A new season will bring new hopes and new challenges for the Allen County-Scottsville Patriot football team. AC-S will look to improve upon last year’s 6-5 record behind a talented group of new faces in several key positions.
“We have a long way to go,” noted Patriot coach Brad Hood. “We have a lot of youth and a lot of guys in new places but the effort is pretty good and the attitude has been pretty well. We are just trying to improve each single day.”
The one spot that is secure at the start of this season is quarterback. Last year, the season started with Trace McIntyre (6’0”, 170, JR) and Zane Ward (5’11, 165, SR) sharing the quarterback role. By season’s end, McIntyre had emerged as the starting quarterback role---a position that the talented junior has retained this season.
“Trace has a lot of experience under his belt,” Hood said. “He’s been working hard to improve his game all winter, spring, and summer. He will have some good weapons around him.”
McIntyre went 54/95 in passing last season, throwing for 680 yards and six touchdowns. The numbers are forecast to improve this year as Hood expects his team to be solid on the ground and potentially very good in the passing attack.
“Landon Witcher (5’8”, 185, JR) has had a great spring and summer at tailback,” Hood explained. “Jacquez McPeak (5’10”, 210, SR) and Dillion Rookstool (5’11’, 235, JR) have been splitting time at fullback giving us a lot of power options. Jax Cooper (6’3”, 185, JR) is one of the best receivers around. He just has not had that breakout moment. Tanner Stinson (6’2”, 160, SO) has come in and is doing a heck of a job.”
Witcher, McPeak, Rookstool, and Cooper served as backups in varsity action last year but were key players on the JV squad. Hood also points out that Ward will be in the line-up, giving AC-S another offensive weapon.
“Zane will do a lot of things for us,” Hood said. “Offensively, he’ll be running at wide receiver some and playing the slot for us.”
As always, the success of the offense will hinge on the team’s offensive line---a line that lost several players to graduation yet a unit that Hood believes will improve with snaps under their belts.
“Jordan Madden (6’2”, 245, SR) and Kayden Whitney (6’3”, 245”, JR) are returning as our offensive tackles,” Hood explained. “Austin Alderson (6’0”, 225, SR) has some experience. Those three will lead the charge for what’s going to be a little bigger line than we have had in the last couple of years. We will have a sophomore, Brady Alderson (6’0”, 230), and two juniors, Tucker Tracy (6’3”, 235) and Logan Kendall (6’1”, 280) to finish out the bunch. They have been working hard. We are going to be bigger and hopefully stronger to.”
Hood enters his 14th year as the AC-S coach and continues to preach the value of a strong defense. The Patriots are expected to bring heavy hitting behind a defensive unit that is rebuilding.
“Our defense is young,” Hood admitted. “We have got a lot of new faces. All our DB’s (defensive backs are brand new and a lot of linebackers will be new. Our two mainstays from last year, Dillion (Rookstool) and Jacquez (McPeak) will be back but Dillion is moving to linebacker. Madden will go both ways and Whitney will see some time on the defense. Samson Dyer (6’0”, 190, SR) started a few games for us last year and is a great leader. Noah Kinslow (6’2”, 165, SR) and Kaymen Cox 5’8”, 185, SR) are two others that will be asked to step up.”
Defensive stats from nine of AC-S’s 11 games last year reveal that McPeak was in on 59 total tackles while Rookstool contributed for 55 tackles. Dalton Cline (5’9”, 170, SR) also had 72 total tackles last season.
Hood adds that a solid defensive near the line will be key given the inexperience in the defensive secondary---a secondary hurt by the absence of Nick Cooper (6’0”, 170). The junior recorded 58 total tackles in 2018 but is out of the line-up due to an injury sustained in a spring traffic accident.
“We are going to have to get good in the box because our DB’s are so young,” Hood said “Zane Ward will help us out at defensive back, we’ll see Landon and Jax running some safety, and then Seth Byrd (5’8 , 150) is a senior corner that has worked really hard for four years and is finally getting his opportunity. So far, he has grabbed hold of the starting corner spot and he is fighting to make sure he keeps it.”
The special team component of the Patriots will be solid. Sophomore Thorny Walker (5’10”, 220) will handle the kicking duties---a position to which he brought excitement in 2018. Last year, Walker demonstrated the ability to knock down field goals as evident by his 34-yard game-winning boot against Grayson County.
The way the 51st season of Patriot football plays out will depend on a pair of factors.
“I think the keys will be how we overcome adversity and how quickly we grow up,” Hood explained. “We are going to have to mature fast in some areas. We are going to have to realize that the season is long term. We have to go step-by-step. There is going to be some disappointments and some surprises. We will have to learn from them, take them in check, and keep fighting. I believe this bunch has the heart and the want-to. They will keep improving to get us to where we need to be.”
The Patriots will not have an easy road to start the season.
“This early season tough schedule is going to be fun,” Hood added. “Hopefully we’ll be playing our best ball near the end and hopefully we’ll get in the playoffs ready to roll.”
AC-S opens Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. in the Scottie Bowl at Glasgow against Elizabethtown---a program that understands how a season can turn around quick. The Panthers opened last year 0-3 before winning eight of their final 10 games and reaching the Class 3A Region 1 final. Eight days later, AC-S will travel to Boyle County to play Mercer County on August 31---the first of two trips to Danville as the Admirals from Danville High School are also on the schedule in an early October game. The Patriots have a game at Greenwood on September 6 before their home season opener on September 13 against Glasgow.
A week later, AC-S travels to Warren Central to open play in the new five-team District. A home game against reigning state champion Franklin-Simpson follows with Warren East on the District slate on October 18. The following week, AC-S hosts District newcomer Russell County before closing the season against Monroe County on November 1 at Patriot Stadium.
“Warren Central is going to be better and Warren East will have a lot of new faces,” Hood said. “Franklin-Simpson is just Franklin-Simpson. I saw them scrimmage and they might not be as good as they were when they ended last year but they are still pretty dang good. They will grow and get better.”
The addition of a fifth District team means that one of the five District teams will not make the playoffs that will start on November 8. Hence, winning District games not only improves your seeding but will be critical in the Patriot quest to return to the playoffs for a 12th consecutive season.
Friday’s game against Elizabethtown is part of the Fifth Annual Scottie Bowl. The game has a 5 p.m. kickoff at Glasgow High School. Glasgow and LaRue County will follow the first game. Admission is $10 per person.