The first two were easy. The last one, much harder. There's probably several names that could be in that slot.

 

1) Damon Hood (1987-1990) - Mr. Football in 1990, Damon essentially did all of his damage in his final two years. Not even a starter until midway through his junior year, he ended up rushing for 1,341 yards that season leading Central to a state final loss against Trinity. The following year he averaged 168.6 yards per game en route to rushing for 2,529 yards for the Dragons that year, leading Central to another loss in the state finals to Trinity. Hood went on to play for Kentucky before injuries ended his time there and his physical by the Indianapolis Colts revealed a narrow spinal column, ending his football career.

 

2) Lonnell Dewalt (2000-2003) - The best Dragon I ever got to see personally. That's in both football and basketball really. Dewalt holds most of the significant receiving records at Warren Central, and was the most dominating force on the field in almost every game he played in. His last game was possibly his most memorable and dominating, hauling in 128 receiving yards against St. X in the state semifinals in a game the Dragons only compiled 188 yards of offense in. He nearly singlehandedly lifted them to the state finals. Lonnell finished as a first team all-state selection his senior year, and went on to play at Kentucky where he set a school record for blocked kicks (7) his only year at the school.

 

3) Walter York (1977-1980) - York was well before my time and played in the era prior to Joe Hood coming to Warren Central, which is somewhat like the Dark Ages. So stats and such are rather scarce, but he was a standout in several sports and a first team all-state selection at the linebacker position for Central. York went on to a standout career at Western Kentucky University.

JJ Jewell(RIP) is probably one of the best to come out of WC.

1. Damon Hood

2. Lonnell Dewalt

3. Tom Napier

The first two were easy. The last one, much harder. There's probably several names that could be in that slot.

 

1) Damon Hood (1987-1990) - Mr. Football in 1990, Damon essentially did all of his damage in his final two years. Not even a starter until midway through his junior year, he ended up rushing for 1,341 yards that season leading Central to a state final loss against Trinity. The following year he averaged 168.6 yards per game en route to rushing for 2,529 yards for the Dragons that year, leading Central to another loss in the state finals to Trinity. Hood went on to play for Kentucky before injuries ended his time there and his physical by the Indianapolis Colts revealed a narrow spinal column, ending his football career.

 

2) Lonnell Dewalt (2000-2003) - The best Dragon I ever got to see personally. That's in both football and basketball really. Dewalt holds most of the significant receiving records at Warren Central, and was the most dominating force on the field in almost every game he played in. His last game was possibly his most memorable and dominating, hauling in 128 receiving yards against St. X in the state semifinals in a game the Dragons only compiled 188 yards of offense in. He nearly singlehandedly lifted them to the state finals. Lonnell finished as a first team all-state selection his senior year, and went on to play at Kentucky where he set a school record for blocked kicks (7) his only year at the school.

 

3) Walter York (1977-1980) - York was well before my time and played in the era prior to Joe Hood coming to Warren Central, which is somewhat like the Dark Ages. So stats and such are rather scarce, but he was a standout in several sports and a first team all-state selection at the linebacker position for Central. York went on to a standout career at Western Kentucky University.

 

Actually, Damon started on the DL as a Freshman and was an all-state DL as a Sophomore and Junior. He started at Fullback also as a junior but was moved to Tailback after the first round playoff victory against Christian County when starter and leading rusher Tony Cooper broke his ankle and was out for the duration of the playoffs. Subsequently, John Napier, Tom Napier (John's younger brother who would go on to play FB for Army and be 2nd in the nation in rushing as a true Freshman), and Chad Dillard rotated at the FB position for the rest of the playoffs all the way to WC's 1st state title appearance.

 

My 3 would be:

1- Damon Hood

2- Lonnell Dewalt

3-Courtez Metcalfe (KY/TN all star game MVP in 94. Played TB, QB, WR, FS, CB, P and K at WC. State champ in Triple Jump and Long Jump. Led Dragons to 93 Class AAA state semis with a team of maybe 35 players. One of few 3 year starters during the golden age of WC football.

 

Honorable Mention:

Vada McCoy (one of Coach Hood's first TB's. His teams were terrible, but he was fantastic and held nearly every school rushing record until Damon. He is the guy often forgotten in WC football lore due to some bad teams, but was electric)

 

Tucker Ballinger (Senior, all state LB on WC's 1st region title team. Went on to start at LB at G'town and lead them to a National Title as an All American team captain)

 

Chris Turner (great QB on WC's 1st region team who went on to play many years in MLB)

Walter York (see above poster)

JJ Jewell (started at QB on WC's 1st state team and later at WKU)

Tracey Reid (leading WR on first state team)

Chris Snell (leading tackler and all-state LB on both state teams. Went on to WKU)

John Crabbe (all state OL on both state teams who played 4 years on scholly at APSU)

Tom Napier (as said above, played at Army. His late 4th quarter 60+ yard TD run to beat BG in 91 lives as one of the greatest plays in school history)

 

Tyrone Tackett (DL who played with Ballinger at both WC and G'town)

Yancey Minton (all state OL who played at WKU. Strongest player during WC's best years)

Andre Metcalfe (Courtez' lil bro who was a stud TB himself. In 94, he was injured and WC lost 4 games. His 1st game back they beat undefeated and #1 ranked Franklin-Simpson in regular season finale)

 

*I must admit that I know very little about WC's players previous to the Joe P. Hood years. In the 2000's I know Justin Meredith and Terkell Boards stood out as very good players.

HM- Wes Jeffries (OL), Blake Ayers (QB- holds most of the passing records at WC), and Tevon Boards (RB) who may be the second or third best RBs to come through WC. All played during the Cox era and were very productive.

Actually, Damon started on the DL as a Freshman and was an all-state DL as a Sophomore and Junior. He started at Fullback also as a junior but was moved to Tailback after the first round playoff victory against Christian County when starter and leading rusher Tony Cooper broke his ankle and was out for the duration of the playoffs. Subsequently, John Napier, Tom Napier (John's younger brother who would go on to play FB for Army and be 2nd in the nation in rushing as a true Freshman), and Chad Dillard rotated at the FB position for the rest of the playoffs all the way to WC's 1st state title appearance.

 

 

I was meaning more as starting as the main guy on offense, but that's interesting about him on defense. I didn't actually know that. I love learning things about WC history I didn't know.