SIMON KENTON (Class AAAA)

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SCHEDULE Aug. 20 Simon Kenton 38, Woodford Co. 11 Aug. 27 at Holmes Sept. 3 at Dixie Heights Sept. 10 SCOTT Sept. 17 at Scott County Sept. 24 LEXINGTON HENRY CLAY Oct. 1 at Ryle Oct. 8 at Lexington Bryan Station Oct. 22 CAMPBELL COUNTY Oct. 29 BOONE COUNTY (All games at 7:30 unless noted) Coach: Roy Lucas Jr. (6-15, including 1-0 this year) Outlook: Last year was a mile-high climb for the Pioneers, who began the season in the throes of a 23-game losing streak but ended it 5-5. They beat Covington Catholic. They gave Highlands its toughest game. They finished a whisker shy of the Class AAA playoffs. ''It was a big step toward turning things around for our program,'' Lucas said. Though Simon Kenton (1-0) had to jump to AAAA this fall, a playoff berth looks quite attainable. Ten of its 11 defensive starters are either seniors or returning starters, and its skill-position players on offense are strong. Team speed has improved. Senior QB Mike Ballinger is back after passing for 1,041 yards last year, as is senior RB Daniel Morrison after a 1,001-yard campaign. Morrison rushed for 100 yards and three TDs on just six carries in the season-opening 38-11 beating of Woodford County last Friday. ''Mike is much improved and has become a tremendous leader,'' Lucas said. ''Morrison is our best all-around athlete, and he is bigger, stronger and faster than last year.'' The concern is the offensive line, with five new starters who are all underclassmen.

ROSTER Dave Adams WR-DB 5-10 147 11 Rick Arens WR-DB 5-8 145 11 Kyle Bailey OG-DE 6-2 212 10 Mike Ballinger QB-DB 6-3 203 12 Lenny Banks OG-LB 5-9 200 11 Jason Bargo OG-DT 5-10 260 12 Justin Bishop QB-DE 6-0 164 9 Dave Bowling OG-LB 6-0 218 11 Devin Clark OG-DT 5-10 150 10 Craig Cooper RB-LB 5-8 152 10 Matt Coppage OT-DT 6-3 232 10 Shawn Craft RB-DB 5-7 130 10 Ray Crail WR-DB 6-0 165 11 Justin Cristello WR-DB 5-11 175 12 Kevin Cristello TE-LB 6-1 195 11 Chad Dalton WR-DB 5-10 151 11 Matt Eggleston OG-DT 5-4 185 10 Jered Faehr OT-DT 5-6 182 10 Derek Fitzer WR-DB 6-0 143 11 David Frommeyer TE-LB 6-2 160 10 Adam Gaskins WR-SS 5-6 146 11 Jake Gillen OG-LB 5-10 195 12 Michael Gross TE-DB 6-1 167 11 Ryan Haller C-DE 6-1 219 11 Aaron Heinrich RB-LB 5-10 182 12 Brett Iseral TE-LB 5-11 170 12 Dwayne Jerauld OT-DT 6-4 275 12 John Kelley RB-DB 5-9 140 11 Johnny Leap RB-SS 5-6 150 11 Chad McDonald OT-DT 5-11 176 9 Mike McDonald OT-DT 6-5 268 11 Jamison Meeks QB-LB 6-0 183 10 Daniel Morrison RB-DB 5-10 161 11 Seth Murphy OG-DT 6-1 204 10 Josh Napier OT-DT 6-1 226 10 Joseph Nevels RB-DB 5-8 133 9 Jon Reilly TE-LB 5-10 185 11 Steve Reynolds RB-SS 5-4 155 11 Adam Richter C-NG 5-9 190 10 Matt Robinson C-DE 5-10 181 10 Adam Rockenstein RB-NG 5-4 167 9 Mike Sester WR-DB 5-5 145 12 Jimmy Simon WR-DB 5-10 140 12 Adam Smock RB-DB 5-10 186 12 Jared Smock RB-LB 5-11 179 10 Sammy Sowards OT-DT 5-10 269 12 Adam Sprott WR-DB 5-4 114 11 Aaron Swayne OG-DT 5-10 197 9 Ryan Swayne RB-DB 5-11 151 12 Tommy Van Auken RB-SS 5-10 161 12 Jeff Wolfinbarger TE-LB 5-8 149 11