Shelby Valley head football coach Anthony Hampton hopes his team can depend on the passing game this season to ease the burden off the shoulders of standout running back Seth Johnson.
“We want to throw the ball more this season,” he said. “We would like a 65-35 mix offensively.”
Johnson, one of the top running backs in Kentucky, rushed for over 2,000 yards last season as the Wildcats finished 6-5, losing to Somerset in the opening round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Hampton says Johnson’s work ethic and running track this past spring has helped develop him physically as a player.
“He’s a leader,” Hampton said. “He started as a young running back in this program and now he’s the guy who is helping bring other players along.”
Junior offensive lineman Peyton Blackburn has improved over the offseason and will anchor the front line.
“He’s a monster,” Hampton said. “With his size opponents will have trouble trying to limit what he can do.”
Junior Dalton Meade, senior Clay Morgan, sophomore Michael Compton and junior Jonathan Hopkins are among other top returners.
Shelby Valley opens its season on the road at Jenkins on Aug. 17. Other road games include a matchup with Pike Central in the Pike County Bowl (Aug. 25); Ridgeview, Va. (Aug. 31); Morgan County (Sept. 14); Betsy Layne (Sept. 21); Prestonsburg (Oct. 5); and Leslie County (Oct. 12).
The Wildcats play only three home games. Valley faces Knott Central (Sept. 7); East Ridge (Oct. 19); and Boyd County (Oct. 26) at Teco Field.
“We are going to take it one game at a time and not look down the road, he said.