[mysonis55]

Mayfield Cardinal Preview 2013

The question for the Cards this year will be how do you replace the loss of Jonathan Jackson, Deon Jackson and supporting cast of 2013 graduates. The answer will come in the form of team speed. The cards return 8 defensive starters and 8 offensive starters from last season’s state championship team that finished 14-1. The Cards have their entire offensive and defensive starting lines back this year. They also return that starting qb in the form of Jake Guhy. They also have two of the receivers that either started or saw significant time in last seasons rotation. They also return their field goal kicker and punter, which also handled some kick off duties last season, in the form of Luke Wynstra. Another item that could be overlooked by most, they return a starting DE from last season they lost due to knee injury, which frees up a beast to move to linebacker.

The Cards have at running back this year a senior in Stewart Mills. Mills has seen significant time in this role since he was a freshman and scored a touchdown in last seasons state championship game. Mills is not going to remind anyone of Jonathan Jackson but more of a Zack Katzman of Graves County (who now plays for Murray State). This kid has great vision, a low center of gravity, great vision and gets from 0-60 quicker than anyone. The Cards did lose the burner at running back, Jordan Tyler, to Graves County this year. Mills was slated to be the starting back before the loss of Tyler though.

The Cards have also picked up 2 athletes from the old Heath High School. They also picked up 1 large lineman type player from the old Lone Oak High. In addition to all this talent you add in the fact that the incoming freshman group is one of the most talented across the board to come through Mayfield in many years. Not to mention the fact that the coaching staff feels this years line may be one of the biggest and most athletic lines in the tenor of Head Coach Joe Morris. You add this all up and the Cards are loaded with speed, size and depth.

The schedule for the Cards is probably one of the toughest in the state this year. They start things off in a scrimmage with the traditional 3a powerhouse of Tn in Milan. Milan has played in the state championship many times over the past 5 years. The Cards start their season off, on the road at Fort Campbell. The Falcons are a 3a team that should be in the top 5. They then host what everyone is billing as the new powerhouse in West Ky 6a, in McCracken Co. The Mustangs should be in the top 10 of 6a. Then they travel to their long time rivals and long time power in 3a, at Paducah Tilghman. The Tornado should also be a top 5 team in 3a. They then host a traditional power in 2a in Murray. The Tigers also should be a top 5 team in 2a. They also host their cross town rivals in 5a Graves County. The Eagles made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs last season and finished 9-3. They then travel to 6a Marshall Co. The Marshall’s made it into the playoffs last year as well. The fun doesn’t end once they start the 1a district play either. This is because Mayfield is in the same district with what should be a top 3 1a team in Russellville. The Panthers return most of their team from last season including their starting qb. This could be the Cards toughest hurdle to overcome on their way to their 5th straight trip to Bowling Green. The Cards finish their season at Caldwell Co, which is last years state runners up in 2a. The Tigers should be favored to win the 2a state title this season.

This schedule should make the Cards ready for anything thrown at them in the playoffs. The question will be how many of these games can they win and can they stay relatively injury free. If they come out of this brutal schedule with few injuries, then I like their chances.

Players to Watch:

Jake Guhy/qb This guhy threw for over 3,000 yards, 30 touchdowns
& only 1 interception in all of 2012. He also has started
in 2 consecutive state championship games. He should be
The great equalizer for the Cards this season.

Stewart Mills/rb Mills has played considerably during the past 3 years at this
role and has been rather productive. He also will spend
some time at LB. He is very shifty and has a low center of
gravity. He has the benefit also of having played in this role
in 2 state championship games.

Deon Jackson/wr This kid is almost an automatic touchdown. I can’t
remember a time last year that this kid caught a pass that
didn’t result in a touchdown. This kid is shifty and very
fast. He should remind everyone of Xavier Shelton, from
the 2009 state runners up.

Luke Wynstra/K It may seem unusual to mention a kicker in these roles, but
if you play the Cards you can see just what a devastating
impact this kid has on the game. He always manages to flip
the field for the Cards.
Kyle Downing/DE This kid has manned his side admirably for the past 2
years. He is quick, strong and dominates his side of the
field. He is 6’4” and has all the talent necessary to make
college scouts mouth’s water.





Tim McCampbell/LB This kid took the spot of Labront Scott last season and didn’t miss a beat in
Filling his very large shoes. Due to the luxary of having their first option at
DE back after recovering from a knee injury, they can now use McCampbell
To clog the middle. This could be his break out season.

Dillon Reed/WR This kid is a blaze and has strength to go with it. You know he has to be
A smart kid as well, due to the fact that he has been converted from qb.
He threw for a touchdown in the 2012 state championship game. They
Should have lots of packages for this kid to utilize his talents.