We’re almost there. Helmets are on, shoulder pads will start clapping soon.
The 2019 football season is in its early stages or practices, regular season games to come here in exactly 38 days.
Some of the landscape has changed in the area, especially with Mason County, Fleming County and Lewis County. The three are now intertwined in the Class 3A, 6th District to go with Pendleton County and Powell County.
Bracken County remains in the Class 1A, 5th District with a new coach.
Manchester still has no conference affiliation as they seek to gain relevance in Southern Ohio, but will be playing quite a few teams in the Southern Ohio Independent League (SOIL) that features North Adams, Peebles, West Union and Southern Buckeye (Eastern Brown and Ripley).
With the heels of the regular season upon us, let’s take a look at ten area games to keep an eye on, going in order as to in which they are played.
Russell at Mason County, August 23
These two old district foes will renew their series to kick off the season in Maysville. Russell had Mason County’s number from 1998-2007 under Ivan McGlone, winning seven of eight matchups until the Royals turned the tides from 08-14 under Dave Buchanan, winning five of seven in that span. The two are under new direction now, the Red Devils coached by TJ Maynard and the Royals by Jonathan Thomas. The Royals hope to rebound from a 2-8 campaign in 2018 while the Red Devils hope to build off a 8-5 season and a regional final appearance.
Pendleton County at Bracken County, September 6
This border county rivalry was one-sided the first 10 times they played, the Wildcats winning the first 10 matchups. Bracken County has won the last two, including last year’s two-day fiasco in which they won 12-8, the game suspended over 12 hours thanks to weather delays.
Fleming County at Rowan County, September 13
The next border county rivalry pits in Morehead on a Friday the 13th. Panthers coach Bill Spencer told me last year when he visits Morehead to go eat or take care of errands, it’s always easier to do when they have a win on their side. He’ll hope to avoid a two-game losing streak to the Vikings after winning the prior two meetings.
Fleming County at Russell, September 27
It’s no longer a district rivalry, but it’s still a rivalry. The last time these two met in Flatwoods, it was a Jaden Campbell punt return in the final minute to seal a 35-30 win for the Panthers in 2017. These two have alternated wins and losses the last five meetings, each team getting wins on the other’s home field, Fleming County hopes that trend continues.
Manchester vs the SOIL, October 4-25
I cheated a little on this one. The Greyhounds will test their strength against Adams and Brown County in four consecutive weeks in October, playing Peebles, Southern Ohio Buckeye, West Union and North Adams. This is a bit of a scheduling change for Manchester, usually playing OHSAA sponsored teams during the season. The four aforementioned are not, breaking that trend that started last year when they played North Adams, a 6-0 victory for the Greyhounds on their home turf.
Paris at Bracken County, October 4
What better way to start out district play then with the reigning champs? That task will be handed to the Polar Bears as they’ll host the Greyhounds in Brooksville on the first Friday in October. Paris went 4-0 in district play last season, breezing through by outscoring teams 114-16 in those four contests. Their closest contest however was a 9-0 win over the Polar Bears. The Class A, 5th District has moved down to four teams with Berea gone to the 3rd District, so each district game carries even more weight now.
Powell County at Fleming County, October 4
In my preseason predictions to come in the future, these two will most likely be battling it out for the Class 3A, 6th District title. Mason County might have a say in that, but this games looms large in terms of postseason seeding. The winner will have the upper hand in the race for the district title while the loser will need to scramble and probably get some help from district opponents for a chance at district supremacy.
Pendleton County at Lewis County, October 4
It’s a different district now, but playoff berths could still be at stake when these two meet on October 4. Lewis County hasn’t seen a postseason game since 2013, Pendleton County 2009. One of those droughts will end this year as the two have played in a six-team district the last few years. Now with five, the winner will have a leg up in the right to play in the postseason race.
Fleming County at Mason County, October 11
Not many words are needed for this one. These two flat out don’t like each other and the game means even more now that they’re in the same district. The Panthers have won five straight matchups between the two and with that took the all-time series lead, 22-21. Mason County hopes to even things up come October 11 in Maysville.
Mason County at Lewis County, October 18
I don’t think the Royals will forget what the Lions were able to do on their home turf last season, carving up a Mason County defense for 392 rushing yards, 343 of them from Garrett Applegate. Applegate is gone and the Royals are hoping that bad taste is gone from a 36-26 loss to the Lions. With the two being in the same district now, this game brings a lot more meaning to it.
