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By Casey Roberts

Contributing Writer

 

As the West Jessamine Colts gear up for the upcoming football season, anticipation is high for the team led by head coach Scott Marsh. Marsh, who has been with the school since 2020 and boasts a storied coaching history, including a tenure as the defensive coordinator for a state championship team in Indiana, is eager to continue building on the program’s recent successes.

“I like building programs,” Marsh said. “This is the third program I’ve taken over, and three of the four schools I’ve coached at were coming off winless seasons when I took the job. It’s fun for me; it doesn’t intimidate me. I like the building piece.”

Marsh’s enthusiasm for rejuvenating teams is evident in the Colts’ performance over the past few seasons. The team has shown steady improvement, culminating in hosting their first home playoff game in school history last season.

“We’re trying to put together a true program,” Marsh explained. “Let’s take kids who are West Jessamine kids, who want to be here, who want to wear red and blue. Let’s get invested in them from the time they’re in second, third grade and build things up from there.”

One of the challenges the Colts face this season is depth. While the team is rich in young talent, the roster is bottom-heavy with freshmen and sophomores.

“Depth has always been an issue,” Marsh said. “We’re still not there yet. That’s a program-wide issue we’re still working on. It takes years of work to get those numbers up.”

Marsh highlighted his preferred style of play, emphasizing a fast-paced, wide-open spread offense. “Offensively, I like to go fast. I like to throw the ball. We’ve been a wide-open spread offense, and last year, due to our strengths, we became a more physical, downhill running team. I think that’s going to be our strength again this year.”

Defensively, the Colts will adopt a more dynamic approach. “We’re not going to be able to be a stagnant, stationary defense this year, just based on size. We’re going to have to do more movement, which is fine and a little different than last year. Our defensive style will be a bit different this season.”

Team chemistry is another area where Marsh sees significant progress. “We don’t have good kids; we’ve got great kids. From a football standpoint and just the joy of coaching, I’ve got the greatest job in the world. There’s predictability to how they work, and that predictability is all positive. The kids and parents are wonderful. It’s a real pleasure coming to work.”

The Colts will open their season at home in the RJ Corman Bowl against Wayne County, followed by a home game against Ashland Blazer, a program with a storied history.

“It’s really important to get off to a good start,” Marsh noted. “Early in the season, we’re trying to find out who wants to compete, who wants to fight through adversity, be resilient.”

Gabriel Smith, the returning quarterback, is a key player for the Colts. Smith, who was on track for a 1,000-yard passing and rushing season before a shoulder injury last year, is back and ready to lead the team.

“He’s one of the toughest kids we know,” Marsh said. “It’s always fun when your quarterback is also your toughest kid. He’s the best athlete in our school and one of our tougher kids mentally and physically.”

Marsh also expressed his admiration for young contributors like Aiden Blanton and Nash Bird, who are expected to play significant roles despite their youth.

“We’ve got great kids. They’re wonderful. The parents are wonderful,” Marsh said. “These kids are just incredible at steadying the ship, even in tough situations.”

Marsh expects the team to compete for a district championship this year, building on the progress they’ve made.

“We need to have the expectation that we are going to, on a year-in, year-out basis, compete for a district championship,” he said. “Our community has done a great job of building an atmosphere for home games. I’d love for people to come out and help us pack those stands.”

With a blend of experience and youthful enthusiasm, the West Jessamine Colts are poised for an exciting season under Marsh’s dedicated leadership.