The Logan County Cougars open district play Friday night at Allen County-Scottsville. AC-S won this matchup last year, but Coach Todd Adler’s Cougars are 4-0 this season and the Patriots 0-4.
The following is a preview of the game by Don Meredith, the long-time sports director for Patriot Sports;
By Don Meador
The Opponent: • Logan County ranked ninth in this week’s Class 4A Media Poll. • Logan County defeated Greenwood 22-21 in overtime last week. Cougars have wins over Hart County (19-15), McCracken County (33-16) and Russellville (45-0). • Luke Rogers averages 159.2 yards passing per game through four games, 5 TD’s. • Christian Helle has 456 yards rushing on the season, an average of 114 yards per game. • Tyson Thomeczek has caught 23 passes for 289 yards and three TD’s.
Pre-Season Notes for AC-S: • AC-S’s 9 wins in 2024 were most since the Patriots finished with 13 wins in 2010 season. • Brayden Holland (SR, 5’10, 175) is leading returning rusher having amassed 348 yards in 11 games as a junior. Bladen Beavers (JR, 5’9, 155) rushed for 116 yards last season. • De’Ante Grainger (SR, 6’1, 175) caught 14 passes for 266 yards, 3 TD’s on offense and had 48 tackles as a DB last year. • Linebacker Edy Chavez (SR, 5’8, 190) is leading returning tackler from a season ago. • Edy Chavez (SR, 5’8, 190) was in on 101 total tackles including 32 solo stops in 2024. • Defensive Back Eli McCoy (SR, 5’7, 170) recorded 76 total tackles (24 solos) as a junior. • Defensive back Ayden Johnston (SR, 5’10, 185) was in on 43 tackles last season. • Tyler Turner (SR, 6’2, 170), Keagan Towe (SR, 6’0, 165) and Ryan Hensley (SR, 5’11, 160) are expected to be strong receivers this fall. Carson Holland (SR, 6’0, 225) and Jaxon Carver (SR, 5’10, 260) to be anchors of O-line. Ace Moore (SR, 6’1, 225) has moved to a linebacker spot this year. Kaleb Jessie (SR, 5’9, 160), D.J. Frields (SR, 6’2, 225) and Eli McCoy (SR, 5’7, 170) are expected to play key roles in the defensive backfield. • Special team play will see Edy Chavez (SR, 5’8, 190) handle the punting duties. • De’Ante Grainger (SR, 6.2, 185) and Ay’Den Grainger (FR, 6’2, 185) handle punt and kickoff return duties. • New players to watch will be running back Jeffery Garcia (JR, 5’9, 165), defensive back Cameron Ballard (SR, 5’10, 140), and defensive back Ay’Den Grainger (FR, 6’2, 185). The District/Schedule:
• Patriots are in Class 4A, District 1 along with Logan County, Paducah Tilghman, Warren East, Calloway County, and Franklin-Simpson. The six-team Class 4A, District 1 stretches from the Ohio River, southward to the Kentucky Lake area and eastward to the southern banks of Barren River. AC-S’s longest trip-regular season: Paducah Tilghman, 158 miles.
Program Notes: • Patriots in 57th season of football. Overall record to the start of season is 292-315. • Coach Brad Hood begins his 20th season with overall record of 114-104. Won his 100th game in week 10 in 2023 at Barren Coo, first Patriot coach to reach that career milestone. • Coach Brad Hood has nine winning seasons in his 19 years. Led ACS to 4A state championship game in the fall of 2010. • AC-S in playoffs last year for 17th consecutive season. All-time playoff record is 17-28.
The LoJo
This is the first game for the Cougars not played at home or a couple of miles up the road.
Since there are six teams in Class 4A, Region 1, District 1 and only four playoff berths, every win is important.
The game will be broadcast live on WRUS with the Countdown to Kickoff beginning at 6:30.