Kroger KSR Game of the Week Preview: Simon Kenton at Ashland

KSR is making its way to Putnam Stadium this Friday to see the Simon Kenton Pioneers (5-3) take on the Ashland Blazer Tomcats (8-1) in the final Kroger KSR Game of the Week of the regular season.

Last week, the previously undefeated Tomcats recorded their only loss of the season to Johnson Central, 36-33. Ashland is now sitting at No. 6 in the Class 4A RPI Rankings. Simon Kenton, on the other hand, is at No. 10 following a 24-21 loss to Ryle. A victory for Ashland could mean a jump in their ranking, although all five teams above the ‘Cats are still undefeated.

It’s the final Friday Night Lights of the regular season, and the stakes are high. With the postseason starting next week, this game could determine momentum for both teams. Earlier this year, Simon Kenton played Ashland’s possible second-round playoff opponent Covington Catholic, and was defeated 50-12.

It might just be a “Nightmare on Elm Street” for one of these two teams competing on Halloween weekend.

Simon Kenton’s Strengths

Junior quarterback Brady Lee is the anchor for the Pioneers’ offense, playing all eight games this season and throwing for 14 touchdowns. With 2,019 yards on the season and 315 of those on the ground, Lee is a clear weapon for Simon Kenton. Not only can he find his receivers, but he’s also quick, aggressive, and not afraid to make a run for it.

Freshman wide receiver Tysin Weaver is having a breakout year, totaling 508 receiving yards so far this season. Not far behind is sophomore Grayson Harris with 481. The pioneers have hauled 15 receiving touchdowns, along with 24 more through the run game. Their offensive game is strong and has a healthy balance between rushing and receiving.

Simon Kenton’s defense is full of standout players: Aven Bohms, Landon Brown, and Mark Ober to name a few. The Pioneers have 12 sacks on the season compared to Ashland’s nine. Junior linebacker Bohms has racked up the stats this season — three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, 80 total tackles in eight games, and a pair of defensive sacks for good measure. Also getting a piece of the action is senior Nathan Kitchens, who doubles as a defensive back and wide receiver. Kitchens has collected 33 tackles and a pick-six, the only player for the Pioneers to do so.

Ashland Favors Big Plays, Aggressive Defense

It’s Senior Night for the Tomcats and second-year head coach Chad Tackett is using his team’s quickness to his advantage. With over 2,200 rushing yards on the season so far, the offense is engineered by junior quarterback LaBryant Strader, who has thrown 14 nearly 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns. Standout wide receiver Braxton Jennings has accrued 634 of those yards and 12 of those touchdowns alone.

Updated highlights through 9 games
1017 of total offense (avg 113 yards per game)
17 TD's
40 tackles
2 INT
1 FF
1 FRhttps://t.co/71oJK8AGly@keyes_jj @CRK_25_MU @Tomcat_football @CtackettC @pete_nochta13 @CoachPerry_UK @CoachAPowell @Coach_D13 @CoachRod_McD

— Braxton Jennings⭐️ (@Brax_Jennings) October 25, 2023

Senior Brandon Houston has been impressive this season, with 159 rushing yards and 19 pass receptions on the season. Strader has only played in six games this season after being out for a period of time due to injury, but he’s still found a way to throw 14 touchdowns and run for four of his own.

Also contributing to the offense are Asher Adkins and Cameron Davis, a senior and a sophomore, respectively, who have been more than impressive. Davis has three receiving and five rushing touchdowns on the year, along with two kickoff return TDs. Davis has also been impressive on defense, showcasing 58 tackles and a pick-six. Adkins has accumulated five receiving touchdowns, averaging 26.6 yards gained receiving per game. With Ashland’s offense averaging 19.5 yards per catch and almost nine yards a carry, the Tomcats are definitely focused on big plays.

As for the defense, Ashland’s strengths come in the form of senior linebackers Sawyer Edens and Austin Nichols, both recording over 70 tackles. Braxton Jennings has also made his way into the defense with an impressive year, totaling 40 tackles and two interceptions. Freshman Maverick Ashby is a solid defensive back who has already accrued 47 tackles and three interceptions on the season. Compared to Simon Kenton, however, Ashland isn’t as sharp in the special teams department, averaging only 74% in extra points so far this year.

The regular season will conclude with a victory for one of these two talented teams. Kickoff is set in Ashland at 7:30 p.m. EST this Friday.