Extra Point Previews: Ariton Purple Cats

ARITON, Ala (WDHN) — The Ariton Purple Cats have been a juggernaut in 2A Region Two for the past several years, but now one of the best Purple Cats in school history has gone off to college, and it’s time to figure out how to fill the void.

Do-it-all athlete Ian Senn was the driving force of the Cats during his time at Ariton, but now he’s off to Troy, and it’s next man up for the Cats. Ian’s brother, Addison, will work to fill that gap.

He spent time at quarterback last season as a freshman, but now it’s his gig full-time, and Coach Kilcrease thinks he has the chops to get it done.

“He’s a physical kid, a hard-nosed kid,” said Coach Kilcrease. “Addison can be that type, Addison and Ian are different. Addison is a more physical type player, but has that demeanor, that work ethic.”

That won’t be the only change, of course. Overall, Coach Kilcrease says this team will be less skill-heavy and lean more on the play of those in the trenches, highlighting athletes like Trey Connell at H-back and Wells Gainey and Brody Joyce at running back and linebacker.

“This year, defensively, we’ve got a lot more depth than we’ve had in my nine years of being here in our front seven on defense,” said Kilcrease. “Same on the other side of the ball up front and at the H-back and tight end position. We’re young and inexperienced at the skill position, but we still have some guys.”

One way or another, though, the Cats have been able to rebuild. They’ve only had one losing season since 2016, and Coach Kilcrease says that’s due to the culture they’ve instilled of work ethic and grind.

“We’ve got to be great in the weight room and work hard year-round,” said Kilcrease. “There’s some days of games that we were working out in the weight room, all the coaches believe in that, at Ariton we’ve got to be that. That’s what our kids have bought into and to me that’s never going to change.”

The Purple Cats kick off their 2024 season on August 30th at Georgiana.

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