Allan Cox, from war hero to football coaching icon @pths_football, @westkystar, @Doug_Preston1, @LCAEAGLESFB, @MSUEaglesFB, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball, @UTM_FOOTBALL

June 4, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Often times you can tell a lot about one legend with how well or poorly he fairs against another legend or legends. For Allan Cox, he owned a 7-3 record against Jack Morris and “Mighty Mayfield” in 10-appearances against him as the head football coach of “The Blue Tornado.” That is really remarkable. Cox posted 106-wins over an 11-season run with five trips to the title game, winning the whole enchilada in 1985. On top of all of that, Coach Cox was a war hero in Vietnam, returning home with his entire platoon alive and being awarded “The Bronze Star” with a “V” device for valor in combat. This guy was a football coach’s, football coach. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Bryson ‘Cowboy’ Ford, from Christian County High is our Mingua Beef Jerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @BrysonFord34, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @CountyMustangs, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball @CoachAtchley, @ColonelFootball

June 4, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Bryson Ford is one of ’29s finest at either MLB or TE. It isn’t likely he plays both ways at 6A Christian County, at least not as a freshman. It is highly likely he gets varsity early run on defense. They call him “Cowboy” and the nickname just fits. Unlike the song written by Ed and Patsy Bruce, letting your son grow up to be this particular “Cowboy” isn’t nearly as bad a prospect as the other type of cowboy. This kid has enviable length, a solid frame, and has his strength and power numbers close to where you would like to see them. If we can get a little height and more density we will be cooking with grease. Enjoy this feature on a kid very deserving of some of the world’s finest beef jerky products and don’t forget to #SavorTheFlavor out there in Christian County, KY.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Jack Haskins rode off into history, like one tin soldier @McCrackenStangs, @pths_football, @TCEonSGPN, @KyHighFootball, @khsaafootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans

June 3, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

This may prove to be the longest article of the series. This is already the longest series in magazine history. It is something else too. It is the most important undertaking we have ever before attempted. It is critically important we remember this guys before they fade into the dustbin of our collective memories. Jack Haskins did something in WKY we thought we would see. In a sea of “ground and pound” offenses and steady, “crowd the run box” defenses, Haskins filled the Friday Night air with leather. Of course, when you have 1989’s “Mr. Football” at QB, Pookie Jones, you have to incorporate an offensive system which complements your personnel. That is what Haskins did at Calloway County and the landscape, out west, has never looked the same. Enjoy this installment of this series featuring a guy who was a revolutionary, offensively, to the KHSAA game.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Noel Rash built a tremendous legacy at Beechwood @BeechwoodFB, @beechwood_tiger, @PikevilleHSFB, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @CentreFootball

June 3, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Noah from the Bible’s Ark isn’t the only famous “Noah.” He wouldn’t be the first famous “Noel” either, which is slightly more germane. The biblical “Noah” is just the most renown, “Noah.” Our “Noel,” not to be confused with “Noah,”the one with the surname “Rash,” who was pretty obviously NOT named for the original “Noah” is pretty famous too. Noel Rash helped construct the Ark of powerhouse football being captained around the Northern Kentucky area and the KHSAA. Rash won 200-games and eight (8) titles run 17-years before riding off into the sunset. Rash is missed, but they were winning championships at Beechwood before him and they will win titles after him, as they have in fact done. Still, we should take a moment to recognize and remember a coach who did it as well as anyone has before or since. Enjoy this installment of our “Slow Motion Replay” series as we look back at Noel Rash.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: The Pride of Haggerhill, Kentucky, Jim Matney @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @jcfootball2025, @TTChilders, @ChrisStapleton, @JRVanHoose

June 2, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Jim Matney was simply among the best high school football and wrestling coaches the Appalachias has ever produced. I had the privilege of getting to interact with him on several occasions as a newspaper editor of a 135 or more year old newspaper in Jackson, KY. Matney always made me feel like I was a big shot. Of course, I was sort of a big shot because I was hanging around him. Enjoy this look at an all-timer in the estimation of just about everyone.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Paul Rains; Lord he was born a rambling man @coachpaulrains, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @GCwarhawksfball, @LCAKYEagles, @LCAEAGLESFB

June 1, 2025 Fletcher Long 2

Paul Rains won a title at LCA over Mayfield in 2009, two years after coming up just three points short to Beechwood. Rains had these guys yearly in discussion. Rains, over 29-years, won 209-games and a title while journeying all over Kentucky and competing at various classifications. No doubt in our mind Paul Rains is among the greatest of all-time football coaches across this great commonwealth. Rains was the consummate “Rambin’ Man.” Enjoy this feature and remember, in the end, we’re all just trying to make a living doing the best that we can.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Mark Dixon from Perry County Central is Integrity Personified @PCCHSFootball, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans

May 30, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Mark Dixon is among the best coaches still coaching today in the KHSAA. He is only two wins from 200 and has a title with three other trips to the title game under his belt already. He is entering his 23rd season at the helm of a football team and has won 71% of the games he has coached. Of course, what would you expect from Bill Dixon’s nephew and a former SEC college baseball player for the Ole Miss Rebels. Enjoy him while you can because his kind doesn’t come around too often.

Friday Night Fletch

Kam Wells, ’29 NG/OG, from Christian County High is the Kentucky Comfort Creator of the Week @CoachAtchley, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @ColonelFootball,

May 30, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Kam Wells is a beast whose frame can virtually finish anywhere. He is strong as a bull, wins the leverage game against about anyone, has tremendous leg kick and explosion, and elite strength and power. Wells will likely have to be deployed “both ways” this coming Fall even though he will be a freshman. We have seen freshmen start at really good programs and acquit themselves very, very well. What will Wells do? We would be surprised if he did anything less than dominate many of his mirrors over the course of his initial campaign. Enjoy this feature about a kid whose performance made the unbearable heat a tad more bearable and who hopes his performance brings comfort to the home fans around Christian County, KY this upcoming Fall. Let’s keep it comfortable out there, Kentucky, and allow us to help you out in that regard.

Friday Night Fletch

Storm Warning: Waylon Carter looking for some extended PT and production in multiple phases next season @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @HopkinsCentral, @CountyMustangs

May 29, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

You could just about define this kid after burying his mom in seventh grade. Approximately five hours after her service, Carter took the field against Union County and scored four (4) TDs. You talk about tough. You talk about clutch. This is a kid who has faced down adversity and spat in its eye. Carter had a solid sophomore season. Carter had a hand full of carries, caught a pass, played on several coverage units, and logged 25-tackles and half a sack in only seven (7) games of PT. This is a kid looking to start every game. We believe he will have that chance in ’25 and going off of what he has before done, the chances are he will make the most of it. Enjoy this feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: Parlez-vous français? Oui, nous parlons parfaitement français à Middlesboro Kentucky; Larry French has Middlesboro speaking his language perfectly well @MboroFootball, @SizemoreBraylon, @BoysGirls13th, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

May 25, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Larry French has one of the better “coaching trees” among the all-time greats across Kentucky. French’s tree includes Jean Rollins, Larry Mofield, Chuck Smith, Clay Clevenger, Brad Hood, David Buchanan, and Jack Robertson. Several of these guys have been featured in this magazine. At least two of them have been featured in our “Slow Motion Replay” which was designed to highlight the all-time guys. David Buchanan’s dad, John, hired Ed Rall at Boyle and Larry French at Mercer…. both guys right out of college, so French was even mentored by and all-timer and coached with several others. Enjoy this look at KY’s third winningest coach, all-time, and a guy likely to join the 400+ wins club before too much longer.

Friday Night Fletch