If it’s the last season for Christian County football, the Colonels would like to go out with a winning record — especially after some struggles the last few years.
The Colonels won just one game each of the past two seasons. And that followed a winless campaign in 2019.
The last winning record for Christian County came in 2017, when the Colonels won their first 11 games before bowing to South Warren in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.
With Christian County and Hopkinsville expected to merge into one school next season, a former Hoptown standout will guide the Colonels through the 2022 season.
Head coach Blake Ladson played football and basketball at Hopkinsville before graduating in 2002.
From there he went to West Virginia University to continue his career on the gridiron, redshirting in his only season with the Mountaineers. Ladson played his final three seasons of college football at Western Kentucky University.
Ladson served as an assistant coach in stints with the Tigers and the Colonels over the last 12 years. He was on staff during the Colonels’ undefeated regular season in 2017.
Ladson was on the sidelines for the last three seasons with the Tigers, including the run to the Class 4A state semifinals in 2020.
On the field this season, junior quarterback Jordan Miles steers Christian’s spread offense.
Miles not only was the team’s leading passer last season with 998 yards and 11 touchdowns, he also topped the Colonels with 440 yards and five TDs rushing.
Miles passed for 190 yards and three touchdowns as Christian County won its season opener Friday night 18-9 over Caldwell County at the Stadium of Champions.
Miles figures to get some help in the ground game this season from junior Josiah Jenkins. Jenkins rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries in the season opener.
The Colonels also have some playmaking receivers.
Junior JaSean Riley led the team with 382 yards receiving and four TDs in the air last season. At 6-foot-2, he provides a big target. Riley had a 30-yard scoring grab against Caldwell.
Prince Northington II gives the Colonels a speed threat. He hauled in four passes for 134 yards in the opener and had touchdown grabs of 55 and 29 yards.
The Colonels have good size up front, and should only get better offensively as the season progresses.
Defensively, Christian County can put a mix of speed and quickness on the field.
Jenkins picked off two passes last season, but the Colonels will look to create more turnovers this season after having just seven takeaways a year ago.
An interesting late newcomer to the 2022 Christian County roster is senior Elijah Underhill, who could see action at receiver and defensive back.
Underhill had a big season on the baseball diamond this past spring, helping the Colonels win a 2nd Region championship and play in the state tournament in Lexington. He announced earlier this month that he will play collegiate baseball at Eastern Kentucky University.
The Colonels will need to continue to improve on both sides of the football to move up the pecking order in Class 5A’s 2nd District. That group includes defending state champion South Warren, perennial power Bowling Green and Greenwood.
The Colonels will hit the road for the first time next when they travel to Logan County.
The big game on the 2022 schedule is Sept. 16 when Christian County and Hopkinsville figure to square off for the final time ever before consolidation leaves just one public school in Hopkinsville.
