Markezz Hightower is the Mingua Beef Jerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @markezz_25, @BlueGreyFB, @All_American_Me, @Maroon_FB_MNHHS, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @LasatersCoffee, @khassfootball, @KyHighFootball

July 16, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

We believe the Maroons look poised to have a wonderful season. They have one of the best TEs in the game in Jayden Travis. They have some all-state types like Travion Stafford and Kirk LaGrange. They have some “young guns” like Kaden Price and Ryder Sandidge. Having a “Mr. Football” candidate at RB doesn’t hurt. 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 Madisonville, KY.

Hulking TE from North-Hopkins (Madisonville), Jayden Travis is our Protein-packed Performer of the Week @Jayden_travis87 @markezz_25, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @Maroon_FB_MNHHS, @price_kadence

July 9, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

It is easy to get caught up in the Markezz Hightower fan fare. Hightower is a fantastic ball player, an all state running-back, and coming off a near 1,800- total yards season with 21-TDs scored running and receiving. That aside, Hightower isn’t running a one-man band over there at North. Jayden Travis is a hulking TE with good speed, excellent power numbers, a fine GPA, and a 280-pound power clean evidencing tremendous explosion. Travis is coming off a 25-reception season himself and that is darn-fine playing on a run first team at the TE slot. This guy will field some offers in short order. If he has the kind of season in ’25 he had in ’24, look out 5A because the Maroons will be looking to improve drastically over the 7-4 it posted in ’24. Enjoy this feature and don’t forget to pick up some world famous jerky products from Mingua Beef Jerky and “SavorTheFlavor.”

Friday Night Fletch

Dayton Kron is the Big Ass Fans Kentucky Comfort Creator of the Week @DaytonKron1, @BECoachKendrick, @BE_Chargers, @N_W_Sports, @khsaafootball, @bigassfans, @minguabeefjerky, @KyHighFootball

July 4, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Dayton Kron is a talented kid who looks to land at the next level easily. Kron is being courted heavily by Hanover, Hampton-Syndney, and DePauw University, among others. One secret to his success is that the 6’1,” 225-pounder can play DE or can long snap. That type versatility is extremely important for a small college program who may find offering Kron is a “ton of bang for its buck.” In any event, Kron is performing at a very high level for a team which plays in Kentucky’s largest competitive classification. Let’s keep it comfortable out there, Kentucky, and allow us to help you out in that regard.

Friday Night Fletch

Jacob Litteral from Raceland Worthington High School is quite literally our Mingua Beef Jerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @jlitt56, @racelandramsfb, @Bryson1Rowsey, @minguabeefjerky, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @Ott_Football

July 2, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

There are loads of exceptions offensive linemen in Kentucky who may not have the “frame” and measurements to get recruited to the SEC or some other NCAA Division I (Power 4) conference type program. This doesn’t mean football isn’t in the cards and it certainly doesn’t mean the young men so afflicted won’t have tremendous college football experiences. Jacob Litteral is quite literally a beast, a dog, and a future college football player. Heck, a very good Ohio Athletic Conference team, from Westerville, OH (Otterbein), is all over this guy and who could possibly blame them? I am hoping this article gets some commonwealth programs on this guy, as we would like to see him stay home. 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 Raceland, KY.

Friday Night Fletch

Austin Jacobson, from St. Xavier, getting ready for take-off @austinj_19_, @Coach_Odom, @CoachKWallace, @noahhouk5, @jack_albers11, @StXTigersFB, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

June 28, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

We see these hot-shot, gun slinger QBs come out of MS and look to challenge an incumbent for snaps every so often. It isn’t every year, but every five (5) or so years wouldn’t be a stretch. I once had a former college, SEC QB tell me the most popular position on any football team is the 2nd-string QB. If you think about it, it makes sense. Austin Jacobson is the best MS QB we have seen come down the pipe in a few years. He reminds us of Zane Johnson (Trinity) who defied all odds to lead the Shamrocks to the 6A title in 2023. Mason Trimble returns for St. Xavier and the rising junior had a very good season and looks to be getting some “Mr. Football” pub entering the ’25 opener. Trimble won’t hand the kid this job. However, should it get to the point his services are immediately needed, one could do much, much worse. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Christian Shackelford from Lexington Christian Academy is the @bigassfans Kentucky Comfort Creator or the Week @ChristianDShac1, @_Jakeryan63, @maja_brown19, @LCAEAGLESFB, @CoachDCharles, @Oakley_Watkins

