Two weeks from today, Trigg County football will take the field against Todd County Central, in what will be the first of four-straight home football games at proud Perdue Field. A new press box — complete with a new ticket stand, concession stand and long-awaited bathrooms — will careen over an anxious crowd, ready to see what year two under Coach Chris Ezell brings.
But most importantly, the Wildcats will march out considerable senior experience, a bit of skill depth — and a talented girl kicker for the first time since 2005 in hoops star Olivia Noffsinger.
The goal, Ezell told Cadiz Rotarians earlier this week, is a Class 3A, District I title. Lofty as it may be with the likes of state runner-up Paducah Tilghman and 10-win Union County in the district, Ezell said it has to be the opening message.
Ezell’s inaugural season in 2021 saw the Wildcats score points aplenty. Jacob Wease with 26 touchdowns, eight interceptions and more than 2,000 yards passing. Running back Kelsey Parham added 11 touchdowns on 127 carries. Jhaden Vaughn, Dillion Skinner, Dakota Lockard, Jerimyah Shearer, Ivey Redd and Parham all averaged at least one catch per game.
The good news: all but Lockard return, as do four of five starting linemen.
But last season, the defense struggled some, and losses against the Rebels, the Blue Tornado, the Braves, Crittenden County, Murray and Caldwell County were high scoring in the wrong direction.
Ezell said the off-season began almost immediately.
The Wildcats just returned from team camp in Dawson Springs, where Ezell said captains would be decided by the team per a vote.
However, no matter the vote, there are several guys in his mind that leap out as leaders.
The return of last year’s “Mr. Wildcat,” linebacker Anthony Hall-Johnstone, should bring leadership, as well. Hall finished with a team-best 62 tackles, and Ezell said Trigg’s defense will look more like a 4-3 front this year.
Ezell noted the linebacking corps will miss Kendric Adams (now at Lindsey Wilson), but should remain stout with the addition of Parham alongside Hall, Shane Wallace and some rotation from Dasha Barnes, who returns after missing last season with a torn ACL.
The question, however, is whether the Wildcats tool with a one-safety or two-safety structure. That’s something still being tinkered with in these final two weeks of the preseason, and something the Wildcats could wrinkle — depending on the offense in front of them.
There are other concepts coming into focus for the Wildcats this season, too. Ezell said he’ll be spending a lot of time asking players to “remember their ‘why’” on the sidelines, and to work through a simple equation of “E + R = O,” or “event” plus “response” equals “outcome.”
It’s the old mantra: “Control what you can control.” And in the end, the Wildcats hope that’s victory.
Ezell talks staff:
2022 Trigg County Wildcats Football Schedule
DATE OPPONENT H/A TIME
Aug 19 Todd County Central home 7 PM
Aug 26 Warren Central home 7 PM
Sep 1 Murray home 7 PM
Sep 9 Fort Campbell home 7 PM
Sep 16 LaRue County away 7:30 PM
Sep 23 Fulton County away 7 PM
Sep 30 Paducah Tilghman away 7 PM
Oct 14 Webster County home 7 PM
Oct 21 Union County away 7 PM
Oct 28 Caldwell County away 7 PM
