The NKyTribune will be providing focused coverage of NKY high school football throughout the season, thanks to support from St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine. See all of our pre-season features on each of NKY’s 21 high school football teams and follow our coverage, including roundups each week at Northern Kentucky High School Football.
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Simon Kenton football coach Jeff Marksberry drove to an athletic directors conference in Lexington on Wednesday with Cooper football coach Randy Borchers sitting right beside him. Their teams will face each other on Friday, but they didn’t talk much about the game during the trip.
“It was mostly the trials and tribulations of being an A.D. (athletic director),” Marksberry said of their conversations in the car. “I guess we were both sandbagging a little bit.”
In coaching lingo, sandbagging means concealing your team’s abilities to gain an advantage, but it hardly seems applicable in this case. Both coaches are well aware of what they’ll be up against when their teams line up for the kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cooper.
Simon Kenton has become one of the top football programs in Northern Kentucky with a combined record of 44-4 in four seasons, including a 4-0 start this year. The Pioneers won all four games they played against Cooper in the last three years and they’re hoping to extend that streak in Friday’s game against the 3-1 Jaguars.
To do that, Marksberry knows he’ll need a good effort from the Simon Kenton defensive unit that has the unenviable task of trying to contain a Cooper offense that’s averaging 519 yards and 45.7 points per game.
“They’re awfully talented and they’ve got some great playmakers,” Marksberry said. “People talk about our offense and I think you’ve got to throw their offense right in there with us.”
Simon Kenton’s offensive averages — 441 yards and 43.2 points per game — are quite impressive. But that’s not the only reason the Pioneers have a perfect 4-0 record. Their defense is allowing only 225 yards and 15 points per game, but few fans pay attention to those statistics.
Marksberry said eliminating the need for two-way starters by developing separate offensive and defensive units has a lot to do with the team’s continuing success.
“Our kids play one way and get a ton of reps (in practice),” he said. “Four days a week, they’re working on just one side of the ball and it gives us a chance to really fine tune things and get all the kids prepared mentally and physically.”
This week, the Simon Kenton defense has been working on ways to keep Cooper’s passing game in check. Senior quarterback Jarod Lonaker has thrown for 1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns in the Jaguars’ first four games. The team’s top receiver is senior wide receiver Dante Hendrix with 19 catches for 393 yards and six TDs.
Marksberry knows that Cooper has other capable players in its offensive lineup who can’t be overlooked. One of them is running back Jaden Jackson, who has 542 yards rushing, 137 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
“You look at their numbers and it’s not just a one-trick pony,” Marksberry said of Cooper’s offense. “They’ve got other kids who can make plays and get the ball in the end zone.”
Simon Kenton’s defensive standout is senior linebacker Brian Carter, who has a team-high 42 tackles and 21 of them are solo stops. The Pioneers also have a veteran defensive back in senior Trent Kincaid, who holds the team record for most interceptions. They’re expected to play key roles in disrupting Cooper’s offensive game plan on Friday.
“I don’t know if we’re stronger against the pass than we are against the run,” Marksberry said. “We just try to balance our defense and take away what teams want to do. That’s the kind of game plan we go in with — take away what they do best.”
Simon Kenton’s offense could also be described as well balanced. In their first four games, the Pioneers had net totals of 972 yards passing and 793 yards rushing. Senior quarterback Cameron Racke is the individual leader in both categories. He has 497 yards passing and 273 yards rushing.
In the past two games, Racke has shared the quarterback position with junior Matt Shearer, who now has 471 passing yards. It will be interesting to sees how much time each of them spends on the field against a solid Cooper defense.
“We’ve been stressing in practice that this is a very good defense,” Marksberry said. “They’re going to be prepared to play, and play hard. We have to execute (on offense) and take care of the ball.”
Friday’s football schedule
Beechwood at Covington Catholic, 7 p.m.
Holmes at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Ryle at Campbell County, 7 p.m.
Dixie Heights at Conner, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Scott, 7 p.m.
Harrison County at Newport Central Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Simon Kenton at Cooper, 7:30 p.m.
Highlands at Louisville St. Xavier, 7:30 p.m.
Boone County at South Oldham, 7:30 p.m.
Trimble County at Ludlow, 7:30 p.m.
Lexington Christian at Walton-Verona, 7:30 p.m.