2021 BluegrassPreps Mr. Football Watchlist - Final

[DevilMayCare]

Sivori completes his meteoric rise from unknown to state champion by toppling #1 Male; Dixon dons the superman cape one last time to help the Pirates sail away with another title; The pantheon of 'Title Town' legends grows by two; And Hergott takes a final bow before lowering the curtain on one of the most richly decorated careers in recent memory

 

In alphabetical order:

Vinny Anthony (WR, Male)

Season to date: 49 receptions for 1,108 yards and 15 touchdowns ; 1 kick return touchdown

State Finals: Anthony's first catch of the 6A finals against St. X went for 88 yards and a touchdown. His last reception of the game covered 41 yards for a second score. Unfortunately for Male, there were no touches for the future Wisconsin Badger in between. They could have used a few more to tame the Tigers. He was the personification of a big play receiver this year and one of the state leaders in yards per catch (minimum 40 receptions). He averaged a touchdown every three catches.

 

Xavier Brown (ATH, Lexington Christian Academy)

Season to date: 117 carries for 1,511 yards and 22 touchdowns ; 398 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns

State Finals: The LCA buzzsaw finally ran into a… bigger buzzsaw? After cutting through every other defense on LCA's schedule like a hot knife through butter, Beechwood never let Brown run to the daylight he's been sprinting toward all season. The Tigers cut his per carry average in half and a possible first half injury cast a shadow over the biggest game of his career. It was a relatively inconspicuous capper to an otherwise sensational season.

 

Isaac Dixon (ATH, Belfry)

Season to date: 194 carries for 1,992 yards and 29 touchdowns ; 3 receiving touchdowns ; one passing touchdown ; 4 interceptions, including one pick-six

State Finals: When the book of Belfry football is written, Dixon's chapter will be longer than anyone's, save for his coach. The latest and final entry deserves a whole chapter all unto itself. Dixon rode the red wave of blockers in front of him to a performance that outshined any we saw all weekend. All told, he ate up 376 yards of real estate and five touchdowns on 41 carries. One of the single most dominant championship game performances in history. Haywood was richly rewarded for his faith in Dixon, when his prized ball carrier found the edge and outran everyone for the game winning touchdown on 4th and long from Belfry's 38 yard line. He was not only the 3A finals MVP, he was the MVP of championship weekend.

 

Jagger Gillis (QB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 141/206 for 2,551 yards and 30 touchdowns with 5 interceptions ; 560 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns

State Finals: With a second straight state championship safely tucked into his back pocket, Gillis has earned a seat at the table of the great Boyle County quarterbacks and leaders that came before him. His performance against Johnson Central - four touchdowns and 262 total yards split evenly between pass and run, plus a handful of tackles from his linebacker spot - was a callback to the days of Jeff Duggins and Brandon Smith. He may not have started out his career in Boyle County, but he stands tall amongst the giants of 'Title Town' just the same.

 

Cam Hergott (QB, Beechwood)

Season to date: 130/191 for 2,323 yards and 32 touchdowns with 4 interceptions ; 1,811 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns

Highlights: vs. LCA

State Finals: For two years running, Beechwood's chief Tiger has reigned over Class 2A as king of the jungle. LCA attempted, unsuccessfully, to usurp the crown after falling short last year. Hergott got loose against the Eagles for a couple of runs that have become his signature, bursting through the line of scrimmage before weaving and slashing his way past the second and third levels of the defense. The first of his two touchdown runs was a beauty, as he evaded no fewer than five would-be tacklers, the last three of which had clean looks at him in the open field. Their fate was the same as so many others over the last few years, left to stare dejectedly at the back of his jersey as he scampered into the endzone. The numbers - 219 total yards and two touchdowns - don't measure up to what we saw from the likes of Dixon, Sivori, and perhaps others last weekend, but his title winning heroics against LCA and the totality of his season may require a strong argument against a repeat Mr. Football. 

