In a pivotal playoff matchup on Friday, Grayson Harris played a crucial role in leading Simon Kenton to a 31-9 victory over Oldham County. Despite not scoring a touchdown himself, Harris threw a touchdown pass, made an interception, and caught six passes from Grant Webb for 95 yards, ensuring the Pioneers advanced in the Class 6A playoffs at Chlorine Menefee Stadium.
Simon Kenton head coach Joe Wynn expressed his excitement, noting that this victory marked his first playoff win since taking over the team last year. “It”s awesome,” Wynn stated. “We came out and battled, earned another week and trusted the game plan. Defense executed.” The Pioneers are set to face two-time defending champion Louisville Trinity next Friday in St. Matthews.
Harris drew a parallel between the upcoming game and the biblical tale of David and Goliath, referring to it as a “David-Goliath story.” Currently, Harris has unofficially recorded 54 catches for 1,035 yards this season, bringing his career total to 202 receptions for 3,057 yards and 22 touchdowns. “I was just thinking about winning this game,” he remarked regarding his performance.
In the game, Simon Kenton”s Jordan Pendleton added to the scoring with a 36-yard run and a touchdown. One of the most exciting moments came just before halftime when Webb executed a backward pass to Harris, who then connected with Forest Hughes for a stunning 71-yard touchdown. This play was designed to mislead Oldham County”s defense into thinking Harris would attempt a run.
In their first Class 6A playoff win since 2022, Simon Kenton outperformed Oldham County on offense, gaining 375 yards compared to Oldham”s 190 yards. Oldham County coach Jamie Reed acknowledged the advantage Simon Kenton had, saying, “I felt like they had an edge all night, played with some confidence.” He noted that his team seemed to be waiting for the momentum to shift against them.
While Harris, Webb (who completed 8 of 9 passes for 145 yards), and Hughes were key contributors, Landon Brown also made significant contributions with 76 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with a fumble recovery. The game started off competitively, with Simon Kenton scoring first through Brown”s three-yard run before Oldham County responded with a one-yard touchdown from Nash Meredith. However, a low snap on the extra point attempt resulted in Meredith being stopped short on a two-point conversion.
Following Brown”s second touchdown and a field goal from Miles Mullen, Oldham County found themselves struggling to regain momentum despite a field goal from Rowan Williams. The game turned further away from them when Simon Kenton executed their “Double Pass” play, resulting in a score just before halftime. Reed noted that his team had prepared for that play, but it still proved effective.
In the second half, Oldham County started strong but faltered after Harris intercepted a pass. The game concluded with another touchdown for Simon Kenton, scored by Pendleton. Although Trinity has historically dominated their matchups against Simon Kenton, the Pioneers remain optimistic. “I know they are really good,” Webb acknowledged, “but I think if we execute, we can do our jobs, I think we have a chance.”
Final Score: Oldham County 9, Simon Kenton 31
Scoring Summary:
- First Quarter: SK – Landon Brown 3 run (Miles Mullen kick), 5:58
- Second Quarter: OC – Nash Meredith 1 run (run failed), 10:37
- SK – Jason Rabe 7 run (Mullen kick), 7:08
- SK – Mullen 28 field goal, 2:05
- OC – Rowan Williams 35 field goal, 1:01
- SK – Forest Hughes 71 pass from Grayson Harris (Mullen kick), 0:42
- Fourth Quarter: SK – Jordan Pendleton 4 run (Mullen kick)
Game Stats:
Passing Yards: Oldham County 83 (Derek Dees 7-17-83-1 INT); Simon Kenton 216 (Webb 8-9-141-0 TD-0 INT; Harris 1-1-71-1 TD-0 INT).
Rushing Yards: Oldham County 107 (Meredith 19-75, Corum 5-14, Mount 3-6, Dees 5-12, Snyder 1-3); Simon Kenton 159 (Brown 14-76, Pendleton 6-36, Webb 6-40, Turner 1-0, Ober 1-(minus-4), Rabe 1-7).
Receiving: Oldham County 83 (Kightlinger 5-47, McRoberts 2-15, Mount 2-21); Simon Kenton 216 (Harris 6-95, Pendleton 1-22, Ober 1-4, Hughes 1-71, Brown 1-24).
First Downs: Oldham County 12, Simon Kenton 13.
Turnovers: Oldham County 2, Simon Kenton 0.
Penalties: Oldham County 2-20, Simon Kenton 4-40.
Records: Oldham County 6-5, Simon Kenton 6-5.
