2021 BluegrassPreps Mr. Football Watchlist (10/13)

[DevilMayCare]

Sivori leads his Tigers over Northington's Crimsons in a surprisingly one sided contest; A matchup in the mountains between top quarterbacks quickly escalates into a bloodbath; And speaking of mountains, JC's colossus continues to dominate the point of attack

 

In alphabetical order:

Vinny Anthony (WR, Male)

Season to date: 19 reception for 513 yards and 5 touchdowns ; 1 kick return touchdown

Highlights: vs. Southern

Week 8: Anthony got behind the Southern secondary for a deep ball from Nic Schutte to help aid the Bulldogs in a first half running clock over the previously unbeaten Trojans. His man even gave him an eight yard cushion. It was one of only two grabs on the night, covering 85 yards, which bumped Anthony to a Class 6A leading 27 yards per catch. 

 

Grant Bingham (OL, Johnson Central)

Week 8: As the fog rolled in over Paintsville, Bingham and the rest of the "Pancake Platoon" feasted on Perry County Central. Johnson Central churned out 317 yards and six touchdowns on the ground on 33 carries. This makes two weeks in a row that the Golden Eagles ran roughshod over their opposition without completing a pass.

 

Brady Clark (QB, Bardstown)

Season to date: 82/123 for 1,462 yards and 22 touchdowns with 3 interceptions ; 341 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. Marion County

Week 8: With passing opportunities at a premium, Clark made the most of his nine attempts against Marion County with four touchdowns on seven completions. Over the last two weeks, he's got as many touchdown passes (9) as incompletions. As reported by @Hearsay, Clark is nearing the Bardstown career mark for touchdown passes. He currently has 97, with 100 well within reach this week.

 

Cam Hergott (QB, Beechwood)

Season to date: 72/98 for 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns with 1 interception ; 804 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns

Highlights: vs. Holy Cross

Week 8: Beechwood began district play - aka, stat padding time for its quarterback - with a 56-7 rout of Covington Holy Cross. Hergott completed 16 of 24 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns. His career numbers against the Indians: 5-0 record, 64/83 for 1,082 yards and 17 touchdowns with zero interceptions. For Holy Cross' sake, you hope this is the last time they see him.

 

Cole Lanter (WR/ATH, Boyle County)

Season to date: 43 catches for 719 yards and 10 touchdowns ; 21 carries for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns ; 2 interceptions 

Week 8: In a game that subverted expectations, Boyle County held on to win a low scoring affair with rival Lexington Catholic. Lanter was the best player on the field and the most effective weapon for the Rebels, turning short throws into bigger gains and picking up tough yards after the catch. He finished with 108 yards on six catches and was robbed of a long catch and run for a touchdown that was wiped out by a block in the back.

 

Isaac McNamee (QB, Pikeville)

Season to date: 58/84 for 806 yards and 12 touchdowns with 2 interceptions

Highlights: vs. Sayre

Week 8: On paper, it was the top quarterback duel in the state last week: McNamee vs. Pennington. The number one team vs. an up and comer. Then a boot was put to the opening kick and it was all downhill for Pennington and Sayre. McNamee (11/14 for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns) won the quarterback battle and Pikeville won the war with an offensive barrage that didn't let up until the running clock went into effect in the second quarter. 

 

Easton Messer (ATH, Christian Academy of Louisville)

Season to date: 40 receptions for 677 yards and 9 touchdowns ; 10 rushes for 154 yards and 3 touchdowns ; 3 interceptions and 2 pick-six's ; 1 scoop and score

Week 8: The latest addition to the watchlist is a player quietly putting together a can't miss all-state caliber season. Messer has brought it every week, and last Friday against archrival DeSales was no different. He outpaced the Colts' secondary for 118 yards receiving and two touchdowns, as well as an additional score on the ground. Over his last four games, he's caught 23 passes for 426 yards and accounted for 10 total touchdowns for 3A's #1 team. He's the epitome of a two-way standout, impacting the game as a receiver/runner and ball hawking defender.

