By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
A fumble return for a touchdown late in the third quarter gave Simon Kenton the momentum it needed to defeat Conner, 31-13, in a high school football game that was postponed Friday night and completed on Saturday at Simon Kenton.
The Pioneers had a slim 17-13 lead when defensive lineman J.J. Courtney scooped up a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter.
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, Simon Kenton extended his team’s lead to 31-13 on an 18-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Caleb Farfsing and an extra-point kick by Christian Seger.
Farfsing rushed for 120 yards on 16 carries and completed 6 of 11 passes for 22 yards to lead the Pioneers to their third straight victory. Conner’s record falls to 1-1.
Conner junior quarterback Jared Hicks left the game with an injured shoulder in the second half and Cougars didn’t get much done offensively without him.
Hicks completed 12 of 22 passes for 127 yards to account for most of his team’s 164 yards in total offense. Simon Kenton finished with 158 total yards, but the Pioneers scored two of their touchdowns on a kickoff return and fumble recovery.
Jon Sergent returned the opening kickoff 85 yards to give Simon Kenton the early lead. Each team kicked a field goal after that and the Pioneers were ahead, 10-3, going into the second quarter.
An interception by Simon Kenton defensive back Brady Nipper stopped Conner at the 30-yard line. The Pioneers’ offensive unit capitalized on that take-away with a long scoring drive led by Farfsing.
After a holding call moved the ball back to the 27-yard line, Farfsing rushed for 53 yards and passed for 19 on the next four plays to advance to the 1-yard line. Sergent took it into the end zone for his second TD that put Simon Kenton ahead, 17-3, with 7:31 left in the half.
Conner scored its only touchdown on a 50-yard pass play from Hicks to senior wide receiver Emmanuel Merkel, who was wide open going down the right sideline. The extra-point kick by Teddy Schul closed the margin to 17-10 with 5:00 left on the clock.
Conner recovered a fumble by Farfsing at the 18-yard line to get its offensive unit back on the field. After a 3-yard run by Hicks and an incomplete pass, the Cougars faced a crucial third-down play when the game was stopped due to lightning.
When the game resumed on Saturday morning, Schul kicked a 32-yard field goal that cut Simon Kenton’s lead to 17-13. But that turned out to be the last points scored by the Cougars.
CONNER 3 10 0 0 — 13
SIMON KENTON 10 7 7 7 — 31
SK — Sergent 85 kickoff return (Seger kick)
C — Schul 37 FG
SK — Seger 29 FG
SK — Sergent 1 run (Seger kick)
C — Merkel 50 pass from Hicks (Schul kick)
C — Schul 32 FG
SK — Courtney 40 fumble return (Seger kick)
SK — Farfsing 18 run (Seger kick)
RECORDS: Simon Kenton 3-0, Conner 1-1
High school football scores
Games completed on Friday
Campbell County 24, Newport Central Catholic 0
Beechwood 28, Somerset 0
Scott County 28, Highlands 7
Newport 33, Owen County 0
Scott 50, Holy Cross 0
Games completed on Saturday
Bellevue 28, Brossart 20
Ryle 41, Boone County 13
Covington Catholic 54, Cooper 7
Walton-Verona 48, Holmes 0
Simon Kenton 31, Conner 13
Milford (Ohio) 50, Dixie Heights 14