Pirates hope to find their first win of the season in Prestonsburg.
STANTON – September 12, 2019 – Bradley Charles – BSN Powell County Football Columnist
On Friday night, the Powell County Pirates travel to
Prestonsburg to face off against the Blackcats. Each team enters the game with
an 0-3 record.
The Pirates are coming off losses to Montgomery County,
Estill County, and Bath County. The Pirates are averaging 13 points a game,
while allowing 29 points per game.
Sophomore quarterback Holden Townsend got his first career
start last week against Bath County. Townsend went three for 10 while throwing
for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His two touchdown passes
both went to Jason Mullins. The first went for 82-yards, and the second was for
70-yards. While it was his first career start, Townsend saw time in the season
opener going 4 for 8 while throwing for 45 yards and one touchdown against
Montgomery County. This makes the game with the Blackcats Townsend’s first
career start on the road.
Despite allowing nearly 30 points per game on the season,
the Pirates have a pretty stout defense. Against the Wildcats last week, senior
linebacker Chimaobi Ajuonuma totaled 19 tackles. Yes, 19! On the season,
Ajuonuma has totaled 38 tackles, 6 for a loss, while also recording 1.5 sacks,
and an interception which he returned for a touchdown. Fellow seniors Preston Wasson and Justice
Harmon are also playing tremendous defense. Wasson is averaging 12 tackles a
game; Harmon is averaging 11 tackles per game. Ajuonuma, Harmon, and Wasson
each have 24 solo tackles on the season. That’s a cool stat.
As for the Blackcats, they are coached by Brandon Brewer.
Brewer is a Powell County alumnus and has been in the Powell County Football
Hall of Fame for over ten years. Brewer coached at Powell County from
2015-2017. In his three seasons at the helm, Brewer led the Pirates to two
eight-win seasons, and an 11-2 record in October. Brewer also led the Pirates
to a regional championship game in 2017, which was played at PCHS.
As for this edition of the Blackcats, the team is coming off
losses to Pike County Central, Lawrence County, and Hazard. Prestonsburg is
averaging over 10 points per game, while allowing over 45 points per game. Prestonsburg
is a young team having just four seniors, along with 13 juniors, nine
sophomores, and 10 freshmen. Look for this year’s experience to pay off in the
years to come.
The game will be played in Prestonsburg on Friday night at
7:30.
