2020 Mr. Football Watchlist (9/22)

[DevilMayCare]

This week, we say hello to three players making their watchlist debuts: a multi-faceted running back from a 5A sleeper, a quarterback trying to fill some very big shoes at a perennial power, and a player who dishes out punishment both as a running back and as a pass rusher.

(Alphabetically)

Nick Broyles (QB), Franklin County

Season to date: 38/50 for 795 yards and 9 TDs/0 ints.

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2EFCvQ

Week 2: Broyles lit up the night's sky for the second week in a row, posting a career high 431 yards and four touchdowns on 23/32 passing. He added an additional 37 yards and a score with his legs to lead the Flyers past Woodford County. The weapons at his disposal go well beyond just Fred Farrier, with five different receivers recording at least two catches for 50+ yards against the Yellowjackets. 

Cole Durbin (RB/DB), North Bullitt

Season to date: 38 rushes for 458 yards and 10 touchdowns/1 passing touchdown

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2EFDEm

Week 2: Durbin spent a very productive 2019 season competing in relative obscurity. North Bullitt was solid, but just barely good enough to register a blip on anyone's radar beyond the borders of Bullitt County. That's no longer the case. Last Friday's outing against Shelby County has thrust Durbin into the spotlight of the Mr. Football watchlist. His chances of claiming the award might be slim compared to some other names listed here, but 262 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns (six rushing/one passing) against the Rockets demands our attention. If you already know his name, chances are it's because of his ability as a running back, but against Shelby County, he uncorked a half back pass for a touchdown that most quarterbacks would envy. There's no guarantee that he'll be here next week, but we can no longer use the name Cole Durbin and 'obscure' in the same sentence.

Jagger Gillis (QB), Boyle County

Season to date: 26/38 for 517 yards and 9 TDs/1 int.

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2EFDFH

Week 2: No Reese Smith or Reed Lanter? No problem, says Boyle County. The Rebels appear to have picked up where they left off last year with Gillis, a transfer from Anderson County, assuming the controls of another potent BC offensive unit. He followed up a four touchdown game in Boyle' s opener with six more (five passing/one rushing) against CAL. Gillis picked apart the Centurions' secondary for 342 yards on 16/23 passing.

Cam Hergott (QB), Beechwood

Season to date: 26/40 for 368 yards/ 172 rushing yards and three touchdowns 

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2EEzjp

Week 2: A week after carrying Beechwood to victory against Corbin, Hergott nearly did it again against Covington Catholic. His arm and legs accounted for 236 of Beechwood's 239 total yards and both touchdowns versus the Colonels. Most of that production came in the first half before CovCath's defense dialed up a notch or two and shut the Tigers down over the final 24 minutes. Even in defeat, Hergott and Beechwood have altered the landscape of 2A, proving that they will be a force to be reckoned with when late November comes around.

Caleb Jacob (QB), Covington Catholic

Season to date: 20/41 for 251 yards and 2 TD/3 ints. - 1 rushing touchdown

Week 2: Beechwood held Jacob to just 108 yards passing and his worst completion percentage (42%) in two years, but he utilized his legs to extend drives and pick up crucial first downs to salt away a CovCath win. The Colonels' offense has needed two games to produce the per game average from the past two years with Jacob at the helm. Life without Michael Mayer, and for that matter, Casey McGinness, is proving a struggle with so much falling on #5's shoulders. With Jacob's abilities and Eddie Eviston's talent for scheming and play calling, I wouldn't rule out a return to form as the season rolls on. For now though, his Mr. Football contention has taken a hit.

James Johnson (RB/DL), DeSales

Season to date: 40 carries for 327 yards and 3 TDs/72 receiving yards/3 sacks

Week 2: After giving us a glimpse of his considerable talents against LCA, Johnson found Cooper's defense more to his liking. The Colts star ran for 207 yards and a touchdown on fifteen carries and picked up 47 more yards on a catch-and-run. He also proved to be a factor on defense for the second straight game, recording his third sack of the young season.

 

Nathan McElroy (QB), Trinity

Season to date: 25/40 for 283 and 3 TDs/1 rushing TD

Week 2: The beat goes on for McElroy and Trinity. He was held in check statistically against Male, finishing with 140 passing yards and a single touchdown, but the Shamrocks routed the second ranked Bulldogs 43-14, leaving no doubt who is tops in 6A right now. He now leads his team into enemy territory, as the T/X rivalry moves away from Cardinal Stadium and onto the campus of St. Xavier. 

Kaiya Sheron (QB), Somerset

Season to date: 24/34 for 524 yards and 4 TDs/73 rushing yards and three touchdowns

Week 2: Williamsburg landed the first punch, but Somerset landed the next several, uninterrupted blows to knock out the Yellowjackets. Sheron was razor sharp, completing 18/21 throws for 364 yards and two touchdowns, plus another pair of scores with his feet. He continued to showcase his bond with top target Kade Grundy, with the two linking up six times for over a hundred yards.

Braedon Sloan (RB), Wayne County

Season to date: 42 carries for 456 yards and 8 touchdowns 

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2EF8RG

Week 2: It's hard to top a 300 yard, five touchdown opener, but even Sloan's "off" nights are still special. His workload was lightened significantly in Wayne County's 42-0 blowout of Harlan County, resulting in 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns on thirteen carries. Next up is a trip to 'Title Town' to face Danville.

Lavell Wright (RB), North Hardin

Season to date: 45 carries for 253 yards and a touchdown/4 catches for 39 yards

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2EEvzg

Week 2: Wright found a little more running room in Week 2 than he did against Frederick Douglass, but John Hardin made him earn the majority of his 167 yards the hard way. This week, Wright faces off against Bullitt East, a team he had both a hundred yards rushing and receiving against last year.

Noteworthy performances from Week 2:

Reece Jesse (WR), Hopkinsville: 131 yards receiving and a touchdown against Caldwell County

Leetavious Cline (RB), West Carter: 273 yards rushing and three touchdowns against Boyd County 

Q'Daryius Jennings (RB), Ohio County: 289 yards rushing and three touchdowns against Muhlenberg County

Joseph Bond (RB), Bryan Station: 222 rushing yards and a touchdown against Tates Creek