Monticello — The Wayne County Cardinals wrap up the regular season, this Friday night

at Jewell Field, against border rival Clinton County. The Cards clinched a

postseason berth in the Class 3A state playoffs last Thursday night with a

14-7 win over Taylor County and need a win over the Bulldogs to help their

tiebreaker chances. Clinton County, now on their third head coach in the

past three seasons, appear improved at 2-7 under the direction of Jamie

Miller. The squad has been competitive in district action and is coming off

a 22 to 0 loss at Campbellsville.

The match-up marks the 6th meeting between the two schools, with Wayne

County owning a 5-0 series advantage, including a 49-20 win at Clinton

County in 2008.

"Watching Clinton County on tape, they appear to be a well coached and

very aggressive football team. They've lost some quality players to injury

earlier this season, but I'm very impressed with how hard they play. They

have two wins this year and always play us with a lot of emotion and

intensity, so we'll have to be ready from the opening kickoff. This is not a

district game, but with all the possible tiebreaker situations, we certainly

need to play well," said Cards head coach Shawn Thompson.

Clinton County owns impressive shut out wins over both Casey County

(24-0) and Caverna (28-0), plus was in position to knock off both Berea

(28-20) and Lynn Camp (13-8), so the squad looks much improved from 2008.

"Fundamentally they are sound on both sides of the football. Offensively

they run shotgun with split backs, plus they'll give some Twins look, but

the thing I like is they are good off the football. Matt Staton can throw

the football well and they have some very good hard-nosed running backs,"

said Thompson.

Junior quarterback Matt Staton was moved to the position after a

season-ending injury to Brent Durham and the offensive unit averages 13. 3

points per game. Staton has some help in the backfield in senior Harley

Brown and sophomore Neil Conner, as the group looks good on film.

"They block well, run hard and the thing that also stands out is the way

they block downfield. Just a solid group that we'll have to swarm the

football and play very aggressive," said Thompson.

The Wayne County defense has been very impressive the last five games of

the season and allows 23.7 points overall, but that number shrinks to 14.2

points during the last five.

"Since halftime of the Garrard County game our defense has been very

solid. Each week we're getting more comfortable in our spots, but the thing

I like the most is we're playing with more intensity and emotion. Football

should be fun, but to be good on defense we really need to play aggressive

and swarm the football," said Thompson.

The Cards, led by 1,242 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns of D.J. Hall,

average 18.4 points per contest. Hall leads a unit that has struggled to

finish off drives most of the season and that has been plauged by turnovers,

especially in some early season losses.

"Our ability to finish off drives has haunted us all year and last week

against Taylor County we left another two or three scores on the field. The

last four weeks we have done a much better job of taking care of the

football and that will be another big key against Clinton County," said

Thompson.

The Bulldogs load the box on defense and the aggressive unit allows just

over 25 points per game. Wayne County will have to pickup the blitz and be

able to mix the run with the pass.

"They put us many people as they can in the box and they really turn up

the pressure. Aggressive and physical would be the best way to describe how

they play, so up front we'll have to match their intensity and come off the

football," said Thompson.

The game also serves as the Homecoming date on the 2009 schedule, plus

will be the last home game of the season.

"Homecoming is always a lot of fun for the kids and we have a lot of

different activities that go along with that, but we must be mature enough

to be focused on the game. This is also senior night, so I hope a huge crowd

can come out and support these kids, it means a lot to them," said Thompson.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Friday night at Jewell Field.