Last season, the Perry County Central Commodores finished with a 5-5 record. This season, Commodore head coach Mark Dixon is hoping that his squad can take the next step with an experienced group returning.
“It’s been a good summer so far,” said Dixon. “We have to have the confidence to step out there and play hard situations. That’s something that comes with experience, and we have an experienced team coming back this year. We’re going to learn from our mistakes last year and bounce back. If we expect to be a football team that’s going to make some noise, we need to play well in tough times.”
KEY LOSSES: Lucas Gibson, Ty Vinson and Ethan Combs.
KEY RETURNERS: Kaiser Slone, Seth Jackson, Tyler Smith, Noah Kilburn, Phoenix Eddington, Hunter Griffie and Derrick Fields
OFFENSE
Kizer Slone will be returning at quarterback this season. Last year, Slone passed for 1,672 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also rushed for 289 yards and 7 touchdowns.
At running back, Seth Jackson returns after rushing for 552 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He’ll be joined in the backfield by Colin Combs and Tyler Smith.
The wide receiver corps will be led by leading returning receiver Noah Kilburn. Smith, Colin Combs, Derrick Fields and Tyler Robinson will all see time at wide receiver.
The offensive line consists of Jarrett Neace, Preston Pratt, Sklyer Ritchie, Landon Sullivan, Caleb Caudill and Landon Sandlin.
DEFENSE
On the defensive line, Ryan Cornett, Marcus Robinson, Sullivan and Ashton Sizemore will hold down the trenches.
The linebacker unit will feature returning tacklers Phonenix Eddington and Hunter Griffie. Joining them will be Nolan Wooton, Gatlin Vanover and Dustin Hurt.
In the defensive secondary, Tyler Robinson, Tate Watts, Jackson Deaton, Connor Combs and Kayden Haddix will all see a lot of playing time.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ian Montgomer and Beau Bakun will both see time at place kicker. Dixon says they are both capable at the position.
SCHEDULE
The Commodores play a very competitive schedule, but Dixon is just wanting to focus on his first opponent currently.
“The game that I am most looking toward is the first one,” he said. “We’re going to take it one game at a time. Every one of them is tough. Somerset is a really good team, and we just want to play that first one and when that is over with, we’ll want to play the second one. I won’t look past one team to get to another.”
8/18 – Somerset
8/25 – Breathitt County
9/01 – @Lawrence County
9/08 – Bell County
9/15 – @Shelby Valley
9/22 – @Martin County
10/06 – Whitley County
10/13 – @Letcher County Central
10/20 – @Corbin
10/27 – Williamsburg
OUTLOOK
Perry County Central has a chance to take a huge leap this season with an experienced returning core. The Commodores play a strong schedule and Dixon is a proven head coach. Look for the Commodores to take that leap and have a strong season in 2023.
