Four years, four season openers, four wins for Simon Kenton.
The matchup has become a tradition for the Pioneers and county rival Dixie Heights. So, too, has the result.
Simon Kenton continued that trend Friday night at Rice Mountjoy Stadium in Edgewood, rolling past the Colonels 42-13 to open the season 1-0.
When the season-opening tradition began in 2022, the Pioneers won 29-19. They followed with a 50-35 victory in 2023 and a 20-10 win in 2024. Friday’s 29-point margin marked their most decisive victory yet.
Simon Kenton coach Joe Wynn has been around for two of those four meetings, but he knew exactly what was at stake.
“It’s always important,” Wynn said. “It’s important to start off on a big note. We need to beat these guys. They’re our rivals. We battle for the kids. We’re the better team, the better program, and if you want to win games in Kenton County, you can at Simon Kenton.”
The Pioneers backed up their coach’s words on the field, putting together a balanced performance on both sides of the ball.
Through the air, Simon Kenton totaled 219 yards, with quarterback Grant Webb completing 13 passes for two touchdowns.
The Pioneers were just as effective on the ground, rushing for 248 yards and getting touchdowns from three different players. Mo Smith led the way with 97 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Peyton Testerman added 65 yards and a score. Jason Rabe also found the end zone while Webb contributed 38 rushing yards.
“We’ve been practicing and preparing all week,” Smith said. “The O-line has put in just as much work, and we’ve all been working together. We talk, we help each other stay calm and work hard.”
Webb’s favorite target was Sam Hughes, who hauled in seven passes for 123 yards and both of the quarterback’s touchdown passes.
Simon Kenton also won the turnover battle, finishing without a turnover while forcing two from Dixie Heights.
“I thought we could do what we wanted offensively,” Wynn said. “Defensively, I think the key was our defensive execution in the second half. We locked in, made tackles, forced turnovers and by doing that we helped ourselves offensively.”
The miscues ultimately proved costly for Dixie Heights.
Playing without several key players, including senior Henry Waters, Dixie turned to sophomore quarterback Brycen Schatzman for his first varsity start. The young quarterback responded with 11 completions for 118 yards and a touchdown.
“He played pretty well for a sophomore,” Dixie Heights head coach Pat Burke said. “He’s never played in a game of that magnitude and I thought he commanded our offense and handled himself well. He was extremely mature.”
The Colonels struck first when Parks Vonderhaar broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run, but Simon Kenton answered to take a 7-6 lead after one quarter.
Dixie cut into a 21-6 deficit in the second quarter when Schatzman connected on his first touchdown pass of the season, trimming the margin to 21-13.
With 20 seconds left before halftime, Webb delivered an answer of his own.
He found Hughes for a touchdown to push the Pioneers’ lead back to 15 points and send Simon Kenton into halftime with momentum and the ball coming out of the break.
“If I could step up and bomb it, I’ll throw it,” Webb said. “I saw him down there, and just launched it.”
From there, the Pioneers slammed the door.
Simon Kenton outscored Dixie Heights 14-0 in the second half, turning what had been a competitive rivalry game into a convincing season-opening victory.
Both teams will take on Ohio schools next, with Simon Kenton hosting Western Brown and Dixie Heights traveling to Badin.
SIMON KENTON 42, DIXIE HEIGHTS 13
SIMON KENTON — 7-21-14-0 — 42
DIXIE HEIGHTS — 6-7-0-0 — 13
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(DH) Vonderhaar 55-yard run (4:49) Gilliland run failed
(SK) Smith 2-yard run (0:28) McCulley kick
2nd Quarter
(SK) Smith 59-yard run (10:38) Newborn pass incomplete
(SK) Testerman 1-yard run (8:38) Webb run
(DH) Schatzman 25-yard pass to Vonderhaar (4:58) Proffitt kick
(SK) Webb 38-yard pass to S. Hughes (0:20) McCulley kick
3rd Quarter
(SK) Webb 42-yard pass to S. Hughes (7:29) McCulley kick
(SK) Rabe 2-yard run (4:26) McCulley kick
Game Stats
Passing Yards: Simon Kenton 219 (Webb 13/21, Hopkins 2/4), Dixie Heights 118 (Schatzman 11/16)
Rushing Yards: Simon Kenton 248 (Smith 10-97, Testerman 7-65, Webb 10-38, Brewer 10-26, Rabe, 5-22), Dixie Heights 113 (Vonderhaar 1-55, Miller Skyrm 6-37, Gilliland 10-21)
Receiving: Simon Kenton (S. Hughes 7-123, Helmick 1-38, F. Hughes 3-35, Testerman 2-16, Lofties 1-7, Newborn 1-0), Dixie Heights (Vonderhaar 6-76, Speakman 2-25, Carnes 1-8, Wogenstahl 1-6, Gilliland 1-3)
Turnovers: Simon Kenton 0, Dixie Heights 2
Penalties: Simon Kenton 9-62, Dixie Heights 6-60
Records: Simon Kenton 1-0, Dixie Heights 0-1
