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“We gotta have somebody push us to see what we’re about,” Kenton Ridge coach Joel Marratta said. “I’m happy where we’re at and the kids have worked extremely hard. It’s been a group effort.”
The Cougars were hit hard by graduation losses last season, losing their top four rushers and top receiver. Sophomore quarterback Dylan Lemen has helped fill the void. He ranks fourth in the CBC in passing and leads the league in rushing.
Lemen has completed 53 of 90 passes for 853 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s rushed 67 times for 713 yards and 10 touchdowns. That’s 10.6 yards per carry.
Sophomore Carson Jones, who has consecutive 100-yard rushing games, has 299 yards on 31 carries and three TDs. Senior Chris Bell has contributed 106 yards and a score on 13 carries.
Lemen’s favorite target is senior Nasiim McKay, who has 17 catches for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore Calvin Dibert has 14 catches for 215 yards and two scores.
“We don’t have that guy that’s the all-star,” Marratta said. “We have a bunch of good high school football players and kids that want to compete. They’re working hard and doing what they have to. It’s a bunch of guys playing sound football.”
Kenton Ridge’s lone loss came to Indian Lake (3-2) in Week 2. The Cougars fell 14-7 after struggling inside the Lakers’ 20-yard line. KR worked inside the red zone four times but came away with one touchdown.
“We’re not playing real young. We have some young kids out there. We’re playing with a lot of juniors and seniors, just with kids who don’t have a lot of experience,” Marratta said. “For the most part we’re playing to our potential. I’m happy we’re 4-1. … I think the capability is there and the potential is there.”
Friday’s game also has an impact on the Division IV, Region 16 playoffs. Jonathan Alder is ranked No. 4 in the computer points and Kenton Ridge is No. 11. The top eight teams per region qualify for the postseason.
A loss certainly doesn’t end those chances. After tonight Kenton Ridge plays Shawnee (2-3), Northwestern (3-2), Tecumseh (2-3) and Bellefontaine (4-1).
“We’re running into the grind. We have to find a way to compete with the teams having a lot of success,” Marratta said. “We’re going to have to line up and play well. It’s a very similar game to us playing Indian Lake and them playing Indian Lake last week, because we run very similar offenses. It all comes down to who makes the least mistakes. I think the match up is OK as long as we play well.”
Kenton Ridge started 4-2 in 2016 before finishing 5-5. Marratta hopes a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 20 points through five games can keep that from happening again. Senior Zach Schneider leads the Cougars with 24 tackles. Brandon Collins, a junior, and Jones both have 23 and senior Andrew Townsend 20.
“I think at times we’ve played fast on defense,” Marratta said. “We’ve simplified some things. With offenses anymore everyone has so many formations. I think we’re playing faster because we have some kids in the program who understand what’s going on.”
• Springfield enters Friday's game with Xenia (0-5) ranked No. 8 in the Division I, Region 3 computer points. But what comes after that will determine the Wildcats' postseason chances. After tonight Springfield's final four regular season games are against teams in D-I, Region 3 — Northmont (3-2), Beavercreek (5-0), Wayne (4-1) and Fairmont (4-1).
Tonight’s game has special significance. The Wildcats will don some form of orange and Springfield students also have been encouraged to wear orange as a tribute to former Xenia coach Bob DeLong and the death of his daughter Carly to cancer earlier this week.
Carly was a 15-year-old volleyball and softball player at Catholic Central. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia last January.
“It makes you take a second look at what’s really important,” Springfield coach Maurice Douglass said. “Stuff like this hits home.”
Orange is the color for childhood leukemia awareness.
DeLong was succeeded by former Stebbins coach Trace Smitherman as Buccaneers coach following last season. A former Wright State University baseball standout, DeLong also had a great run as Tecumseh’s coach.
• West Liberty-Salem (5-0) and Mechanicsburg (4-1) collide in an Ohio Heritage Conference showdown that also has playoff implications. West Liberty-Salem enters ranked No. 4 in the Division VI, Region 24 computer points. Mechanicsburg is tied for No. 8.
West Liberty-Salem and Jefferson are tied for the OHC lead in the North Division at 3-0, with Mechanicsburg and Fairbanks a game back.
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