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H.S. FOOTBALL: Madison Southern set for rematch with Pulaski County

By Bob Flynn Register Sports Writer

Berea — It’s been five long weeks since the Madison Southern Eagles lost their only game of the season — a 21-18 setback at home to rival Pulaski County.

It was a game in which the Eagles players walked off the field knowing they gave less than their best effort against a very good football team, but a team they felt they should have beaten.

Since that disappointing loss, the Eagles have regrouped and refocused and have reeled off four wins, playing their best football of the season.

For five weeks, the Eagles have wanted a shot at redemption against the Maroons, knowing it would take two playoff wins to get there.

Two weeks ago the Eagles dominated Letcher County Central in a 49-6 win in Berea.

Then last week, the Eagles exorcised another demon when they went to Harlan and soundly defeated Harlan County 41-28 — the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year — in their best performance of the season.

The Eagles now have what they have sought for the last five weeks — the much anticipated rematch with the Maroons, and a chance to prove their first-game performance was a fluke.

Southern coach Jon Clark said the loss to PC might have been a blessing in disguise, because it showed the team’s weaknesses.

“We felt like losing that game to PC was a blessing for us. It exposed what we had to work on,” Clark said. “We were lucky because rarely do you get to lose a game and turnaround and say this is what we have to do to get where we want to go now. Usually you lose a game of that caliber and you’re done and you can’t go back and fix it.”

Two things the PC game exposed, Clark said, were the Eagles open-field tackling and special teams.

In the first half, the Maroons offensive line dominated the Southern defensive line, opening big gaps for the PC running backs. After they broke the line of scrimmage, the Eagles missed numerous tackles in the open field that allowed several long runs, one for a touchdown.

The Eagles line did a much better job in the second half and the tackling drastically improved, but the damage was already done as PC jumped out to a quick 21-0 first quarter lead.

The Maroons’ third score of the first half came on a 75-yard kickoff return — the second straight week that the Eagles’ special teams had given up a touchdown — the week before it was a punt return for a touchdown. The kickoff return TD turned out to be the winning margin in the game.

But consider it a lesson learned.

Since the PC game, the Eagles’ play has drastically improved, and nowhere is that more evident than on defense and special teams.

In last week’s big win over Harlan County, the Eagles front line dominated in the decisive fourth quarter, while the secondary and linebackers made sure tackles in the open all night long to contain the Black Bears’ explosive running game.

And the Southern special teams play was superb, especially by punter Jon Lamb, who kept the Black Bears pinned deep in their own territory all night.

Clark said special teams had been a focus ever since the Pulaski game, and it has showed.

“That kickoff return was the difference in the PC game. So we put together some special team circuits that we have done twice a week ever since that game. Last week, special teams were a huge advantage for us and were a big part of us winning that game,” Clark said. “Jon Lamb did a tremendous job last week. Twice he dropped the ball inside the 5-yard-line and once inside the ten and still averaged 49 yards a punt.”

Another area that has improved since the Pulaski loss has been the offense which is much more diversified now.

Quarterback Aaron Slone has become much more consistent throwing the ball and Casey Dionne, Aaron Sipple and others have become more viable running threats to go along with Damien Harris.

Clark said he knows it won’t be easy to go into Somerset and win, but his team is ready to go.

“I feel like we are ready. We’re 0-3 against PC and I would like to beat Johnny Hines (PC coach) one time,” Clark said. “They are a good team. But we’re more focused, we’re playing much better and it should be a good game.”

Kickoff for the Maroons and Eagles is 7:30 p.m.

Harris honored

Madison Southern star Damien Harris was named Wednesday to the prestigious ESPN Junior 300 rankings of the top football players nationwide in the Class of 2015.

Harris was rated the No. 1 running back prospect in the nation and was ranked as the No. 17 player overall in the class.

According to ESPN analysts, Harris is the second-highest ranked player ever from the state of Kentucky by ESPN since high school player evaluations began eight years ago. Only Micah Johnson (Fort Campbell, Ky./Fort Campbell High) was rated higher in 2006.

Only two other Kentucky players made the Junior 300 list — Warren East 6-foot-2 linebacker Eli Brown at No. 219, and Warren Central 6-foot-1 linebacker Emmitt Smith at No. 282

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