Monticello — The Wayne County Cardinals, 0-1 on the season and coming off an open

week, host 4A foe Rockcastle County this Friday night, at Jewell Field. The

Rockets, under the second year direction of coach Scott Parkey, opened their

season last Saturday night with a 42-22 loss to Boyle County in the Bob

Allen Pigskin Classic.

The contest marks the 19th meeting between the two former district

rivals, as Rockcastle holds a 14-4 series advantage including a 30-6 home

win, in the 2008 season opener. The Cards are looking for their first win in

the series, since a 20-16 win in 1988.



"Rockcastle County has had one of the top programs in our area for the

past twenty years, so we know we're playing one of the best teams in state

in their class. We want to play good teams and prepare for our district

schedule. This year's Rockcastle team is a very typical Rock team. They play

power football and bring lots of intensity with an aggressive attacking

style, "said Cards head coach Shawn Thompson.

"I was very impressed with Rockcastle County. They can play the power

game and run the football, but they were also very effective passing out of

the spread look. We must step up our intensity and effort in all areas, plus

we have to do a better job of following assignments," said Thompson.

Rockcastle bases much of their offense out of the Power I, but senior

quarterback Dustin Bishop also a passing threat out of the spread. Bishop is

a three-year starter on offense and teams with running backs John L. Saylor

and Clark Rowe, to form a talented offensive backfield.

"Bishop has loads of experience and last year he picked us apart pretty

well with the passing game. Rowe and Saylor are both strong, hard-nosed

runners, so defensively we more than have our hands full. We have to match

their physical play up-front. They have excellent size and strength on the

line, plus some very good receivers," said Thompson.

Wayne County allowed 323 yards of offense in their season opening loss

to Monroe County, with 202 of those yards coming in the air.

"A big thing we have to do is get off the football. Against Monroe

County we really struggled with some basic fundamentals and assignments, so

hopefully the extra week of practice should help clean that up. Last week

after our film session, I thought we practiced with a lot more focus, but

we've had good practices for the most part all season," said Thompson.

The Cards will look to get the offense back on track after a 7 point and

155 total yard effort in the opener. D.J. Hall paced the rushing attack with

46 yards on 13 attempts, while Eric Rhule led all receivers with 5

receptions for 46 yards, plus scored the team's only touchdown on a one yard

run.

"We had a couple of very good drives, but we must play with a more

consistent effort each play. We can't take plays off and I think that starts

with raising our intensity level. To play at the level we want to, it starts

with a focused aggressive attitude. We'll certainly face a very aggressive

defense," said Thompson.

Senior quarterback Zack Stephenson will face a Rockets defensive unit

that loves to load the line and force teams to pass the football. Stephenson

completed 10 of 17 passes for 81 yards in the opener, but was held to just

20 rushing yards.

"We have to get off the football and make our blocks with more

intensity. It wasn't just the line, or the backs, or the receivers, it was

our entire offensive unit. We need to be the aggressor and win the battle on

the line of scrimmage," said Thompson.

Another area that cost the Cards in their opener was field-position,

which is something Thompson hopes improves Friday night.

"We played way too much on our side of the field, so hopefully that's

something with moving the football more and better coverage will improve,"

said Thompson.

Kickoff for the varsity game is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jewell Field, but

action will start earlier as "Youth League Night" action will start with a

Red and Black 6th grade scrimmage at 5 p.m.



"We want a big crowd to come out, I know it means a lot to the kids, but

hopefully anybody that can will come out early and watch some of our future

Cardinals play. Youth League night is always a big night for all kids and we

have over 100 participants in grades 3-6, so it should be good," said

Thompson.

Details on all the action in next week's edition of the Outlook.