[RunItUpTheGut]

"Young Trojans set to open with Whitley County



A revamped offense, an abundance of youth and new starters at several positions are the storylines for the Morristown West Trojans entering their 2013 season opener.

The Trojans and sixth-year coach Lamar Brown will open the campaign Saturday night under the lights at Burke-Toney Stadium when they host Whitley County, Ky., in the nightcap of the fifth annual Citizen Tribune Kickoff Classic.

West will put their new pistol formation offense to the test against the Colonels, and Brown said his young team is ready to face off with an opponent in a game that matters.

“This team is ready to go,” Brown said. “It’s been a long fall camp, and we’re ready to get out there underneath the lights and show how all their hard work has paid off. The team is ready to play somebody when it counts. I’m excited, and I know our guys are really excited to get started.”

Quarterback Austin Ysidro, who ran for 834 yards last season, leads the Colonels unique rushing attack. Running backs Zack Mills (854 yards) and Austin Hooper (584 yards) are big threats as well out of the backfield.

“Whitley County has a very good football team,” Brown said. “Offensively, they have back a three-year starter at quarterback and a running back that is a really good football player. Those two make the team go.

“Their offensive line is physical, and defensively, they really get after you. They bring a bunch of stunts and walk guys into the box. They go for the big play, so when they are on the field, somebody’s band is going to play.”

Whitley County, under the tutelage of veteran coach Jim Black, runs an offense similar to what Morristown East ran in recent years when Cody Ricker was the quarterback. Ysidro is a big quarterback at 6-2, 225, and he can pick up tough yardage with his size and power.

“They run about the same offense Morristown East ran 2 or 3 years ago,” Brown said. “It’s a little bit more option based. They’re a lot like Harlan County too. They are happy to gain 3 and 4 yards a play and keep a drive going. They won’t beat themselves. They will make you stop them.”

Both teams enter with youth on each side of the ball. Whitley County struggled recently in a scrimmage against Hazard after replacing nine starters on defense, and the Trojans are in a similar boat with a large number of last year’s starters graduating.

“When you have a young football team, you really don’t know what will happen,” Brown said. “It’s always exciting. At the jamboree, we learned a little bit about ourselves playing in front of a big crowd for the first time. We had too many mistakes, too many penalties and too many busts and turnovers.

“All of that came in a quarter, and you can’t do that throughout an entire game and expect to win. That is something we have focused in on this week, and the kids have bought into it.”

Brown said the Trojans have had a good week of practice in preparation for Saturday’s game, and he expects his team to perform well this weekend.

“I expect us to play really well,” Brown said. “The old saying is that you play like you practice, and I hope that is true because we have practiced really well this week.”

Saturday’s meeting will be the first time the two schools have met on the gridiron. Kickoff at Burke-Toney Stadium is set for 8 p.m."

http://www.citizentribune.com/?p=61610