Trigg County will have an inherently new look in 2020 from the field personnel to the coaching staff as veteran coach Mark Peach takes over the reins of the Wildcats.
Peach replaces Coby Lewis who resigned after nine seasons in the spring and has joined the coaching staff at Hopkinsville.
Peach recently served as head coach at Anderson County for 15 seasons, posting a 114-65 record. His coaching contract was not renewed by the school following a 4-7 season in 2019.
Peach left Anderson County as the school’s all-time winningest coach and won 14 playoff games in his tenure. In addition to two region championships, Anderson County was the state runner-up in 2011. Twice, the Bearcats entered the postseason with a 10-0 record. He is a three-time district coach of the year and was voted Class 5A state coach of the year in 2007.
Peach has prior knowledge of Trigg County. He attended Campbellsville University and was a teammate of former Wildcat All-State running back Greg Bridges.
He takes over a Trigg County program that has won just one postseason game since making the move up to Class 3A in 2011. His offense will see a lot of new faces with the loss of 95-percent of the yards gained last year lost to graduation.
Sophomore Jacob Wease will take over a quarterback position that has been held down for three seasons by Cam Jordan. Peach said Wease has been a quick study to his offensive scheme that will involve short passes with the ability to get his receivers in the open field.
Junior Kendric Adams, who has carried the football ten times for 80 yards the past two seasons in limited duty, will be the workhorse in the backfield for Peach.
Senior Jaquellus Martin and 6-4 freshman Jhaden Vaughn will give the Wildcats size and speed at the receiver position. Sophomore Dillon Skinner provides a reliable target for Wease at the third slot.
The Wildcat offensive line averages 246 pounds across with sophomore Matt Alex Ladd and senior Luke Alexander returning starters. Sophomore Andrew Hendricks, junior Corbin Forrest, and senior Jordan Wilson are also expected to start.
Trigg’s success will lie with its defense that gave up 28 points and 254 yards per game last year. Adams, who was third in tackles last year, will make the move from end to linebacker. Seniors Marshall Stroupe and Caiden Burcham will also move into starting roles at linebacker.
Hendricks, Forrest, and Wilson will see double duty on the line and will be joined by junior Cole Renfro.
The secondary will feature some speed with the return of Martin to go with Tae Thompson, Beau Hendricks, and Dakota Lockard.
How much Trigg’s defense has improved coupled with new starters on offense are the main questions facing a Wildcat team that is expected to improve as the season goes on.
