Published: October 30, 2007 04:13 pm            

6-3 Cards end regular season at Monroe County

Monticello — The Wayne County Cardinals, 6-3 on the season and coming off a 47-6 home

win over Clinton County, end the regular season this Friday night, at Monroe

County. The Falcons own a 2-7 record, but are coming off an impressive 14-7

win, at Allen County-Scottsville. The contest marks the 9th meeting between

the two schools, with the series even at 4-4, as the Cards claimed a 20-16

win in 2006, at Jewell Field.

The Cards have a lot to play for, as a win would mark the most regular

season wins, since 1990 and give the squad momentum heading into next week's

playoff match up with Garrard County.

"We have so much to play for this week and I talked at length to the

kids about being different in a positive way. To win 7 games in the regular

season would be a very nice accomplishment, plus we want to go into the

postseason on a good note. Momentum is so important and I think we have it

after wins over Garrard and Clinton, so we don't want to let up. We know

it's going to be tough, to win at their place against a very aggressive,

hard-nosed football team," said Cards head coach Shawn Thompson.

Monroe County, just one year removed from a 7-4 mark and a regular

season district title, has struggled in 2007. The roster has over 60 players

and 12 seniors, but the squad has posted just two wins. The Falcons own

victories over Adair County (39-8) and Allen County-Scottsville (14-7), but

the schedule has been difficult to say the least.

"Monroe County dresses over 60 guys, so we know they have a lot of

quality depth on both sides of the ball. They've played some very good teams

in Green County, Glasgow, Metcalfe County and Greenwood, so we can't be

fooled by their record. It will be a battle and we'll have to play well,"

said Thompson.

The Falcons have struggled on offense and average just 144 yards of

offense, with 11.4 points per outing. The squad is led by running back

Sheldon Hamilton, as the talented back has totaled 406 rushing yards and 6

TD's on 99 attempts through 8 games.

"A very typical Monroe County offense, that uses a lot of I-formation.

Hamilton is a very nice back, that makes plays, but they have several good

looking skill kids. Defensively we have to step up the intensity and play

with a lot of focus. We can't give up the big play and must do a better job

of getting off the field after third down," said Thompson.

Monroe also has a very capable and experienced quarterback in Senior

Parker Petett. Petett has completed 25 of 57 passes for over 300 yards and 2

scores, through 8 games.

A key in the game will be Monroe County's offensive unit, as the offense

has been shutout three times and managed just one touchdown in losses to

LaRue County, Metcalfe County, Greenwood, Glasgow and Allen County.

Wayne County, coming off a season high 424 rushing yards in last week's

win over Clinton County, will look for more balance this week. The Cards

faced an over-matched Clinton County team and attemted just 2 passes, both

incompletions, in the win. The offense is facing a very aggressive Monroe

defense that bases out of a 40 look, but will switch to several different

fronts.

"Monroe uses some 40, but they love to move guys around and stack the

box. They swarm the football very well and like to play an aggressive style.

We must control the line of scrimmage and make sure we stay on our blocks.

Hopefully we can mix things up and try to set the tempo. We also need to

avoid penalties and take care of the football," said Thompson.

The Cards didn't commit a turnover and finished with just 1 penalty for

10 yards, in last week's win.

"Good things happen on offense when we play smart football and don't

have negative plays. I'd certainly take one penalty for 10 yards every game

we play," said Thompson.

The regular season finale against Monroe County allows Coach Thompson

the chance to renew a friendly rivalry with Falcons head coach John Pettet,

as both started their head coaching careers in 2004. "Coach Pettet and I

started the same year and Monroe County certainly has been a very good

opponent on our schedule, since the series started in 1999. Both teams play

extremely hard and get after it for four quarters, but we remain good

friends before and after the whistle. We enjoy the rivalry and I think it's

good for both teams, as we are not in the same class, district or region,"

said Thompson.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Friday night, at Monroe's Darrell Carter

Stadium. The home team has won 6 of 8 games in the rivalry, as the Cards

only win at Monroe County was a 21-20 decision in 1999.

"This is one of those games where the home team has had the advantage,

but hopefully we can change that this time around. This team has played

pretty well on the road with wins over Casey, Russell and Garrard, so we

know we can do it. We must play four complete quarters and certainly we want

to be solid in our special teams play. We've talked about putting together

48 minutes of sound football, in all areas and that's our goal again this

week," said Thompson. Details on the game and a preview of the Garrard

County playoff game, in next week's edition of The Outlook.

        

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