21 teams in 21 days: Simon Kenton football preview

Only five teams put up more points than Simon Kenton in Class 6A in 2022.

The Pioneers lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 39 points per game and 434 yards per game. But Chase Crone is gone, finishing out his Simon Kenton career with over 6,000 yards passing. Same with Jayden Lawson, a 1,000 yard rusher for the Pioneers last season.

So with the dynamic departures on offense, what excites Roy Lucas moving into 2023?

“Defense. We feel like we’re much improved on that side. We feel like we have a really good linebacking core with our top two defensive backs returning,” Lucas said. “We like to go really fast on offense which leads to a lot of possessions, but with Coach Stallkamp back as coordinator the guys are really understanding their roles and what they’re doing.”

It’s a unit that will want to see marked improvement from the 28.8 points and 282.5 yards per game they yielded last season.

Lucas enters his second season as head coach, 12th season with the team overall. Offensively, expect the train to keep on rolling.

“We won’t change philosophy too much. Every year there is different personnel, we try to just keep our philosophy of maintaining as much balance as we can,” Lucas said. “Some years we’re stronger than others in certain areas. Our offense has enough variety and we’ll play to our strengths.”

Those strengths start at offensive guard with Aba Selm and Jake Putthoff. The two seniors are multiple year starters along the offensive line and will be vital in helping three new starters up front progress. Three seniors graduated from up front with Levi Davis, Gavyn Jordan and Preston McCauley expected to slot in. With the amount of fortunate health the Pioneers had up front last season, the latter three played limited reps.

“It takes all five to be able to win games,” Putthoff said. “I don’t doubt these guys and think they’ll all be able to fill in to get where we were last year offensively.”

Selm’s offseason was a notable one, committing to the University of Kentucky in February. Selm is a three-star prospect, a two-way lineman for the Pioneers. At 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Selm is expected to wreak havoc on the Pioneers defensive front and help pave the way for a new quarterback under center upon departure of Chase Crone.

“By nature Aba is kind of a quiet kid, not really outspoken, but has become more of a vocal leader. He’s really come out of his shell through the whole recruiting process and that has brought him out a little bit,” Lucas said.

Selm is the No. 43 ranked interior lineman in the country in the 247 rankings and the No. 2 ranked prospect in the state behind four-star quarterback Cutter Boley of Lexington Christian Academy, who is also committed to Kentucky.

He wanted to get his commitment out of the way before starting his senior season.

“It’s a big weight off my shoulder,” Selm said. “I won’t have coaches on my back asking when I’ll be here or there or taking a call at this time. I’m set on where I’m going and sticking with that.”

Taking snaps behind them is most likely Tucker Ober with Brady Lee also in the mix. Ober got to play in seven games last season, throwing 30 passes and running the ball 42 times, combining for 360 yards and four touchdowns.

Garnering the carries at running back will be Kaleb Bleier and Durell Turner. Bleier had 116 carries for 604 yards and five touchdowns while Turner had 128 yards and four touchdowns.

Nathan Kitchens and Grayson Harris are expected to slot in as the primary receivers.

“We’re a little green on offense, overall we feel we have good experience with kids that are back. Really like each other and really like what we do, excited to see if we can carry that over into the games. Really excited to see if we think we can be as good as we can defensively.

Kitchens and Luke Schieber will be in the secondary, Schieber expected to play receiver as well. Cohen Schmidt will join Selm on the defensive line, a three-year player on the defensive front.

While Ryle and Campbell County are the usual suspects in Class 6A, 6th District play, Great Crossing enters the fold as Dixie Heights dropped down to 5A in the new KHSAA realignment. The Pioneers will welcome Great Crossing to Independence on Oct. 6, Campbell County and Ryle following on Oct. 13 and 20.

The Pioneers first six games against Dixie Heights, Woodford County, Covington Catholic, Beechwood, Conner and Paul Laurence Dunbar will have them ready for district action.

“We know they’re all challenging, just have to get better every week. Teams that win in November continue to get better throughout the season. While we’re looking to win those first six games, it matters where you are when you play your district games,” Lucas said.

They’ll then close out the regular season at Ashland Blazer in the famed Putnam Stadium.

SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME