[neerfan]

Lets hear the comments?

[cuppett777]

congrats to SK

[LeeCoUKFan]

Congrats Pioneers!

[hop24]

Great defensive game played by the Pioneers keeping Conner's first team offense out of the end zone. Cooper up next.

[geauxtigers75]

SK is rolling, proving there is life after Miles Simpson lol. Congrats 'Neers.

[Westside]

Where are the game stats Stardust?

[Rob Van Winkle]

Article website: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...309240083/

Midway through the second quarter of Conner and Simon Kenton’s district opener, Conner came up with its first big play of the game. The Cougars blocked a Simon Kenton field goal attempt.

It could have been a break for the home team. It could have been a wasted opportunity for the visitor. It turned out to be a serendipitous bounce – the ball hitting the turf and winding up in the hands of Northern Kentucky’s best freelance artist.

Simon Kenton quarterback Chad Lawrence, the holder on the play, scooped up the ball. And while some Conner players headed for the sideline – presumably thinking the play was dead – he rolled to his right and hit tight end D.J. Rabe for a touchdown.

The play was the catalyst for a 48-6 Simon Kenton victory at Conner on Friday, the Pioneers’ first step toward defending its Class 6A district title.

“We want him to pick it up,” Simon Kenton coach Jeff Marksberry said of Lawrence’s heady play. “We want the ball in his hands whenever we can get it.”

Lawrence had the ball in his hands plenty. He rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 135 yards and two more scores. The senior made many of his biggest plays scrambling and improvising. None was bigger than the blocked field goal turned touchdown.

“To be honest, I don’t know what the heck I was thinking,” said Lawrence. “… I just figured I’d throw it. D.J. was open and I threw it to him. I was looking at the ref like, ‘Can we do that?’ He didn’t throw a flag, so I was happy with it.”

The play and ensuing extra point gave the Pioneers a 14-0 lead.

Lawrence struck again just before halftime. After Conner missed a field goal, the Pioneers took over at their own 20-yard line with 1:02 remaining. Lawrence quickly led the Pioneers down the field – rushing for 21 yards and passing for 49 yards. He capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Zach Carroll with six seconds left on the clock.

The lead became 28-0 early in the second half when Lawrence broke a 60-yard touchdown run off-tackle.

Simon Kenton also got touchdown runs from Danny Wetter and Jared Swanson.

The Pioneers’ defense also came up big. Junior defensive lineman Jake Schneider recovered a fumble in the end zone to help extend the lead to 42-0.

The defense did a good job containing Conner quarterback Cy Smith, the area’s leading passer. The Pioneers consistently blitzed him, holding him to 11-of-24 passing for 66 yards and an interception. They sacked him three times.

“We knew Cy is a really good quarterback,” said senior linebacker Austin Baldwin. “All week in practice we keyed on him. We just came out with a game plan and stuck with it.”

The offensive output was a season low for a Conner team that entered the game averaging 30.2 points per game.

“We had some opportunities; we just didn’t take advantage of them,” said Conner coach Dave Trosper. “We shot ourselves in the foot. They throw a ton of blitzes at you and some things are open. We just didn’t hit them.”

Conner will continue district play next week when it travels to Boone County. Simon Kenton, ranked third in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches’ poll, will play host to Cooper.

Scoring summary
Simon Kenton… 7 14 14 13 -- 48
Conner………… 0 0 0 6 -- 6
SK – Lawrence 1 run (Herald kick)
SK – Rabe 13 pass from Lawrence (Herald kick)
SK – Carroll 10 pass from Lawrence (Herald kick)
SK – Lawrence 60 run (Herald kick)
SK – Wetter 20 run (Herald kick)
SK – Schneider fumble recovery in end zone (Herald kick)
C – Barker 3 run (pass failed)
SK – Swanson 38 run (kick blocked)
Records: SK 4-1, 1-0; C 3-3, 0-1

[the dark wizard]

Grats SK