The Simon Kenton Pioneers won their second straight Class 6A, District 6 football game, 50-13 on Thursday in convincing fashion.
Head Coach Roy Lucas said the Pioneers (5-3 overall, 2-0 in district play) did not play their best game. But he was proud of the teams’ second-half resilience helping the Pioneers pull away from the improved Camels (3-5, 0-2).
“I thought we were a little flat in the first half and I thought we were missing some assignments and not executing,” Lucas said. “They’re kids and it’s part of it and sometimes you don’t come out sharp every week. But the kids played hard, and they play together and it’s important to them so we’re alright.”
Despite that, the Pioneers still led by two scores at the conclusion of the first quarter, 15-0, with touchdowns from the dynamic senior duo of running back Jayden Lawson and quarterback Chase Crone. The Camels were unable put points on the board early with two fourth-down conversion attempts including one inside the Pioneers 15-yard line falling short.
Simon Kenton then took advantage of a Campbell miscue before halftime, adding to its 22-point lead after Crone spotted senior wide receiver Chase Williams wide open for a 45-yard TD reception. With the ball back, the Camels were unable to move the ball and were forced to punt from their own 48. However, the snap sailed over the punter’s head bouncing all the way back to the six.
On first-and-goal, Lawson found the end zone for his second touchdown of the first half and a 29-0 lead with 2:27 remaining. Following a good kickoff return by sophomore wide receiver Jaiden Combs to get the Camels near midfield, senior quarterback Keegan Hill’s pass downfield drew a defensive pass interference penalty on the Pioneers, placing the ball at the Simon Kenton 20 with 13 seconds left. Hill then found Combs in the back of the end zone to get the Camels on the board trailing 29-7 at halftime.
Campbell took its late second quarter momentum into the third, on an eight-play drive with the trio of sophomore wide receiver Garyn Jackson, junior Nathan Smith, and junior running back Joe Amato all receiving carries to lead the Camels down the field. Smith’s six-yard run pulled Campbell to within 16, but the Pioneers held Smith and the Camels out of the end zone on the two-point conversion.
The Simon Kenton defense forced a turnover on downs on Campbell’s ensuing possession and then Crone and the Pioneers went to work. A Camels defensive miscommunication gave Crone a wide-open receiver down field for the second time in junior Nathan Kitchens for a 51-yard touchdown reception and a 36-13 lead early in the final quarter.
“That gave us a new lift and the defense bounced back after that,” Lucas said.
Lawson’s third touchdown around the left side several minutes later increased the Pioneers lead. Then sophomore running back Durell Turner wrapped up the night for Simon Kenton, finding his way into the end zone from 11-yards out after the Pioneers final possession began deep in Camels’ territory following an interception that bounced off a Campbell receiver.
Simon Kenton put up 380 yard of total offense on 41 plays averaging just more than nine yards per play. The huge Pioneer offensive line paved the way for 222 yards rushing on 27 carries for an average of just more than eight yards per carry.
Campbell County limited Lawson to just 97 yards on 15 carries for between six and seven yards per carry and three touchdowns after he exploded for 314 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns averaging 15.7 per carry in Simon Kenton’s 66-23 win at Dixie Heights a week ago. Crone rushed for 68 yards on six carries and a score averaging 11.3 yards per carry and completed 9 of 14 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns to four different receivers.
Williams had three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown and Kitchens the one big touchdown reception. Senior wide receiver Jackson Galbraith had four receptions for 36 yards to give the Pioneers some balance.
Campbell County put up 243 yards on 63 plays for an average of just below four yards per play including just 59 yards rushing on 28 carries for an average of just more than two yards per carry. Hill completed 15 of 35 passes for 184 yards, two touchdowns and the one interception.
Simon Kenton continues district play at home against Ryle a week from Saturday evening at 5 p.m. Campbell County (3-4) travels to Dixie Heights (2-5) a week from Friday at 7 p.m.
Box Score
Simon Kenton 15 14 0 21 – 50
Campbell County 0 7 6 0 – 13
First Quarter
Simon Kenton (11:39) – Jayden Lawson, 52 run (Chase Crone run).
Simon Kenton (1:31) – Crone, 27 run (Chase Petty kick).
Second Quarter
Simon Kenton (4:15) – Chase Williams, 45 pass from Crone (Petty kick)
Simon Kenton (2:27) – Lawson, 6 run (Petty kick).
Campbell County (:13) – Jaiden Combs, 20 pass from Keegan Hill (Alejandro Arguelles kick).
Third Quarter
Campbell County (8:00) – Nathan Smith 6 run (run failed).
Fourth Quarter
Simon Kenton (10:05) – Nathan Kitchens 51 pass from Crone (Petty kick).
Simon Kenton (6:40) – Lawson 7 run (Petty kick).
Simon Kenton (5:28) – Durrell Turner 11 run (Petty kick).