Leaders for Bulldogs headed back to gridiron

STAFF REPORT
BSN

LOUISA — Offensive and defensive leaders are headed back to the gridiron for Lawrence County in the 2020 high school football season. As a junior, quarterback Baden Gillispie led Lawrence County throughout the 2019 high school football season, emerging as one of the area's top players. Now, Gillispie is due to return to the gridiron for his senior season. Gillispie paced Lawrence County on the ground and through the air in 2019. Leading the Bulldogs in rushing, Gillispie took 158 carries for 1,170 yards and 24 touchdowns. Contributing through the air, Gillispie completed 19-of-50 passes for 344 yards and five touchdowns while throwing three interceptions. Lawrence County ended the 2019 high school football season 4-7. The Bulldogs notched wins over Prestonsburg, Boyd County, Magoffin County and Floyd Central. Lawrence County dropped games to Paintsville, Russell, Pikeville, Pike County Central, Belfry and Raceland. Pike County Central topped the Bulldogs during the regular-season and in the opening round of the Class 3A State Playoffs. Collectively, Lawrence County rushed 449 times for 2,799 yards and 33 touchdowns in 11 games. An experienced running back is nearing the start of his junior season for the Bulldogs. As a sophomore in 2019, running back Blue Fletcher ranked second in rushing for the Bulldogs. Fletcher rushed 95 times for 646 yards and two touchdowns. Danny Hall led Lawrence County in receiving as a junior in 2019. Hall secured 15 catches for 273 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Brandon Davis led Lawrence County during his junior campaign, posting 71 tackles, 10.5 tackles for losses and two saves.
Alex Strickland finished as Lawrence County's second-leading tackler as a sophomore in 2019, tallying 62 tackles. The Bulldogs fell short at Pike County Central during the opening round of the 2019 Class 3A Football Playoffs in early-November. However, excitement is building for Lawrence County's 2020 season.