LOOKING BACK

 The Corbin Redhounds were in control the entire evening as they downed South Laurel 21-0 Friday night. Matthew Taylor and Brady Foley are two of the best players I have seen this year.

Taylor has excellent speed and is a very tough kid. Foley is also very hard-nosed and has excellent balance. Each of these two block extremely well and are sure tacklers on defense. As upper classmen, Taylor, a senior and Foley, a junior are outstanding leaders for this year’s young group of players. Saxon Okuma is having a very good year kicking and on defense.

As a matter of fact there are only six seniors on this 2010 Redhound team. Roman Mitchell has performed very well at quarterback and is very athletic. Josh Coppock has been terrific on both sides of the ball. Coppock is very aggressive and a winner from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. You can say the same of Wes Tipton, who plays with a lot of heart. Alex Wynn is not a great big guy, but takes advantage of his opportunities to play.

The team is loaded with talented underclassmen that are gaining experience through numerous minutes of playing time.

There are young players throughout the offensive and defensive lines who are improving each game like juniors Nick Howington and Marques McGee. Junior Mitchell Frederick is off to a terrific start on both offense and defense. Hunter Grubb and Derek Mahan are playing well. Matt Jewell, Cody Harp and Grant Grigsby are real active on defense and Josh Jewell reminds me of Steve Bird, as he catches everything near him.

Whitley County played Belfry very tough before losing 27-21. Jordan Singleton once again struck early, scoring from 66 yards out on a pass from Justin Goins on the game’s first play from scrimmage.

Whitley County is going to be competitive in the playoffs.

Prior to the Corbin-South Laurel game I noticed the South Laurel team found it necessary to jump up and down on the “C” in the middle of Campbell Field. I felt it was a little tacky, but I guess they should be able to jump up and down somewhere. They have not been able to jump in the end zone against Corbin the last two years.

The Kentucky Wildcats blasted the Akron Zips 47-10 over the weekend behind another smooth performance by Mike Hartline at quarterback.

Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke once again gave outstanding performances on offense.

This week the bar will be raised as the ‘Cats face Florida at the swamp, and while the Gators are not as overwhelming as usual, they will definitely be ready for this encounter.

Switching to roundball, the Kentucky Wildcats under Coach Cal, remain under the close scrutiny of the ever-present media. There must not be much going on in New York and Chicago as stories keep breaking about Kentucky in those areas. Then you have John Clay and Mark Story and sometimes Jerry Tipton ready to pile on.

The Corbin Redhounds basketball team received bad news this week as they were told sophomore Justin Olsen’s father is being transferred to Georgia with his job. Justin has really come on over the summer, and has grown to nearly 6’0 and has all the moves. Over the next three years this kid will develop into a real prospect.

The Redhounds will return seniors Brody Freeman, Hunter Sizemore, Taylor Jones, Dominic Timperio and Matthew Taylor, Junior Travis Smith and Eric Jones as well as sophomore Robbie Igo are a few of the contributors I recall from last year.

This week’s player from the past was 5’11” and weighed 225-pounds during the football season of 1963. He had very good speed and quickness.

Ron Meadors was an unlikely looking receiver, but he had excellent hands. I always recall the game winning reception Ron made against Lynch. Meadors made the catch by his fingertips and raced about 60 yards to the end zone giving the Redhounds a 6-0 win. Ron Meadors, 1963, player from the past.