Beech Tree News Network

Although the Butler County High School football team suffered relatively small-in-number but significant losses to graduation from its 6-5  playoff campaign in 2012, the Bears have reloaded in 2013 with a strong group of returning players and three transfers.  Elijah Flener (record-setting QB), Dylan Havens (record-setting DB; collegiate track signee), Ricky Palmer (KWC signee), Kole Dean, Levi Johnson, and Jacob Richmond are among those players who graduated in 2012. 
Nevertheless, BCHS Head Coach Ryan Emmick is optimistic that his returning corps of players are ready to compete at a high level.   
"Our depth has greatly improved.  We are deep at every position, especially in our skill positions," said Emmick. "These guys are competing well right now and we have to continue to compete in order to improve.  We have a few newcomers who are going to make an impact this season."
The BCHS football program gained transfer student-athletes in the offseason in Jimmy Burns from Warren East and Bryce Shanklin from Todd County.

"We are returning a lot of depth off a six-win team that lost only six seniors.  With the transfer of Burns and Shanklin, along with the transfer of Trent Cox (Jr./LB), we have players capable of effectively replacing those great seniors we had last year," said Emmick. 

Key returning players from last season include Drake Embry (5'11" 155 Jr. 456 yards receiving); Conner Reed (6'5" 275 lbs. ol/dl Jr.); Micheal Cortez (6'3" ok/dl Sr.); Kaleb Deweese (wr/db. 345 yards receiving, Jr.); Kory Johnson (5'10" 160 lbs. wr/db, 267 yards receiving, Jr.); Cody White (5'10" 190lbs. rb, 500 yards rushing, Sr.); Jake Martin (5'11" 180 lbs. rb/lb, 225 yards rushing, 115 tackles); Matt Moore (6'2" 185 lbs. wr/db, 785 yards receiving, Sr.); Travis Brooks (5'9" 175. Rb/lb, 95 tackles, Sr.); Zeke Woodcock (6'4" 175 lbs. wr/db, 645 yards receiving, Sr.); Walker Weathers 5'7 155 450 yards rushing, 350 yards receiving, Sr.); Austin McKinney (5'10" 265 lbs. ol/dl, Sr.); Peyton Bratcher (6'0"  255 lbs. ol/dl,  Jr.); Jacob Courtenay (6'1" 205 lbs. 98 tackles); Dakota Lawrence  (6'0 265 lbs. ol/dl); Mason Barks  (6'0 250 lbs. ol/dl); Dakota Merrick  (6'0 265 lbs. ol/dl).

"We have a ton of depth at the skill position with multiple players being able to step up and perform at any given time," said Emmick.  "Skill players such as Zeke Woodcock, Matt Moore, Kory Johnson, Drake Embry, Kaleb Deweese, Russell Woosley, Walker Weathers,  Travis Brooks, Cody White, and Jake Martin will help keep us fresh -  both offensively and defensively."
The quarterback position is key for any team's succes.  While Coach Emmick has not named a definitive starter for Friday night, at least two players are expected to see time there.
 "Jimmy Burns and Bryce Shanklin are making great strides at the quarterback position and both are very good football players," said Emmick. 
According to Emmick, offensive and defensive line play will be crucial to the team's success. 

