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Clark County had much to celebrate in 2024, and the George Rogers Clark High School athletic teams are often mentioned. 

Not to be forgotten, Clark County Youth Athletics is worthy of recognition. 

Their junior varsity football team – in dramatic fashion – captured their conference championship with a hard-earned victory, while football and cheer squads both placed high in Tennessee’s Battle of Rocky Top National Competition.

“As a parent, it’s come down to just having the right coaches and the right mindset [for the athletes],” said Jessica Hopper, a nurse and travel cheer coordinator for CCYA. 

Playing in Conference 127, based in Anderson County and featuring teams from areas that include Jessamine County, Frankfort, and Somerset, the junior varsity squad found themselves hosting the championship game at Cardinal Stadium this past fall after going 7-1 in the regular season and advancing to the final. 

While there, they played an athletic squad from Woodford County. 

In a game that went down to the final minute, the Cards found themselves trailing 8-6 and facing a 4th-and-goal from the 7-yard line with just 12 seconds left. 

Without the option of kicking a field goal, the team found themselves using a bit of trickery on a play drawn up by offensive coordinator Andrew Liggett. 

“We had a play that we put in…we knew against them, they had a corner [and] he always crashed toward the way we ran the ball, so it was the perfect time to try it,” said Coach Jimmy Day, also the president and founder of Clark County Youth Athletics. 

Out of the shotgun formation, the quarterback handed the ball off to Prince Hughley as the motion of the play went one direction. 

However, Hughley stopped and looked back in the opposite direction, where receiver Sawyer Roland was all alone. 

A picture perfect pass landed in Roland’s hands, allowing him to score the game winning touchdown and secure victory. 

“The boys on the line did their job,” said offensive line coach Adam Bennett. “We even had an offensive lineman that was a backup [and] hadn’t played much…come in on that last drive…and he did a really good job.” 

Throughout the year, the team featured a multitude of two-way starters, and also made use of a standard 4-4 defense featuring four defensive lineman and linebackers. 

In addition to Day, Liggett, and Bennett, coaches included defensive coordinator Brian Durham, assistant defensive coordinator Shelby Whisman, defensive assistant Anthony Marano, and offensive assistant Chris Morgan. 

Though the junior varsity team celebrated their championship, the football programs from CCYA as a whole celebrated a successful calendar year. 

Youth can compete in different age groups from as young as four years old all the way up to age twelve. 

Just a few weeks after finding success through their junior varsity team, the organization found itself competing at the Battle of Rocky Top National Competition in Tennessee. 

“It was a great weekend to be a Cardinal!” Hopper stated. 

While the cheer squad finished third in their bracket, two football squads attended. 

The 7u squad, featuring athletes ages seven and younger, finished 1-1. 

The 11u squad, featuring athletes ages 11 and younger, ended their season impressively as runner-up in their bracket following a 26-20 overtime loss after playing a grueling four games in just two days. 

As notable as the accomplishments are, Day also emphasized that what takes place off the field for both the cheer and football teams make the experience worthwhile. 

“We just take the time to learn these kids’ personalities…I’ve said that if [they] learn what makes them go and believe in themselves…they’re going to be successful,” he added.