June 27, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Christian Shackelford is built exactly like the “big boys” want to see him. He’s 6’7,” 290-pounds and sports a 3.8-GPA. Shackelford got six (6) games of run over his sophomore season and that isn’t too bad considering LCA had the most senior laden group of trench men in the KHSAA a year ago at any level of competition. There will be plenty of competition to fill some of these holes in ’25 resulting from the Spring ’24 commencement ceremonies. Enjoy this look at a ’27 who seems destined to grow into one of his graduating class’s very best offensive linemen before it is said and done. Let’s keep it comfortable out there, Kentucky, and allow us to help you out in that regard.

Friday Night Fletch

Marcus Hamilton from Calloway County is the @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @Aspirationsgym, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @MarcusHam61, @CClakerfootball

June 25, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Marcus Hamilton is a young big who got some meaningful PT along the defensive front a year ago. Hamilton prefers defense, like every other young “Big” playing football in Kentucky. We have bad news for him, though. We expect colleges will look at him as an OT prospect over his playing defense at the next level. It will all come down to how well he runs, how explosive he can become, as to which side of the scrimmage line he ends up playing. For now, we expect he may get some two-way run this coming year. He certainly has been blessed with the God-given tools to help the Lakers considerably this coming season (2025). Enjoy this feature and don’t forget to pick up a few bags of some of the world’s finest beef jerky products. #SavorTheFlavor out there in Perry County, KY.

Friday Night Fletch

Slow Motion Replay: ‘Holy Toledo, Batman! It’s Coach Ben Pumphrey!’ @KyHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball

June 21, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

We thought we had concluded our “Slow Motion Replay” series and then a colleague reached out to me and said “What about Ben Pumphrey?” We researched it and couldn’t have agreed more. Pumphrey was among the more fun and charismatic coaches the KHSAA has ever known. He was also a guy who traveled the commonwealth taking hard jobs, jobs many of his colleagues didn’t want. Pumphrey did it to make a difference and what a difference he made. Pumphrey was enshrined in the KHSAA Hall of Fame in 2004 and richly, deservedly. Today he is being featured by us. Again, his being featured by Friday Night Fletch and KPGFootball is richly and deservedly past due. Enjoy this edition of the Slow Motion Replay series. Be aware, there is no telling where this series will actually end and when. We will keep writing them as long as you care to read them.

Friday Night Fletch.

Mason Griffin has a pretty tight lid on the QB job at South Laurel @Masegriffin7, @JohnHines66, @CoachDGage, @Gtown_Football, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

June 21, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

His name is Mason Griffin and he may be the best QB in the KHSAA with whom you might not be completely familiar. He is 6’4,” weighs 215-pounds and has a 4.0 GPA. Griffin plays for Next Up 7X7 and passed for 2,199-yards and 18-TDs his junior year in only 10-games of action. Griffin made his first team all-district squad and finds himself playing for a legendary head football coach in John Hines who has won over 200-career games. South Lauren is coming off a 6-win campaign and played in its first playoff game in years. Enjoy this feature about a young man whose star is on the rise and who may show up on some “Mr. Football” lists before all is said and done.

Friday Night Fletch

Jalen Dantzler is the @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @CoachDantzler, @JalenDantzler_9, @TomLuginbill, @BigTimerCox, @DemetricDWarren, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans

June 18, 2025 Fletcher Long 0

Marvin Dantzler has done it all from a stand point of coaching. He has won championships from Track & Field to football. He has trained plenty of tremendous athletes along the way. Add the name “Jalen Dantzler” to the list. Jalen is his son but he is much more than that. Jalen Dantzler is among the best DB prospects in the KHSAA’s class of 2027. He is a speedster who is athletic enough to be among the best long jumpers in the high school ranks. Dantzler is getting a ton of D-1 looks and we are flat looking and evaluating him too. Enjoy this feature and don’t forget to pick up some world famous jerky products from Mingua Beef Jerky and “SavorTheFlavor.”

Friday Night Fletch