"The offensive and defensive line must improve.  We have solid depth there but we were weak up front at times," said Emmick.  "Our pass protection and run blocking has to improve in order for us to continue to have success on the field.  We expect big things from Micheal Cortez, Austin Mckinney, Conner Reed, and the rest of the offensive and defensive line.  They put in a lot of work in the offseason and got immensely stronger," added Emmick.
Defensively, the Bears are expected to rotate up to nine players along its front line.
"Trent Cox is going to help solidify the middle of our defense from the linebacker position and Hayden Hampton is a first-year defensive linemen who has great quickness and is solid," said Emmick.   As he learns to play the position he will help us for sure.  While not a newcomer, Jacob Courtenay is entering his sophomore season and has shown tremendous improvement.
Butler County plays in the KHSAA (Kentucky High School Athletic Association) Class 2A, District 2.  Top district foes in which the Bears will have to contend are Union County, Owensboro Catholic, and Hancock County. 
"Union is solid, athletic, well coached, and has several young players returning from last season.  Catholic is reloading but has a quality quarterback, are well coached, and expectations are high," said Emmick.  "Hancock is big strong and physical.  They will continue to run the football but also have a quality quarterback in Kort Morris," added Emmick, a Hancock County native himself. 
McLean and Todd County Central are competitive programs that will "play hard every game," added Emmick.  "McLean is trying to gain footing in the district, while Todd is athletic but not very deep." 
Butler County attended camp earlier this summer, which Coach Emmick feels was valuable for his team.
"We had five days of good work in great weather.  We accomplished a ton.  The players had an opportunity to come together not only on the field but off the field as well," said Emmick.

Butler County returns a wealth of coaching experience on the sidelines:

 - Brandon Embry-8 Years at BC- Defensive Coordinator

 - Andy Fuller-8 Years- Recievers Coach/Freshmen Offensive Coordinator

 - Brian Bivens-4 years- Defensive Backs Coach/Strength and Conditioning.

 - Barry Frazier-4 years- Quarterbacks Coach/JV Offensive coordinator

 - Lloyd Havens-8 years, plus Butler County Middle School Head Coach

 - Cody Donaldson-1 year- Defensive Backs/JV Defensive Coordinator

 - Mike Embry-2 years-Defensive Line/Freshmen Defensive Coordinator

The Bears open up Friday night, August 23, at home against Logan County.  Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.  The game will be broadcast/streamed live on WLBQ 1570 AM/Beech Tree News with veteran sportscaster David Clark and long-time football coach and athletic director Mark Allen with the call. 

On a lighter note, the always quotable and frequently humorous Coach Emmick described his master game plan for the 2013 season:  "Score more, hold teams less." 
 

BCHS 2013 Varsity Softball Schedule

Aug 23    Logan County         home           7:00 PM    
Sep 6      Russellville             home           7:00 PM    
Sep 13    Breckinridge County away            7:00 PM    
Sep 20    Grayson County       home           7:00 PM    
Sep 27    Owensboro Catholic  away            7:00 PM    
Oct 4       Union County           away            7:00 PM    
Oct 11     Todd County Central home           7:00 PM    
Oct 18     McLean County         home           7:00 PM    
Oct 25     Hancock County       away             7:00 PM    
Nov 1      Edmonson County     away            7:00 PM

 BUTLER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BEARS 2013 FOOTBALL ROSTER

PLAYER                               NUMBER             CLASS                   HT.         WEIGHT               POSITION

RUSSELL WOOSLEY        30                           SR.                          6’1”        149                         Z/DB

ZEKE WOODCOCK          12                           SR.                          5’9”        157                         QB/DB    

WALKER WEATHERS     7                              SR.                          5’6”        120                         H/DB      

MATT MOORE                   23                           SR.                       6’1”        171                         Y//LB     

MICHEAL CORTEZ          57                           SR.                          6’1”        231                         OL/DL

CODY WHITE                     20                           SR.                          5’9”        175                         RB/LB   

DAKOTA LAWRENCE     62                           SR.                          5’10”      222                         OL/DL

TRAVIS BROOKS              5                              SR.                          5’6          145                         HB/LB    

AUSTIN MCKINNEY        51                           SR.                          5’9”        210                         OL/DL   

DYLAN SNYDER               24                           SR                           5’11”      155                         OL/DL

DAKOTA MERRICK        61                           SR.                          5’8”        220                         OL/DL

JIMMY BURNS                  2                              SR                           5’11        175                         QB/LB

BRYCE SHANKLIN          9                              SR                           6’0          170                         QB/DB

HAYDEN HAMPTON        60                           SR                           5’11”      225                         OL/DL

