PIGSKIN PREVIEW: Cougars look to ride momentum into 2019

Letcher County head football coach Junior Matthews liked his team’s play the second half of the 2018 season.

The Cougars, after starting 0-4, won five of their final seven games, falling in the Class 5A playoffs to Lincoln County.

Spring forward to 2019 and LCC finds itself moved down to Class 4A, with the likes of Johnson Central, Corbin and Boyle County.

“I liked the way we finished last season. We want to build off of that second half,” Matthews said. “We really made was big improvements from the season before [0-10] in many ways.

Junior receiver Zach Hensley is among the top returners for the Cougars, who must replace Nick Sergant at the quarterback position. Senior Jayson Buttrey will anchor the offensive line.

LCC opens its season with three straight road games, including the opener against Shelby Valley on Aug. 23. Other road matchup include Bourbon County (Aug. 31), Estill County (Sept. 6), Pike Central (Sept 20) and Clay County (Oct. 11).

The home slate includes Union, Va. (Sept. 13), Perry Central (Sept. 27), Johnson Central (Oct. 25) and Floyd Central (Nov. 1).

Date                Opponent                   Site

Aug. 23           Shelby Valley             Away

Aug. 31           Bourbon County         Away

Sept. 6             Estill County               Away

Sept. 13           Union, Va.                  Home

Sept. 20           Pike Central                Away

Sept. 27           Perry Central               Home

Oct. 4              Open

Oct. 11            Clay County                  Away

Oct. 18            Open

Oct. 25            Johnson Central          Home

Nov. 1             Floyd  Central               Home