Many times over the years, Logan County football faced the Franklin-Simpson Wildcats as a decided underdog. When they head to Shadetree Matthews Field in Franklin tonight, they will go in as a perennial Class 4A power and one of the top-ranked teams in the state.
Coach Todd Adler, who has overseen the remarkable turnaround of Cougar Football, leads a team which is number one in the state in rushing defense, second in scoring, third in scoring defense, and in the top 10 in three other statistical categories.
Linebacker Peyton Taylor leads the state in both sacks and tackles for losses. Fellow linebacker Elijah Hawkins is second in tackles for losses and third in solo tackles. Running back Ryan Rayno is third in the state in both scoring and rushing. He is second in rushing touchdowns, and he has the highest yards-per-rush average for anyone carrying the ball an average of 10 or more plays per game
Isaac Poe, who is the reigning state Defensive Player of the Week in all classes, is third in sacks and in defensive fumbles. Hunter Holloway is tied for fourth in interceptions.
Sophomore Kyla Bilyeu is making female kickers everywhere proud. She is fourth in the state in conversion kicks with an 11 of 13 accuracy.
The Franklin-Simpson Wildcats also are having a good season. Their players with state-ranking statistics are shown below Logan totals. They will go with freshman Brady Delk tonight. The regular starting quarterback.
Game time is at 7 p.m. It will be broadcast live on WRUS with former Cougars Zack Woodall and Austin Pogue on the call.
Peyton Taylor: 1st in the state in sacks with 7.5: 1st in tackles for losses with 8; 19th in defensive fumbles with 1 caused; 47th in total tackles with 21
Team: 1st in rushing defense, allowing 41 yards per game; 2nd in scoring at 43 points per game, 3rd in scoring defense at 7.3 points per game allowed, 6th in passing defense at 66 yards per game, 8th in rushing at 243 yards per game, tied for 9th in interceptions with 4, 12th in passing yards per game at 151
Elijah Hawkins: 2nd in tackles for loss with 3.5;3rd in solo tackles with 21;6th in total tackles with 23; tied for 14th in sacks with 2
Ryan Rayno: 3rd in the state in scoring with 48 points;3rd in rushing (472 yards on 44 carries for 10.7 yards per carry and 157 yards per game), 8 touchdowns (tied for 2nd in this).; tied for 24th in sacks with 1.5
Isaac Poe: tied for 3rd in tackles for losses with 3; tied for 3rd in defensive fumbles with 2 forced and 1 recovered; tied for 14th in sacks with 2; 32nd in total tackles with 23
Kyla Bilyeu: tied for 4th in state in conversion kicks with 11 of 13 for 84.6%
Hunter Holloway: tied for 4th in interceptions with 2, returned for 43 yards
Davin Yates: 16th in passing, 28 of 59, 47.5%, 383 yards, 5 TDs, 2 interceptions, 128 yards per game
JunVontre Dilliard: 20th in receiving, 12 catches for 156 yards, 13 yards per catch, 2 TDs, 52 yards per game; tied for 44th in scoring with 18 points
Harper Butler: tied for 23rd in interceptions with 1
Keenam Uhles: tied for 24th in sacks with 1
Isaac Christian: tied for 28th in district fumbles with 1 caused
Kadin Switzer: tied for 28th in district fumbles with 1 caused
Derek White: tied for 28th in district fumbles with 1 caused
Ryland Nichols; 29th in defensive fumbles with 1 caused and 2 recovered
Brady Hinton: 36th in passing with 6 of 12 for 50%, 71 yards, TD, 24 per game
Zane Batten: 47th in receiving, 9 catches for 100 yards, 11.1 average per catch, 33 yards per game
Franklin-Simpson: Jalen Briscoe, 13th in receiving, 7 catches for 175 yards, 2 TD, 24.3 yards per catch, 57 yards per game; tied for 23rd in interceptions with 1 Blake McPherson, 19th in state in rushing with 284 yards for 9.8 and 95; Mathias Dickerson, 27th in passing 8 of 14 for 114 yards and TD, 72 per game; Brady Delk, 40th in passing, 2 of 5 for 40%, 61 yards, 1 TD, 20 per game; Hayden Satterly, tied for 44th in scoring with 18 points; 42nd in total tackles wit 21; Isaac Callis, tied for 7th in field goal kicking with 1 on his only attempt; 10th in conversion kicks with 8 in 9 tries for 88.9%; Allen Atakis, 14th in total tackles with 27; Team: 4th in rushing at 261 yards per game;4th in rushing defense at 60 yards per game; tied for 9th in interceptions with 4; 14th in scoring defense at 9.3 points per game allowed, 19th in scoring at 28.3 points per game