Ashland Defeats Simon Kenton in Final Kroger KSR Game of the Week of Regular Season

The final Kroger KSR Game of the Week of the 2023 high school football regular season provided plenty of entertainment for the Putnam Stadium crowd. Despite the dreary skies and rainy weather, the Ashland Blazer Tomcats (9-1) showed out on Friday night in a 49-42 victory at home over the Simon Kenton Pioneers (5-4).

It was a high-scoring affair out of the gates and remained neck-and-neck until the very end. But a clutch defensive stop from Ashland in the closing seconds put a cap on their Senior Night as they now turn to next week’s playoffs.

Chad Tackett’s Tomcats struck first with a 74-yard rushing touchdown by Ashland’s Tay Thomas just a minute into the first quarter. In response, Simon Kenton scored four plays later with a 37-yard touchdown pass from QB Brady Lee to Tysin Weaver. The game was tied 7-7 after only 90 seconds.

Ashland’s Cameron Davis then caught the kickoff return and ran the ball 79 yards to Simon Kenton’s 13-yard line. Two plays later, Ashland scored again. This time, a 10-yard touchdown by Strader, making the game 14-7 Ashland. Simon Kenton responded almost immediately. Lee proved he wasn’t scared to make a run for it with a 15-yard sprint to the end zone for six. Now just four minutes into the first quarter, the score was tied 14-14.

Ashland QB LaBryant Strader with a 10 yard run into the end zone. Extra point is good for 14-7 Ashland. Just under 10 left in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/rx7MeC9mOP

— Katie Hutchison (@khutchisonKSR) October 27, 2023

Before Friday night, Simon Kenton focused largely on the run game. RB Durell Turner had over 1,300 yards prior to this game and was clearly the star of the offense. But against Ashland, however, Simon Kenton relied on Lee to find his guys and make the plays. Late into the first quarter, Lee found Carter Blades 37 yards away to make the score 21-14 to end the quarter.

Touchdown After Touchdown…

To begin the second quarter, Simon Kenton’s Brady Lee rushed a four-yard carry into the end zone to make it 28-14. Ashland answered right back with a 51-yard bomb from Strader to WR Brandon Houston, setting up the Tomcats for another big gain. Down 14 points, the ‘Cats were in need of some momentum to keep up with the Pioneers. A quick slant to Asher Adkins on the two-yard line gave Ashland the position they needed for Braxton Jennings to find his way straight up the middle. His short rushing TD made the score 28-21, Simon Kenton still in front.

Ashland’s defense stepped up big time, however, starting with freshman Dylan Duckwyler intercepting Lee’s throw intended for Weaver, giving Ashland a chance to tie the game. Jennings weaved his way through a hole in Simon Kenton’s defense and ran 37 yards for his 33rd career rushing touchdown. A field goal by Jake Sexton leveled the game once again, 28-28.

From there, a quick drive by Simon Kenton turned into an eight-yard Durell Turner touchdown with less than four minutes to go in the half. But of course, Ashland responded with a quick touchdown of its own, a seven-yard push by Jennings into the end zone to finish the half 35-35.

Slowed Down Second Half

Although there weren’t nearly as many touchdowns during the second half, the offenses were just as electric as it was before. The rain cleared up and the fans got loud as Simon Kenton’s opening drive ended in a missed 21-yard field goal attempt. The teams exchanged punts, setting up Ashland with another chance to score as Jennings broke a tackle for a 53-yard run to the 17.

LaBryant Strader was then intercepted for the first time this season after the ball bounced off Cameron Davis’ foot into the arms of Simon Kenton’s Luke Schieber. Lee almost instantly found Nathan Kitchens all alone at the 50-yard line after that. An 82-yard touchdown for the Pioneers made the score 42-35 to finish up third.

LaBryant Strader’s pass is intercepted in the endzone and turns into a Nathan Kitchens touchdown after a couple plays. Extra point is good.

SK 42 | Ashland 35 | 2:00 Q3 pic.twitter.com/6Ltf2wRRO9

— Katie Hutchison (@khutchisonKSR) October 28, 2023

Fourth Quarter Comeback

With 8:41 to go in the final quarter, Simon Kenton went for a fourth down and converted on the 10-yard line. A Simon Kenton touchdown was looming in the air and the ‘Cats needed a big stop to keep the game within their reach. Simon Kenton head coach Roy Lucas Jr. called a time-out as the Ashland fans got LOUD. Cowbells and car horns filled Putnam Stadium and caused what seemed to be some confusion on the Pioneers’ 4th and 2.

The noise must’ve made an impact. After the timeout, Ashland’s Tay Thomas came up with a massive stop.

Thomas was fired up, and that energy carried over into the next play. A 94-yard touchdown run from Thomas gave Ashland the much-needed momentum to finish the game. At this point, the game was tied 42-42 with only 6:25 left in the game — Simon Kenton needed to respond.

A 94 yard touchdown run by Ashland’s Tay Thomas on the first down after Simon Kenton’s turnover. The game is tied, once again.

42-42 | 6:25 Q4 pic.twitter.com/y95eROpDRt

— Katie Hutchison (@khutchisonKSR) October 28, 2023

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Brady Lee’s next drive turned into a pick-six by Braxton Jennings at the 30-yard line to mark the final touchdown of the game with six minutes to go. Ashland took the lead 49-42.

After a sack by Ashland’s Austin Nichols and the Tomcats going three and out, Simon Kenton had one more shot to score and possibly force overtime. Carter Blades dropped and recovered a pass by Lee on the two-yard line — Ashland needed a big stop to finish the game.

A low snap by Simon Kenton forced Lee to fall on the ball and waste a play, making it 2nd and 15. During the next play, Lee was hit by Cole Christian as Cameron Davis forced an incomplete pass. At this point it was 4th and goal, Simon Kenton’s final chance. That was until a pass interference by Ashland kept them afloat for one more play.

Finally, Cam Davis batted away another pass and secured the win for the Tomcats, 49-42.

An Emotional Ashland Win

After the game, an emotional Chad Tackett had nothing but good things to say about his team.

“After last week’s loss, for them to come out the way that they did today, I’m so proud of them. Everybody started doubting them, but they never doubted themselves,” Tackett said. “They played the entire four quarters tonight, and it showed.”

With this win, Ashland completes their regular season 9-1 while the Pioneers move to 5-4. Next Friday in the postseason openers, the Tomcats take on Harrison County at home while Simon Kenton takes on Fern Creek.

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