[Demarcus ware]

Harlan Co. completed schedule for the next two years.


http://harlancountysports.com/


Sunday, December 16
From The Sidelines: Larkey completes 2013, 2014 schedules

By JOHN HENSON

Harlan County Sports.com

If you want to see the top football programs in eastern Kentucky over the next two seasons, you could just follow the Harlan County Black Bears.

Harlan County coach Tom Larkey completed the Bears 2013 and 2014 schedules last week by adding a game against Knox Central to round out one of the most challenging slates in this part of the state. Harlan County will play Bell County, Belfry, Johnson Central and Knox Central, arguably the four top teams in this part of the state last year, other than Harlan County.

"We definitely have one of the toughest schedules in the state," Larkey said. "It was the best I could do. I would liked to have had some games that were closer, but you can't schedule them if they won't play."

Harlan County will open its schedule in Week O at the Roy Kidd Bowl at Madison Central, taking on the host Indians. Harlan County will play Bryan Station in the second year of the bowl.

The Bears will be at home against Clay County in Week 1 for each of the next two years, then begin a brutal four-week stretch that includes Belfry and Knox Central at home followed by Johnson Central and Greeneville, Tenn., on the road. Belfry (12-3) was the 3A state runner-up last season. Johnson Central (9-3) and Knox Central (10-2) each lost in the second round of the 4A playoffs, following to Covington Catholic and Lexington Catholic, respectively. Greeneville (8-4) is a traditional Tennessee power that lost to Knoxville Fulton in the second round of the 5A playoffs last season. Greeneville lost 31-28 to Morristown West last season, a week after the Bears lost 35-25 to the Trojans.

"The roughest part of the schedule no doubt is playing Belfry, Knox Central, Johnson Central and Greeneville one right after the other," Larkey said. "We are accused of being a very physical team, but these teams are physical, too."

The Bears have an open date before playing host to Letcher Central, traveling to Whitley County and returning home to face Perry Central in its three-game district slate. The Bears close the regular season at Bell County.

"I like an open date during the middle of the season," said Larkey, who noted the Bears have five home games the next two years. "I was lucky to get as many home games as I did. Our players will work hard this offseason to prepare themselves for this gruesome schedule."




HCHS schedule:

2013

at Madison Central (Roy Kidd Bowl)

Clay County

Belfry

Knox Central

at Johnson Central

at Greeneville, Tenn.

Open

Letcher Central

at Whitley County

Perry Central

at Bell County




2014

vs Bryan Station (Roy Kidd Bowl at Madison Central)

Clay County

at Belfry

at Knox Central

Johnson Central

Greeneville, Tenn.

Open

at Letcher Central

Whitley County

at Perry Central

Bell County