By Jonathan L. Smith
(Photo courtesy of SERG Photography shows Damon Spigle running behind a convoy of blockers)
This will be the 36th meeting of the Lincoln County and Garrard County football programs. Before the current consolidated schools, Stanford and Lancaster high schools played football against each other as far back as 120+ years ago.
In the 35-game series, Lincoln County has won 22 times while Garrard County has 13 wins.
First Game- 1974 (LC 21-14)
Last Game- 2024 (LC 27-20)
Streak- Lincoln two games (2024, 2018)
Lincoln’s Largest Margin of Victory- 41-0 (1986 and 2006)
Garrard’s Largest Margin of Victory- 34-8 (2017)
Average Score over 35 games: LC 20 GC 13
Garrard County was 8-4 last season, losing in the second round of the playoffs to Louisville Central. They are coached by Spencer Crutchfield, a standout athletic alum of GCHS, and a former head coach at LCHS (2018-2021). He is also a first cousin to Lincoln County head coach Levi Rogers.
This season, the Golden Lions are 5-3 with wins over North Bullitt (29-19 in the Death Valley Bowl), Lewis County (45-7), Casey County (40-0), Bardstown (35-32 in OT), and Mercer County (13-12). They losses have been to Lawrence County (57-30), Bethlehem (52-42), and Lexington Catholic (38-0). They finished second in 3A District 4 and will host Louisville DeSales in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lions have outscored their opponents 234-217. Their offensive balance is skewed to the rushing side where they average 145 yards per game on the ground and another 95 yards per game through the air. They run the ball 72% of the time (268 runs vs 102 passes on the season).
Senior quarterback Justin Parsons has completed 46 of 91 passes for 652 yards, 10 touchdowns and 1 interception. Also, freshman QB Ryan Noe is 6/11 passing for 107 yards. The top receivers are RJ Blair with 23 catches for 315 yards and three touchdowns, and Gavin Baker with 17 receptions for 291 yards and four TDs.
The top rusher is RJ Blair with 86 carries for 494 yards and five touchdowns. Lucas Whitt has also carried the ball 86 times and has picked up 326 yards and score twice. Justin Parsons has 199 yards and ten touchdowns on 63 carries.
Kicker RJ Blair is 21/26 on PATs and 1/2 on field goals.
Defensively, their leading tacklers are Ethan Viands, RJ Blair, and Rady Resor. They are giving up an average of 279 yards per game (141 rushing and 138 passing) yards per game. They have 10 takeaways with 4 interceptions and 6 fumble recoveries.
For Lincoln County (7-2), they are outscoring opponents 260-214, outrushing them on average of 206-106, but getting out-passed 197-123. Tucker Foster has passed for 1,111 yards at quarterback, while Reed Curlis, Tucker Foster, and Damon Spigle lead the Patriots in rushing. Bob Floyd, Johnny Adkins, Clay Pendygraft, and Brennin Hazlett are the leading receivers.
Defensively, the Patriots have been ball hawks with 15 takeaways, and have been led in tackles by Reed Curlis, Tucker Julian, Drake Willoughby, Tucker Foster, and Sean Brown.
In the kicking game, Brody Baker has hit 33 of 35 PAT kicks and 3 of 4 field goals.
Garrard County’s strength seems to be running the football but Lincoln County’s defensive strength is stopping the run. This should be a battle in the trenches like so many of these have been in the past.
