After graduating 25 seniors off a 10-1 team in 2017 and 23 more off last season’s 4-7 squad, the Christian County football team enters 2019 looking for consistency with a number of new faces. The Colonels ended last year with a 29-7 loss to Bowling Green in the first round of the playoffs, the first time they failed to advance to the second week of the postseason since 2006, the year before coach Steve Lovelace began his tenure.
The Colonels will send out their third quarterback in as many seasons in the opener, with junior Donta Abren set to start after last season’s starter J’Lin Powell transferred in the offseason. Abren took over under center after an injury ended Powell’s season last year, completing 21 passes in 47 attempts for 192 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Abren lost his top two targets from last season, with Tyler West and Nate McGregor gone through graduation. Junior L’Ray Coleman is the leading returning receiver with 3 catches for 64 yards, followed by junior Isaiah Forrest with 35 yards on 7 receptions. Senior Cam Coleman has enjoyed a strong preseason and seems poised to be the Colonel’ go-to guy in the passing game.
The top two rushers from last season, JaDonavin McNeal and Powell, are gone as well after combining for 18 touchdowns. Forrest is the leading returning ground threat after running for 178 yards and a touchdown on 34 attempts in 2018.
Senior Niko Bussell and L’Ray Coleman look set to anchor the defense, with Bussell forcing a fumble and adding a recovery last year, while Coleman came up with 5 fumble recoveries.
The Colonels will travel to Princeton to open the season against Caldwell County, looking for their fifth-straight win in the series. Christian County took last season’s meeting 11-6 at the Stadium of Champions.
