Senior Bowl set for summer ‘fun’

By ADAM VANKIRK — The Independent

June 07, 2009 09:27 pm

— 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.