Looking Back

The Redhounds football season of 2006 has come to a bitter sweet end as the young ‘Hounds fought their hearts out on a cold Northeastern Kentucky evening last Friday night.
The defending state Class AA champions, the Russell Red Devils, ended the hopes of Redhounds’ fans.
The Redounds coaching staff must say goodbye to only six seniors, but those six were fine football players.
Blake Freeman was injured and miss his senior year after establishing himself as a hard running tailback his junior season. Blake was sorely missed this year.
Josh Martin was a very strong playing linebacker who played all out all the time and contributed as punter as well.
Jake Reeves played only one season of football but helped add another dimension to Redounds offense as a wide receiver and kickoff and punt returner.
Anthony Miller completed an outstanding career from his linebacker position. Anthony never received the recognition he should have for his tremendous efforts.
Zach Woody was also a very solid contributor on this year’s squad as well as the last couple of years. Zach helped the defense hang tough all season.
Will Stewart made very good contributions as well. These kids will all be missed as we graduated our 24th consecutive class without a state championship team. The longest interval without a state title in Redounds history.
That is not what makes this season bittersweet however. What makes this season bittersweet are loses to Oldham County and even worse a fourth straight loss to South Laurel that dampened the spirits of the fans and nipped the hopes of an outstanding season in the bud.
I realize that the time to be playing at your best is playoff time, but, next season with around 50 returning players, I hope we can expect to be at out best early and continue the enthusiasm throughout the year and reinforce the words pride and tradition.
We do have reason for high expectations with all the returning players. The ‘Hounds will have a quarterback with three years’ experience in Clint Cashen. The entire offensive line returns and such outstanding performers as Josh Sanders, Rob Madon and Corey Sewell. Look for a big year out of Michael Campbell and healthy Kevin French. This could very well be the year it all comes together for Coach Steve Jewell.
In roundball I looked on as the Redhounds of 2006-07 put on a clinic on defense as they pressured the Rockets of Rockcastle County in the SEKC Pan-O-Rama held at Williamsburg on Saturday evening.
Coach Tony Pietrowski looked on as Josh Crawford, Deke Barley, Madison Johnson, Josh Smith, Josh Hamlin and Clayton Sewell all played extremely well. Off the bench Lee Crawford, Issac Wilson and Aaron Manns did very good jobs as well. This is going to be a fun team to watch.
Last week, somehow the roster I intended to include in my column got lost, so I will try once again to see if anyone can identify the mystery roster from the 50th District Tournament in the 50s.

Who was this team with the nickname of Trojans of ’58-’59?

Back to this year’s Redhound roundballer, I cannot tell you how impressed I was with the pressure they put on defensively. It all starts with Josh Hamlin and Issac Wilson as they crowd the opposing point guard all over the court and is followed by the long armed traps of Josh Smith, Madison Johnson and Clayton Sewell.

The University of Kentucky’s seventh win of the football season was very ugly. The Kentucky offense and the officials did all they could to prohibit the world’s worst defense from giving the game away. I am still not sold on a contract extension for Coach Brooks. It only sets back any progress or the period of the extension.
Next year’s seats will not be filled again and the program will have lost another year.