Sheron storms back to the forefront of the Mr. Football conversation after winning the week against Danville. A Tomcat torpedoes his way back onto the watchlist, while two other EKY backs continue to produce big with minimal touches. A second half surge of horsepower by Bradley extends McCracken's season. And the "Wayne County Wonder" takes a bow.

 

(Alphabetically)

Hunter Bradley (RB), McCracken County

Season to date: 134 carries for 1,081 yards and 13 touchdowns - 226 receiving yards and a touchdown

Round 1: Trailing by six to Apollo in the third quarter, McCracken County was in search of a spark. Cue Bradley, who was sitting on just 28 yards rushing in the first half. He bolted 44 yards to paydirt midway through the third frame to put the Mustangs ahead and ignite a monster second half performance that saw Bradley run for 178 yards and two scores to propel McCracken to victory.

 

Nick Broyles (QB), Franklin County

Season to date: 82/111 for 1,405 yards and 17 TDs/0 ints.

Round 1: Returning to the field for the first time in nearly a month, Broyles showed no ill effects from whatever sidelined him for Franklin County's last two regular season games. He completed 10 of 13 throws for 185 yards and three scores as the Flyers routed Shelby County. This week's district title game against Central is crucial to his candidacy, one way or another. A win that includes an impressive stat line doesn't necessarily make him a favorite, but a loss essentially ends any chance he might have of remaining in the conversation

 

Leetavious Cline (RB/DB), West Carter

Season to date: 164 carries for 1,559 yards and 24 touchdowns - 38 tackles/1 pick-six

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

Round 1: Cline played a central role in the Comets making short work of Prestonsburg. He rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns, and along the way, set a new single season standard for rushing yards at West Carter. He stands approximately three hundred yards shy of the school's all-time rushing record, and barring an upset, is in good position to break that one as well.

 

Isaac Dixon (RB/DB), Belfry

Season to date: 96 carries for 1,405 yards and 22 touchdowns/165 receiving yards and three touchdowns - one kickoff return touchdown

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

Round 1 Dixon made the most of a stat padding opportunity against Magoffin County, scoring a touchdown all four times he touched the ball, offensively. He carried three times for 115 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to a 51 yard touchdown reception. Another likely stat padding game fell by the wayside when Covid forced Lawrence County to shut down for the season, handing the district title to the Pirates.

 

Clay Games (QB), Elizabethtown

Season to date: 98/152 for 1,582 yards and 22 TDs/0 ints.

Round 1: E'town ran roughshod over Thomas Nelson, with Games going a cool 9 of 11 for 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Any real chance he has at getting his name on the tongues of voters begins in earnest this week against Bardstown. Games outplayed the Tigers' Brady Clark on October 27th, throwing three touchdown passes in E'town's dominant win.

 

Keontae Pittman (RB), Ashland

Season to date: 103 carries for 1,018 yards and 18 touchdowns

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

Round 1: Pittman got a week's  head start on Thanksgiving by carving up Greenup County's defense like a turkey at grandma's house. His 272 rushing yards represent a career high, to go along with four touchdown runs, three of which were 55 yards or longer. Watching Pittman score from 55, 67, and 77 yards out was like watching Secretariat at the Belmont. When he sees daylight and takes full flight, everyone else looks like they're running ankle deep in mud.

 

Dylan Preston (RB/LB), Johnson Central

Season to date: 90 carries for 1,193 yards and 22 touchdowns/4 receiving touchdowns/6.5 sacks/1 pick-six 

Round 1: JC pounced on Harlan County early and often, cruising to a first half running clock. Included in the onslaught, was 144 yards (75 rushing/69 receiving) of total offense and a pair of touchdowns by Preston on eight touches. He ranks second in class 4A in scoring and his production against the Black Bears slides him up to #2 in rushing yards. He also ranks sixth in sacks, despite not being a full time defender every week.

 

Kaiya Sheron (QB), Somerset

Season to date: 97/159 for 1,785 yards and 14 touchdowns/4 interceptions - 407 rushing yards/8 touchdowns 

Highlights: http://www.hudl.com/v/2EfX6c

Round 1: Just in case you forgot who Kaiya Sheron was after being shelved for a month with an injury, Somerset's date with Danville served as a blunt reminder. Seemingly fully recovered from his banged up knee, the future UK Wildcat turned in a career night against the Ads with 477 yards of total offense and five touchdowns. He completed 19 of 26 throws for 386 yards and three scores, plus another 91 yards and two scores with his legs. The LCA rematch beckons, and with it, an opportunity to take a giant step forward in the chase for Mr. Football. 

 

Braedon Sloan (RB), Wayne County

Season to date: 153 carries for 1,607 yards and 27 touchdowns

Round 1: And just like that, the storied career of one of the most productive running backs in recent memory reaches the finish line. The end came quietly, amid a season forever stained by forces beyond our control. He went out on his shield against Knox Central, with 192 yards rushing and two scores, plus a touchdown reception. Opposing coaches and defenders surely won't miss him, but the fortunate observers in Monticello who have witnessed the enormity of his talent, certainly will. Sloan carved out a legacy at Wayne County that will stand the test of time, and achieved football immortality within the borders of the Commonwealth by supplanting Alexander the Great as the single season touchdown king last year. 

 

Noteworthy performances from Round 1:

Brady Worley (QB), Knox Central: 357 passing yards and four touchdowns against Wayne County

Fred Farrier (WR), Franklin County: 159 yards receiving and two touchdowns against Shelby County

DeShawn Hamilton (RB), Fairdale: 203 yards and three touchdowns against Doss

Ben Dalton (QB), Henderson County: 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Daviess County

Some of our watchlist regulars, like Hergott, Wright, Gillis, and McElroy were off last week, be it a first round bye or nursing an injury.

Isaac Dixon's last eight offensive touches in District play have all been TD's! 

Four touches four scores vs. Magoffin, three touches three scores vs. Pike Central, and his last touch against Lawrence County.

 

Here is Dixon's stat-line for District play, not sure I have ever seen anything like this:

34 offensive touches, 949 total yards, 19 TD's

That is 27.9 yards per touch and a TD every 1.8 touches!

 

For the season, this is adding and including games against the #1 1A, #1 4A, #3 6A, and # 7 5A teams mind you:

100 Total Touches, 1570 total yards, 25 TD's

15.7 yards per touch and a TD every 4 touches!

 

He may not win Mr. Football, but this is one of the most unbelievable stat-lines I have ever witnessed from an efficiency standpoint when you factor in the overall competition he has had to face with every defense knowing he was the only straw to stir the Belfry drink.

 

19 minutes ago, ATLCat said:

Isaac Dixon's last eight offensive touches in District play have all been TD's! 

Four touches four scores vs. Magoffin, three touches three scores vs. Pike Central, and his last touch against Lawrence County.

 

Here is Dixon's stat-line for District play, not sure I have ever seen anything like this:

34 offensive touches, 949 total yards, 19 TD's

That is 27.9 yards per touch and a TD every 1.8 touches!

 

For the season, this is adding and including games against the #1 1A, #1 4A, #3 6A, and # 7 5A teams mind you:

100 Total Touches, 1570 total yards, 25 TD's

15.7 yards per touch and a TD every 4 touches!

 

He may not win Mr. Football, but this is one of the most unbelievable stat-lines I have ever witnessed from an efficiency standpoint when you factor in the overall competition he has had to face with every defense knowing he was the only straw to stir the Belfry drink.

 

He's been as spectacular this year as VanCleave was three years ago, maybe even more so. If he can keep this up and Belfry hoists another title... who knows?

I think he deserves to at least be a finalist.