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“Music’s been a part of my family for years,” Fields said. “My grandmother (the late Madeline Fields) played guitar, and I picked it up from her.”
handler is becoming an accomplished baritone saxophonist — and Bill talks about the time Chandler caught a 15-pound catfish at Flemingsburg Reservoir. He brags about Molly being on a traveling cheerleading squad, and Emma is trying cheerleading for the first time.
Morgan County
Turner endured his first sub-.500 season since a 5-6 in 2010. In two Class 3A district losses, the Cougars led at Breathitt County (a 36-28 loss last Oct. 18) with less than five minutes to go and fell to Magoffin County, 47-42, with 8 seconds remaining.
“We went into the season feeling like we returned some experience and definitely one of the best players in the state, pound-for-pound maybe the best player in the state, in (former running back) Kody Thornsberry,” Turner said. “To be honest with you, I had higher expectations than 4-7, but the reality was, we didn’t have the numbers; we led in every game last year.”
It’s a numbers — or paucity of numbers — game in 2014, too. Turner said there were just 18 on the roster when practice began in July, which presents a dilemma.
“We don’t want to do so much (in July) that by the time you’re in Week 7, the kids, their legs are tired and they’re weary,” Turner said. “I’ve never been faced with numbers this low, and I’m kind of trying to weigh my options in my mind, but I think going kind of slow and steady at first and picking up to the season may be a better strategy.”
Turner insists his cupboard’s not bare. Junior Hunter Collins played quarterback for much of 2013 but will return to tailback, where he’ll team up with junior Jake Henry.
Junior Jared Branham (5-11, 230) should anchor both the offensive and defensive lines, with Collins at cornerback or safety.

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Bath County

One word — juniors — could largely summarize this year’s Wildcats. Fields said there will be 17 to 19 third-year players.
“I think we return a lot of experience on our offensive line.” he said. “ ... Last year they were in a learning curve. I think our backfield will be a strength; we’ll have four or five really solid running backs.”
Fields is also glad to have senior receiver Taborn Kissick for at least 10 more games — he grabbed 58 catches for 879 years and six touchdowns.
Fields said senior Bradley Scaggs (6-3, 280 pounds) is the leading returning offensive lineman. “He’s been starting since he was a sophomore,” he said. “He’s put a lot of work in the offseason on improving his body strength and conditioning as well.”
Replacing DeKeiton Young at quarterback (1,566 yards, 14 touchdown passes in 2013) won’t be easy. Junior Brody Donaldson is the likely starter.
Senior running back Travis Robinson could be the happiest teenager in Owingsville — he returns from a second anterior cruciate knee ligament surgery (he had the first in the spring of 2013), which cost him practically all the 2013 season.
Three juniors — Nathan Swartz, Dalton Hatton and Patrick LaPointe — will also take significant snaps.
Fields said Swartz and Hatton are the top two linebackers, and junior Taylor McFarland is the leading defensive lineman.

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Fleming County
The Panthers have seen the heights and descended to the depths the last two seasons — last year’s disappointment followed an 8-4 record in 2012 (Spencer doesn’t want to claim the forfeit win over Fairview). Last year’s team was inexperienced with just two seniors on the roster. “The good thing going into this year is, we do have 19 seniors on our team,” Spencer said. “ … We have 10 starters back on offense and 11 back on defense from last year.”
It will help to have senior quarterback Jacob Boyd, senior receiver Aaron James and senior tight end Wilder Williams. Boyd threw for 1,597 yards and 17 touchdowns, James caught 33 passes for 544 yards and five scores, and Williams added 19 receptions for 334 yards and five TDs.
“(Boyd’s) gotten a little stronger, but I think the biggest thing is, he’s matured some, and I think his decision-making is gonna be a little better,” Spencer said.
Senior Maverick Burnett, meanwhile, caught 24 passes for 319 yards and three scores, and his 91 carries for 646 yards led the team. He might have done more if he hadn’t been suspended for two games because of an altercation with a South Point (Ohio) player.
Williams, a member of Fleming County’s two-time 16th Region basketball championship teams, now stands 6-4 and weighs nearly 230 pounds. He was a greater factor as a linebacker last year — he led the team with 111 tackles.
Two more seniors — John Johnson and Andrew Sergent — anchor both sides of the line.