With top playmakers on both sides of the ball gone and a new coach roaming the sideline, the 2024 Christian County football team will bear little resemblance to the 1-10 squad that finished the season with a 60-0 loss to Central Hardin in the opening round of the 6A playoffs.
Coach Ethan Atchley takes over for previous coach Zach Self after finishing 7-5 in his lone season in charge at Frankfort. Atchley will be entering the tenth season of his head coaching career, including stops at Lexington Christian Academy and Bullitt East.
One of Atchley’s most pressing tasks is replacing the offensive 1-2 punch of Jordan Miles and Prince Northington II. Miles threw for over 1,200 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and led the team in rushing with 730 yards and seven scores.
Northington II led the way with 632 yards on 33 catches with eight touchdowns while rushing for just shy of 200 yards with a pair of TDs. Miles’ second-favorite target, JaSean Riley, also graduated after making 27 catches for 314 yards and three touchdowns.
The defensive unit was gutted by graduation as well, beginning with the loss of Devontravion Wilford’s team highs of 82 tackles, 11 for loss, three sacks, and a pair of fumble recoveries. DeAnthony Brown’s absence also stings after he recorded 55 tackles, six for loss, with three sacks.
Sophomore Jaiden Williams and Sebastian Dazey have shared snaps at quarterback during the preseason after Williams connected on 13 of 25 passing attempts for 129 yards a year ago.
Josh Bridges leads the returning receivers after making 22 catches for 248 yards and a score as a sophomore. Fellow juniors Aiden Jesse and Zyon Wharton will also be called on to expand their roles after Jesse hauled in ten passes for 158 yards and Wharton gained 73 yards with a touchdown in 2023.
On the defensive side, the Colonels will look to seniors Isaiah Davidson and Christopher McCarley after they combined for 30 tackles last year. Junior DeAndre Watkins recorded 36 tackles with an interception, junior Jimmarion Byrd will hope to build on his 19 tackles and one sack, and sophomores Jordan Catlett and Deasian Harris will be counted on to shoulder more of the load after seeing time as freshmen.
The Colonels open the season on Friday with a trip to Warren East before squaring off with crosstown rivals Hopkinsville on September 6.
District play begins on October 11 at Daviess County, followed over the next two weeks by home matchups with McCracken County and Henderson. The Colonels were outscored by those opponents 125-72 in three defeats last season.
