[I Rule The World]

Leslie looks to be a TON better than last year. The numbers will be back around 40 due to former players coming back out, and 2 strong years (as far as numbers) from the middle school. Leslie returns 10 starters on defense and 9 on offense. Leslie only loses QB JJ Morgan, and replace him with Sophomore Troy Napier. Leslie also returns All state candidate #61 Randen Collett, and S/WR Cody Hensley. Leslie schedule is a complete 180 from last year. Leslie plays a schedule full of teams their size, and has some very winnable games for what will still be a very young team.

Aug. 14 Allen Central A Scrimmage
Aug. 21 Pineville A Scrimmage
Aug. 28 Hazard H
Sept. 4 Clinton Co. A
Sept. 11 Harlan Co. H
Sept. 18 McCreary Central A
Sept. 25 Morgan Co. A
Oct. 2 Shelby Valley A
Oct. 9 Middlesboro H
Oct. 16 Knott Co. H
Oct. 23 Corbin A
Oct. 30 Perry Central A

[Memorial Gym #5]

Good luck to the Eagles next year!! I am hoping they will have a better season!!

[bac2369]

So they play hazard the first game of the season?

[I Rule The World]

Yep. Hazard 1st game.

[Patriot]

Glad to see Harlan County on that schedule, should turn into a good rivalry.

[Cover3]

Looks like a good schedule for the Eagles.

[blitzingback]

I thought the Hazard game was at Hazard in the POTM Gridiron Classic.
Anyway, seems like they were loaded last year with freshman and sophmores with just a few juniors and seniors mixed in. If that's the case, the future is looking up for the Eagles.

[I Rule The World]

Leslie's not playing in the Pride of the Mountains this year. They play week 1 @ Leslie Co. Leslie had 15 freshmen last year. They look to have about the same number of freshmen coming out this year. They had 25 8th graders, but 10 are staying back. What's really gonna help Leslie Co. is the 8th graders(who don't stay back their 8th grade year) can play up and play Freshmen and JV games.

[Amped 88]

Good Luck to Leslie in 2009 from here in Bell Co.

[I Rule The World]

Leslie Co. will be alot better football team in 2009. Gone are just 3 Seniors from last years team. One of which put a gap between himself and the team, which caused chaos in most games.

Back are 10 starters on defense, including Randen Collett (WYMT-TV 1st Team ALL Muntain Defense/ Courier Journal Honorable Mention DT and Cody Hensley (WYMT-TV/Courier Journal Honorable Mention) This defense took its lumps playing the best this part of the state had to offer. But those 6 freshmen are sophomores now, and everyone that is back has hit the weightroom HARD.

Returning on Offense are 9 starters. The Jimmy Joe Morgan era has ended in Leslie Co.(Shew!!) And Leslie will go to the field with Soph. Troy Napier. Napier doesn't have the arm of Morgan, but his footwork and Leadership Skills are light years ahead. Something Leslie was missing last year. Leslie also returns Cody Hensley and Dustin Ballard in the receiving core. Leslie will have 3 Sr. Running Backs, and 1 Sophomore to pack the load. I expect Sr. Lance Coots and Sr. Blake Brown to see most of the carries, but So. Chris Maggard will get his touches too, depending on his work ethic.
One of the weeker points of this team will be the offensive line. They just don't seem to grow them like they used to in Leslie Co. The anchors will be Sr. Randen Collett and So. John Brewer. After this, Leslie will look to put a line together from players who are there, some new players coming out, and maybe a freshman.
Leslie's biggest hurdle last year was numbers. Dressing in the low 20's kept Leslie from hitting and tackleing alot in practice, which led to Leslie not being the typical hard hitting team they are known for. Leslie has 26 in spring practice, 8 playing baseball, and should get between 15-20 freshmen, so the numbers will be back up.
Leslie's schedule was one of the toughest around last season, but this years schedule is a bit lighter. Theres alot of travelling to be done this year, though, as Leslie will have to travel to Clinton Co. (WK 2) McCreary Central (Wk 4) Morgan Co. (Wk. 5) Shelby Valley(Wk 6) Corbin (Wk 9) and Perry Central (Wk 10)
Leslie's Home games include: Hazard (Wk 1) Harlan Co. (Wk. 3) Middlesboro (Wk 7) and Knott Co. (Wk. 8)

[bell_co98]

what does there defense look like? i watched them play bell last year and i noticed coots was a pretty good power runner and collett on the d line looked to be one of the best d lineman ive seen in a while.

[I Rule The World]

They started 6 freshmaen on defense. So hopefully everyone will be a year older and a year wiser.