By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Conner football coach Chase Floyd offered an honest assessment of his team after last week’s final preseason scrimmage game.
“It’s definitely a work in progress,” he said of the Cougars’ uneven performance with first-year starters in most of the positions. “I don’t question our willingness to compete. I think these are minor things we can get right in the next couple weeks. The main focus you’re looking at is districts. You want everybody clicking at that point. Everything is just a trial run until you get there.”
Last year, Conner went 2-2 in district games to earn a Class 5A playoff berth and finished 4-7 overall under interim head coach Noel Rash.
When Floyd took charge of the program in February, he was already familiar with the players. He had been an assistant coach at Conner since 2018.
Last summer, Floyd and the Conner players shared the heartache of losing head coach Dave Trosper, who died unexpectedly from a heart attack.
“The team is a great group of young men,” Floyd said. “They have fought through adversity that no other team has had to endure in the area. This season, we look forward to coming together as a team and progressing each week.”
The Cougars’ new quarterback is junior Ethan Estvanko. He didn’t record any offensive stats last season, but he was a starting defensive end who showed his speed by making 10 tackles for a loss.
“He’s a very smart kid and he has sneaky athleticism,” Floyd said. “He doesn’t really pop out on (game) film, but when you’re playing nobody can catch him or at least it’s not as easy as you think. He has a very storing arm, very accurate. He’s the real deal.”
The top returning running back is senior JoJo Hernandez, who rushed for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Jasiah Lampkin will return to the backfield after playing mostly wide receiver last season. Luke Patton and Cameron Froege are senior veterans on the offensive line.
“There a lot of kids who are juniors who played (on the offensive line) last year,” Floyd said. “They didn’t start, but they played a bunch of varsity games, so we don’t feel like we have to reinvent the wheel there.”
Conner’s top returning starter on defense is Hernandez, who made a team-high 82 tackles last season. He had 10 or more tackles in five games, but the defense had a problem keeping opponents out of the end zone. Conner allowed 33.5 points per game.
“He plays linebacker and has amazing burst,” Floyd said of Hernandez. “He likes contact and has a lot of energy. Good things happen when he’s out there for us.”
The coach expects senior linebacker Dylon Gordon and junior defensive end Kai Sessanna to be impact players as well. The team will be running a 4-2-5 defensive alignment that requires active, aggressive defensive backs.
“There’s not one that stands out, but they all compete pretty well,” Floyd said of his secondary players. “As the weeks go on, we’ll see who emerges.”
CONNER COUGARS
025 SEASON: 4-7 record, lost to Scott County, 48-7, in first round of Class 5A playoffs.
STARTERS RETURNING: 3 offense, 2 defense.
DISTRICT: Class 5A, District 6 with Boone County, Cooper, Dixie Heights, Scott.
HEAD COACH: Chase Floyd (first season as head coach).
2026 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 – at Madison Central, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 28 – RYLE, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 – at Lloyd, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 – at Newport Central Catholic, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 – at Simon Kenton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 – COOPER, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 – at Boone County, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – DIXIE HEIGHTS, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 – at Scott, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 – LEXINGTON HENRY CLAY, 7:30 p.m.