 

JaWaun Northington (RB, Manual)

Season to date: 80 carries for 567 yards and 7 touchdowns ; 2 passing touchdowns

Week 8: Northington was never able to get his teeth into the game against St. Xavier. Manual spent most of the night trying to play catch-up, which kept the Crimsons out of their comfort zone - i.e., pounding the rock with their star running back. Once they fell behind by a sizable margin in the second half, Northington became less and less of a factor, as evidenced by his 16 yards after halftime. He scored Manual's only touchdown of the game, but it was of little consequence at that point.

 

Jack Sivori (QB, St. Xavier)

Season to date: 78/125 for 805 yards and 11 touchdowns with 4 interceptions ; 739 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns

Week 8: For the second straight week, X's defense led the way against a ranked opponent. No superhuman effort was asked of Sivori, as the defense continually turned Manual over and scored multiple touchdowns. He finished the night a workmanlike 19/25 for 166 yards and four 4 total touchdowns. Despite a relatively modest offensive output, Sivori clearly got the better of the head to head with Northington.

 

Jadairion Smith (DL, Ballard)

Season to date: 52 tackles ; 16 tackles for loss ; 13.5 sacks 

Week 8: Ballard pushed Trinity to the brink behind a sensational defensive effort from its front seven, which relentlessly hounded T quarterback Brady Willis. The Bruins registered eight sacks, with Smith scoring one for himself. That extends his streak to five straight games with at least one sack. A first half injury may have prevented him from adding to that total against the Shamrocks.

 

Noteworthy performances from Week 8:

Xavier Brown and Mason Moore (ATHs, Lexington Christian Academy) - Combined for 4 touchdowns (two each) on 6 touches, including a Moore pick-six against Washington County

Jagger Gillis (QB/LB, Boyle County) - 309 yards of total offense and a sack against Lexington Catholic

Logan Landers (QB, Dixie Heights) - 300 yards of total offense and 3 touchdowns against Simon Kenton

Cole Wallace (RB, Rowan County) - 253 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns against Harrison County

[Hearsay]

Just to be clear on Brady Clark, we think he’s at 91. There is a game on the reported stats vs. Nelson County in 2018 where it shows him throwing 7 TD passes on only 4 attempts. He threw 1. So, 91, but the record of 99 clearly attainable.

[DevilMayCare]

26 minutes ago, Hearsay said:

Just to be clear on Brady Clark, we think he’s at 91. There is a game on the reported stats vs. Nelson County in 2018 where it shows him throwing 7 TD passes on only 4 attempts. He threw 1. So, 91, but the record of 99 clearly attainable.

Thanks for the clarification, but if there's ever a Brady Clark facts list, we've got a great starter.

"Brady Clark once threw seven touchdown passes on four attempts"

[DearToday]

Lanter was also robbed of this touchdown called out of bounds. 

[DevilMayCare]

16 minutes ago, DearToday said:

Lanter was also robbed of this touchdown called out of bounds. 

Great pic. You couldn't see him at all in the broadcast of the game, but the play by play guy immediately thought it was a touchdown. 

I like the way Lanter runs after the catch. He's physical and fights for extra yards. 

[Voice of Reason]

23 minutes ago, DearToday said:

Lanter was also robbed of this touchdown called out of bounds. 

 When I see that pic, my first thought is did he hold the ball  securely or did he juggle it a little? If he juggled it even just a little bit and the other foot hit out of bounds then was it a catch?  As good as that picture is, you have to see the video and freeze it to know whether it was a catch or not.

[Matthewc]

Does the athlete have to play in the previous week to be mentioned on the list?

[DevilMayCare]

10 minutes ago, Matthewc said:

Does the athlete have to play in the previous week to be mentioned on the list?

Yes. Not playing the week before means an automatic week off from the watchlist. I have to have something to write about and numbers to update.

[DearToday]

16 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

 When I see that pic, my first thought is did he hold the ball  securely or did he juggle it a little? If he juggled it even just a little bit and the other foot hit out of bounds then was it a catch?  As good as that picture is, you have to see the video and freeze it to know whether it was a catch or not.

It was secure. Just a blown call.