RUSSELLVILLE – Logan County’s football team is 3-0.

That’s not a typo. Yes, the same high school that didn’t win a game during a four-year stretch hasn’t lost yet in 2017.

And it’s not like the Cougars are winning by the skin of their teeth, either. The offense and defense are clicking together to give Logan County dominant wins, the most recent being a 38-0 blowout at Breckinridge County last Saturday.

“It’s a weird feeling,” LCHS second-year coach Todd Adler said. “We’ve never done this. The kids have never done this and we’re doing a good job week by week getting prepared. We treat these first five games like an NFL preseason. We want to prepare for district. That’s something this school hasn’t done in a long time is get to the playoffs. That’s one of our goals this year.”

That’s right, the team that snapped a state-long 42-game losing streak in the 2016 finale has moved well past the goal of simply winning a football game. They’re gunning for a spot in the postseason.

The last time Logan County was in the playoffs was 2012 when the Cougars went 2-9 with just one win in Class 4A, District 1.

Two more games lie ahead before that district portion starts with Hopkins County Central, Hopkinsville, Madisonville-North Hopkins and Calloway County.

“With 4A being as crazy as it is right now, who knows what can happen,” Adler said.

Logan County received 23 votes in this week’s Associated Press high school football poll. Outside of defending state champions Johnson Central and No. 2 Wayne County, there’s not much clear separation among the top teams.

Without getting too far ahead, it’s worth considering Logan County’s schedule. The three Cougars’ opponents are a combined 0-9 so far between Butler County, Muhlenberg County and Breckinridge County. The Cougars defeated Butler County 42-24 in Week 1 and Muhlenberg County 36-18 in Week 2.

Obviously, strength of schedule isn’t something Logan County is in the business of trying to boost right now. For far too long, the Cougars have been on the receiving end of those brutal outcomes.

“The reality is the past four or five years, they’ve beat the dog crap out of us,” Adler said. “The matter of competition, we’re going out and competing and trying to get better. It is what it is. That’s our schedule.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been a part of a running clock and trying to get kids in the game and everything. They were on our schedule and we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. We’re taking care of business and it is what it is.”

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Ezell has thrown for 551 yards and 6 touchdowns, three of which came at Breckinridge County. Junior running back Gary Hardy already has 512 rushing yards.

The Cougars’ defense has forced five turnovers and has allowed 18 rushing yards per game.

“It’s the best feeling we’ve had,” Ezell said. “All these guys are excited and the energy is flowing. … This is definitely new for all of us winning by this much.”

Now comes the hard part: Beating Russellville.

Logan County hasn’t done it since 2011, and since then the Panthers have been the county’s premier program with a few deep Class A playoff runs.

Even though Russellville (2-1) has run roughshod over Logan County recently, Panthers coach John Myers is glad excitement is finally building up around the rivalry.

“Coach Adler and his staff have done a tremendous job,” Myers said. “They play extremely hard and with a lot of confidence. That’s something they haven’t been able to do in the past, is play with that confidence. It’s going to be an extremely good football game Friday night and my hat’s off to them. I’m glad we’re back in a situation where the community is excited as they are about this ball game.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night at Rhea Stadium. Adler, a 2004 Logan County graduate, remembers big crowds and good games in the past, but said he doesn’t remember the last time this game was as talked about early in the week as it has been this year.

“The fans and community are happy because it’s supposed to be a rivalry,” Adler said. “It hasn’t been a rivalry the past couple of years. They’ve beaten the brakes off of us. We’re excited and maybe it is a great football game and let’s get this thing back on track.”

Dragons nearly end losing skid

Warren Central could almost smell victory, a scent it hasn’t come near in 16 games.

So when Monroe County rallied from a touchdown deficit to beat the Dragons 21-14 last Friday, it hurt that much worse.

“We just got a little happy and stopped executing,” senior running back DJ Tyner said. “They came back and played harder and played better than us. It was hard losing after we were winning, but it’s over now and we have to continue to move forward.”

Tyner had 131 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons. He functions as the Dragons’ primary offensive weapon with 293 rushing yards and three scores.

Improvements at Warren Central have been evident this season by giving Greenwood a tough challenge in Week 1 and the close game against Monroe County. Last season when Joel Taylor took over as the Dragons’ fourth coach in four seasons, the team was outscored 499-56.

“They’re competing and those are the steps you have to take,” Taylor said. “You have to have a lead at some point if you’re ever going to be successful and they found out how difficult it is to be successful. That’s why we harp on the little things. As a coach, you don’t ever want to lose a game, but sometimes you have to learn a lesson and get better for the long run. You have to take what you can out of it.”

AP poll glance

Covington Catholic (3-0) received all but one first-place vote in Class 5A in the latest Associated Press high school football poll. Bowling Green (1-2) remains at No. 2 while South Warren (3-0) jumped two spots to No. 5 after dominating 4A’s Franklin-Simpson 36-7 last Saturday.

Franklin-Simpson (1-2) fell one slot to No. 6 and Allen County-Scottsville (3-0) moved into the top 10 in Class 4A. Logan County received 23 votes and Warren East (2-1) received seven.

Edmonson County (3-0) received votes in Class 3A. Glasgow (3-0) moved up one spot to No. 6 in Class 2A and Russellville remains at No. 7 in Class A.

Week 3 Top Performers

• Logan County sophomore QB Tyler Ezell – 18-25 passing, 238 yards, 3 TDs

• Warren East senior RB Trevor Naftel – 20 carries, 174 yards, TD

• Warren Central senior RB DJ Tyner – 22 carries, 131 yards, TD

• Greenwood senior QB Jackson Adams – 16 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs

• ACS senior WR Jacob Lightfoot – 4 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TDs

• ACS senior LB Aaron Borth – 13 tackles, fumble recovery

• Glasgow senior QB Dalvin Smith – 12-22 passing, 196 yards, 2 TDs; 6 carries, 134 yards, 2 TDs

• Bowling Green senior WR Ziyon Kenner – 251 all-purpose yards, 76-yard punt return for TD

• Bowling Green senior LB Devan Jackson – 10 tackles, 5 assists, 2 tackles for loss, forced fumble

• South Warren junior WR Clayton Bush – 3 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TDs.{&end}