2016 Snapshot: Ludlow

Prior to 2014 Ludlow had only one winning season in the 21st century going 8-3 in 2004. The Panthers have strung together back-to-back 6-5 campaigns and it is the first time that has happened since 1997 and ’98. Head coach Rick Hornsby has finally got the program head in the right direction. The team and fans have made James Rigney Stadium the place to be on Friday nights on the southern banks of the Ohio River.

“The 2016 football season should be very exciting. We have a group of underclassmen that worked very hard in the off-season. They are very dedicated to making themselves better players. We have good leadership in our junior and senior class. The experience they gained the last two seasons on learning to win close games should be a great asset for our program this year. We should be good at the skilled positions,” Hornsby states.

Ludlow QB/LB Justin Blackburn (photo from Facebook)

Like any small school there are pluses and minuses. “on defense we will be much stronger and quicker than years past but we are small in numbers this year so we cannot afford to have a lot of injuries to key players,” Hornsby says. “Like any team our goal is to reach the playoffs. The Class A district in Northern Kentucky is a very challenging but very exciting conference. We look forward to the new season.”

These are exciting times for a school that has very little to cheer about over the past two decades. Expect Hornsby and his Ludlow troops to keep Rigney, “rollin’ on the river.”

Class1A, District 4
2015 RECORD: 6-5, 2-1 Class 1A, District 4
COACH: Rick Hornsby (32-57 @ Ludlow, eight years; 32-57 overall)

TOP RETURNEES
Justin Blackburn, Jr, QB/LB – One of the best small school players in Kentucky, all Blackburn did as a sophomore is set the school record for rushing and passing yards in a single season. He also led the team with 118 total tackles. Blackburn finished the year having amassed 2,602 yards of total offense (1,287 passing, 1,315 rushing) while accounting for 27 touchdowns (14 passing, 13 rushing).

Jacob Holbert, Sr, OL/LB – A two-way starter Holbert was in on 23 total tackles as a junior.

Hunter Rahe, Sr, OL/DL – Rahe will play on both sides of the line for the Panthers. He will be counted on as a team leader this fall.

Chandler Booker, Sr, WR/DB – There will plenty of opportunities for Booker on offense after catching three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown a year ago. He also had 23 total tackles, one fumble recovery and an interception as a defensive back.

Jacob Bridges, Jr, OL/DL – Another player who will see plenty of snaps on both sides of the line Bridges registered 16 total tackles as a sophomore.

Cody Brownfield, So, OL/LB – A solid freshman campaign saw Brownfield get in on 23 total tackles.

Sean Stratton, So, RB/DB – Look for Stratton to be a factor out of the backfield and in the secondary for Ludlow. He tallied 20 total tackles and had six carries for 64 yards with a touchdown in his varsity debut.

Kyle David, Jr, OL/DL – Coach Hornsby is looking for David to be a factor on both sides of the line this fall.

2016 SCHEDULE
Ludlow has done a good job of beating the teams they were supposed to over the past two seasons. That is a trend that should continue this fall. The upper echelon teams on the Panthers schedule – Beechwood, Paris and Bishop Brossart were a combined 33-5 last season. Ludlow was outscored by a combined 109-19 in its three losses to those squads in ‘15.

SEPARATING FROM THE PACK
Last fall all six of Ludlow’s wins were by 18 points or more. Four of those victories were by 28 points or better. Three of the Panthers five losses were by nine points or less.

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