TRENT COX                        55                           JR                           6’0          195                         OL/LB

CALEB DEWEESE             6                           JR.                             5’10”     148                          X/DB                     

KORY JOHNSON               15                           JR.                       5’6”       131                             Z/DB       

DRAKE EMBRY                3                              JR.                       5’11”     150                             Z/DB      

JAKE MARTIN                   11                           JR.                          5’9”        151                         F/LB        

MASON BARKS                 68                           JR                           5’10”      212                         OL/DL

PAYTON BRATCHER      54                          JR.                       5’10”         205                         OL/DL     

CONNER REED                  65                           JR                           6’4”        265                         OL/DL

JAKOB FUGATE                56                           JR.                          5’8”       210                          OL/DL

ALFREDO GOMEZ            66                           SO                           5’10       245                          OL/DL

NOLAN JOHNSON             18                           SO                           5’10        140                         Q/DB

JACOB COURTENAY       52                           SO                           6’1”        215                         RB/LB 

JACOB SKIPWORTH        75                           SO                           5’11”      205                         OL/DL

CHRIS WOOD                     59                           SO                           5’7”        185                         OL/DL

JACOB HIXENBAUGH    16                           SO                           5’7”        140                         WR/DB

ISIAH ARNOLD                 53                           SO                           5’7”        185                         OL/DL

IAN EMBRY                        27                           SO                           5’6”        140                         WR/DB

JOHN PEYTON                   35                           SO                           6’1”        208                         RB/LB

RODNEY WOOSLEY         10                           SO                           6’0”        165                         WR/DB

WADE RICHARDS            78                           SO                           5’6          165                         OL/DL

REX HENDERSON            14                           FR                           6’2”        185                         QB/DB

BLAKE GRAHAM             19                           FR                           6’1”        180                         RB/DB

DYLAN BROSNAN            21                           FR                           5’9”        155                         RB/LB

KALEB KASEY                  26                           FR                           5’10”      160                         WR/LB

KYLE KASEY                     36                           FR                           5’10”      160                         WR/DB

ISAAC FLENER                  58                           FR                           5’9”        195                         OL/DL

ISAAC PENDLEY               76                           FR                           5’8”        205                         OL/DL

DALTON LEE                      63                           FR                           5’10”      200                         OL/DL

CHRISTIAN WHITE         99                           FR                           5’11”      185                         OL/DL

SETH GASKEY                   70                           FR                           6’0”        245                         OL/DL

LAKE CAMERON              85                           FR                           5’9”        195                         WR/LB

BRADY JOHNSON             64                           FR                           5’8”        155                         OL/DL

KALEB HUNT                    32                           FR                           5’11”      195                         RB/LB

NICK MORRIS                   77                           FR                           5’6”        199                         OL/DL

JACOB ADKINS                 79                           FR                           5’11”      250                         OL/DL

HEAD COACH: RYAN EMMICK 

ASST. COACHES: BRIAN BIVENS, LLOYD HAVENS, BRANDON EMBRY,  ANDY FULLER, BARRY FRAZIER,  MIKE EMBRY, CODY DONALDSON, SAM HARTFORD

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This sports coverage is brought to you by the sponsors of the 2013-14 BC Sports Package with WLBQ/BtN. We are grateful for their continued support of Butler County student-athletes.

The following are 2013-14 BC Sports Package Sponsors:
 - Jones Funeral Chapel & Monument Company
 - Morgantown Bank & Trust
 - Hocker Family Insurance
 - Parkway Cars & Tires
 - PBI Bank
 - Final Finish
 - Butler County Farm Bureau Insurance
 - Pizza Zone & Poppy's Place
 - Bluegrass Oral Health
 - Orthopedics Plus Physical Therapy
 - Butler County Board of Education
 - Warren RECC
 - Butler County Drug Free Coalition
 - Butler County Judge-Executive David Fields
 - Tiffany's Tanning