 

Dane Key (WR, Frederick Douglass)

Season to date: 53 receptions for 959 yards and 9 touchdowns

State Finals: He saved his best for last, but it wasn't enough to put Frederick Douglass over the top against South Warren. Key hauled in 5 passes for 155 yards and two scores, including a 73 yard catch and run where he looked every bit the part of the state's best player. He followed in the footsteps of former teammate Jager Burton by winning the Paul Hornung Award last week. It served as a precursor to Burton being co-Mr. Football last year. His outing against the Spartans feels like too little, too late, but you never know. Stay tuned.

 

Cole Lanter (WR/ATH, Boyle County)

Season to date: 78 catches for 1,288 yards and 21 touchdowns ; 227 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns ; 3 interceptions ; 2 kick return touchdowns

Highlights: vs. Johnson Central

State Finals: Lanter has steadily moved up the board for Mr. Football candidates from the receiver position and Saturday's game against Johnson Central was another brick in that wall. On Boyle's first possession, he crossed up his defender on a post route before catching a ball from Gillis right in front of the UK midfield logo - something you hope to see more of in the future as he suits up for the Cats. After turning upfield, he outran JC's pursuit for a 75 yard touchdown. He added another scoring grab in the third quarter to set a new Boyle County standard for receiving touchdowns in a season, surpassing all-time Rebels great Reece Smith. He also pitched in six tackles in run support against an offense as physical as you'll find anywhere.

 

Nic Schutte (QB, Male)

Season to date: 154/239 for 2,769 yards and 32 touchdowns with 3 interception ; 2 rushing touchdowns

State Finals: Before getting to the events of Saturday night, we need to establish that football - let alone an individual award - is secondary in Nic Shutte's life at the moment. Losing your father at this stage of your life can be devastating. This is bigger than the sport. But as to the sport itself, his night versus St. X was a rollercoaster. He fumbled away Male's first possession before hooking up with Vinny Anthony on a deep ball on possession #2 to get the Dawgs on the board first. A second quarter touchdown pass secured the halftime lead, but he threw two interceptions in the second half, the last of which was turned into quick St. X points to extend their lead. He found Anthony a second time to draw Male within three, but the night would ultimately belong to Sivori and the Tigers. He might not win Mr. Football, but Shutte had a fabulous season and the fact that he got out there at all and played as well as he did on Saturday speaks to the fiber he's made of.

 

Jack Sivori (QB, St. Xavier)

Season to date: 185/264 for 2,319 yards and 28 touchdowns with 11 interceptions ; 1,277 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns

State Finals: Sivori's big night against Male accomplished two things: he delivered St. X its first state championship in twelve years and the manner in which he did it will give Mr. Football voters plenty to think about before casting their votes (he already has Jason Frakes' vote). Regardless of what his collegiate future holds, he'll be hard pressed to top the level of play he reached in the second half against Male. Over the final 24 minutes of play, he amassed nearly 250 yards of total offense - out of 370 for the game - and three touchdown passes, including one to Mekhi Smith to salt the game away. His season was rough around the edges at times, but he rose to the occasion time and time again. He opened the season by stealing some thunder from Gavin Wimsatt and closed the show hoisting hardware under the brightest lights in the sport.

 

Caden Veltkamp (QB, South Warren)

Season to date: 161/236 for 2,722 yards and 35 touchdowns with 5 interceptions ; 7 rushing touchdowns

State Finals: Continuing a theme of championship weekend, Veltkamp also turned in a season best effort when it mattered most. In fact, this may have been the hidden gem of Friday and Saturday when factoring in the talent Douglass fields on defense. Veltkamp was as sharp as he's ever been in a Spartan uniform, completing 19 of 24 throws for just under 300 yards and three touchdowns. Even bobbled snaps and throwing off his back foot into a loaded Broncos secondary couldn't faze him.

