Published: June 07, 2009 09:27 pm      

Senior Bowl set for summer ‘fun’

Football series gives northeastern Kentucky talent one last chance to shine

There’s nothing like football in the middle of summer. That’s what the Northeastern Kentucky East/West Senior Bowl is selling anyway.

The fourth annual bowl game, which boasts a swarm of local talent, is teeing up the pigskin for another go-round on Friday. The 7:30 kickoff at Bath County’s nearly new field will culminate a week’s worth of practice for both teams that began on Sunday.

Lee Evans, who guided Boyd County to a Class 4A district championship a season ago, is coaching the East and has been part of the bowl since its inception in 2006.

“It’s gone very well,” Evans said. “To me it’s a great chance for a lot of kids who wouldn’t make some of the bigger all-star games to play one last time. It’s an opportunity to have a great experience going out.”

Evans also points to the chance for players to show their skills on the field in front of college scouts as another plus for the game, which has steadily built steam over the past three years.

“It’s a last chance to make an impression for college coaches,” he said.

Bowl director Tom Posey echoed Evans’ words.

“If we can get one kid the chance to play college ball, then it’s definitely worth it,” he said.

Posey has also created a scholarship program to go along with the game for the first time this year.

But while Posey considers the series a success in its early years, he says more support will be needed for the game to become a perennial staple for northeastern Kentucky.

The series is still in search of a primary sponsor and is actively looking for donations to keep the game going. All money taken in is put back into the series.

“The coaches have been awesome about this game and about getting the kids in there to play; before this there was nothing in northeastern Kentucky,” Posey said.

Posey also is hoping for a bigger fan turnout this year. He’s targeting a crowd of about 2,000.

“We need fans in the stands for this game,” he said. “We really do.”

But ultimately it’s about the players, Posey says. And giving them one last shot under the lights.

“For some of them, this is going to be it,” he said.

The East holds a 2-1 advantage in the series, winning last year’s game at Raceland 9-8 with a late stop on defense. The series alternates the game’s site each year. The 2007 game was played at Montgomery County and the inaugural game in 2006 was at Fairview.

Evans says the game has gotten off on the right foot — and hopes it’s here to stay.

“With anything new, you will have some bumps and snags, but this has gone pretty smooth,” he said. “I love it and the kids have had a great time.”

East roster

Name Ht. Wt. Pos. School

Ch. Richardson 6’0 215 RB/LB Central

Drew Miller 6’3 270 OL/DL Russell

Justin Mitchell 6’0 140 WR/DB Russell

Mike Dillon 6’4 285 OL/DL Russell

Drew Abrams 6’1 211 RB Russell

AJ Cordle 5’10 175 QB/DB Russell

Jason Dolly 5’11 190 Kicker Russell

J. Greenslate 5’10 195 OL/LB Greenup

John S. Carver 5’8 190 RB/LB Raceland

Robby Logan 6’4 255 OL/DL Raceland

Cody Chinn 5’11 240 OL/DL Raceland

Kory Baldridge — — OL/DL Raceland

Todd Selvage 5’10 145 WR/DB Raceland

Brian Tolliver — — WR/DR Raceland

Brent Pinkerman 6’2 290 OL/DL Boyd Co.

Zach Green 6’0 185 TE/DE Boyd Co.

Mike Haney 6’0 185 TE/DE Boyd Co.

Cory Moore 5’9 150 WR/DB Boyd Co.

Danny Waller 5’9 155 WR/DB Boyd Co.

Berry Ward 6’0 210 OL/LB Paintsville

Kyle Whitt 5’10 185 LB Lawrence

Drew Webb 6’1 270 OL/DL Lawrence

Matt Jones 5’10 165 QB/DB Fairview

St. Littlejohn 6’0 180 WR/LB Fairview

John Johnson 5’10 200 OL/LB Fairview

Jeff Evans 6’3 205 WR/DE Fairview

Johnnie Stafford 6’1 230 OL/DL East Carter

Tony Riley 5’11 170 RB/DB East Carter

Trei Tackett 6’0 175 RB/DB East Carter

T.R. Hush 6’0 190 QB/DB Ashland

Bryant Combs 6’0 155 WR/DB Ashland

West roster

Name Ht. Wt. Pos. School

Ryan Owens 6’1 195 OL/LB Mason Co.

Adam Cooper 6’3 210 OL/DE Mason Co.

Jer. Thompson 5’10 190 RB/DB Mason Co.

Cory Woods 6’2 220 TE/LB Mason Co.

Robbie Hisle 5’9 180 RB/LB GRC

Jarran Thomas 6’0 170 WR/DB GRC

Ryan Williams 5’7 170 RB GRC

Adam Grashel 5’10 275 OL/DL GRC

Bryson Morton 5’8 170 RB/LB GRC

Travis Gray 6’0 195 OL/LB GRC

Jake Bolander 5’9 240 OL/DL Lewis Co.

Kyle Frerichs 6’3 180 WR/DB Lewis Co.

Jacob Fredrick 6’1 280 DL Nicholas Co.

Justin Little 6’1 205 FB/LB Nicholas Co.

Jim Conyers 6’2 283 OL/DL Nicholas Co.

Stephen Tolson 6’4 320 OL Nicholas Co.

Cade Gilliland 5’10 138 WR/DB Nicholas Co.

Jordan Mynear — — QB Nicholas Co.

Tyler Hussey 6’5 335 OL/DL Montgomery

Grant Darnell 6’2 230 OL/DL Montgomery

Ryan Hackworth 5’10 172 WR/DB Montgomery

Tyler Cundiff 6’0 180 RB/LB Montgomery

Van Isaac 6’4 200 QB/DB Harrison

J Webb-Greenhill 6’1 330 OL/DL West Carter

Andrew Owens 6’2 190 WR/LB West Carter

Nick Mouser 6’2 210 TE/LB Fleming

Jordan Story 5’9 170 OL/LB Fleming

Cody Caswell 5’11 180 WR/LB Fleming

Joel Nickell 6’0 160 WR/DB Morgan Co.

Aaron Newby 5’11 200 RB/DB Harrison

Zak Metz 6’0 215 RB/LB Bath Co.

Aaron Meadows 6’2 240 DE Bath Co.

Aaron Roberts 5’8 170 DB Bath Co.

Joseph Mabry 6’4 190 TE Bath Co.

Allen Crouch 5’9 210 RB/DL Bath Co.