 

Noteworthy performances from the State Finals:

Samuel Cornett (QB, Frederick Douglass) - 13/26 for 274 yards and 3 touchdowns against South Warren 

Mekhi Smith (WR, St. Xavier) - 10 catches for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns against Male

[Tigerpride94]

One could make the argument that Mekhi Smith was the player of the game in championship making two spectacular one handed catches with the last one a TD catch but Sivori combined numbers are hard to argue against. 

[theguru]

Great work @DevilMayCare, you did amazing work this season on the Mr. Football Watchlist, thank you!

[The Double Deuce]

If Jack Sivori doesn't win I will be SHOCKED.

[Tigerpride94]

I believe there is 3 Mr. Football votes including Bluegrasspreps.com. Media votes for one and coaches vote for one. Could there be split votes where more than on Mr. Football?

[theguru]

Just now, Tigerpride94 said:

I believe there is 3 Mr. Football votes including Bluegrasspreps.com. Media votes for one and coaches vote for one. Could there be split votes where more than on Mr. Football?

I could easily see the awards going in different directions to more than one deserving player. 

[Tigerpride94]

Selah Brown gets the nod in 6A. Apparently 4 stars and D1 commitment gets you the votes.

[gbballfan21]

Dixon had an unbelievable game in the finals, and for sure you tip your hat to him, but his team lost 6 games this year and they beat a 7 loss team in the finals. Hergott led an undefeated team and beat another undefeated team that was ranked higher in the finals.

Sivori also beat an undefeated team in the finals.

I think it is a 2 horse race between Hergott and Sivori, with Dixon and Gillis in the mix. I think Hergott outplaying Xavier Brown in the finals eliminates Brown from the discussion.

Humphreys would be the sleeper based on stats, but getting beat in the 3rd round hurts his chances.

[theguru]

5 minutes ago, gbballfan21 said:

Dixon had an unbelievable game in the finals, and for sure you tip your hat to him, but his team lost 6 games this year and they beat a 7 loss team in the finals. Hergott led an undefeated team and beat another undefeated team that was ranked higher in the finals.

Sivori also beat an undefeated team in the finals.

I think it is a 2 horse race between Hergott and Sivori, with Dixon and Gillis in the mix. I think Hergott outplaying Xavier Brown in the finals eliminates Brown from the discussion.

Humphreys would be the sleeper based on stats, but getting beat in the 3rd round hurts his chances.

You summed up my thoughts really well. 

[Tigerpride94]

 

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

BluegrassPreps.com Watchlist (Final):

Vinny Anthony (WR, Male)
Xavier Brown (ATH, Lexington Christian Academy)
Isaac Dixon (ATH, Belfry)
Jagger Gillis (QB, Boyle County)
Cam Hergott (QB, Beechwood)
Dane Key (WR, Frederick Douglass)
Cole Lanter (WR/ATH, Boyle County)
Nic Schutte (QB, Male)
Jack Sivori (QB, St. Xavier)
Caden Veltkamp (QB, South Warren)

[Brown]

SIVORI.

[theguru]

1 hour ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

BluegrassPreps.com Watchlist (Final):

Vinny Anthony (WR, Male)
Xavier Brown (ATH, Lexington Christian Academy)
Isaac Dixon (ATH, Belfry)
Jagger Gillis (QB, Boyle County)
Cam Hergott (QB, Beechwood)
Dane Key (WR, Frederick Douglass)
Cole Lanter (WR/ATH, Boyle County)
Nic Schutte (QB, Male)
Jack Sivori (QB, St. Xavier)
Caden Veltkamp (QB, South Warren)

This is an excellent list and I believe every individual award in Kentucky should come from this list. 

[Spartanfan]

On 12/6/2021 at 8:20 PM, Tigerpride94 said:

Just let it be a true senior. Surely we can agree on that.

[Xtiger69]

Jack Sivori put the team on his back all year and and found a way to win each week against a crazy tough schedule and win a state title he has my vote!