BluegrassPreps.com Mr. Football Watchlist (11/15)

[DevilMayCare]

Crone Gets "Rocked", Egan Gets Over

Round 2 took a substantial bite out of our quarterback field, with two of the remaining three legitimate contenders going down. We'll touch on what happened in Mt. Washington and Versailles below, but we'll start with the week's most anticipated matchup here at BGP: Trinity making the trip to Independence to battle Simon Kenton.

Eleven pages worth of buildup appeared justified for a half. Chase Crone - 257 yards of total offense and two rushing touchdowns on the night - picked up some tough yards and a first quarter touchdown with nifty footwork against a sure tackling Shamrock defense. The Pioneers hung tough through intermission, before Trinity's superiority in depth, quickness, and special teams took hold, allowing them to run away with it in the second half.

A two score lead early in the third quarter allowed the Rocks to zero in on Crone, the only Pioneer that could engineer any potential comeback. He concludes his career as a Simon Kenton great and received the ultimate opportunity to achieve immortality for a big school quarterback: a look at 27 time state champion Trinity in the playoffs.

But he was forced to swallow the same jagged pill that so many before him have choked down… Trinity football is the gold standard, even in a "down" year.

Speaking of "down", it's all down to one. One quarterback left to fight on before submitting his Mr. Football resumé. Travis Egan has already surpassed his father to become Bullitt East's all-time passing leader. He now aims to duplicate his dad's feat of getting the Chargers to a state championship game. There will be no easy path to Lexington, as the second round contest with duPont Manual proved. At worst, it was the co-game of the week. 

The night couldn't have gotten off to a better start for the home team: an 80 yard drive, punctuated by some legwork from Egan from ten yards out. From there, he consistently made strong throws and runs throughout the night to keep the Chargers ahead. They would eventually hold on to win by a nose behind Egan's 313 combined yards and three touchdowns.

He's knocked off two of 6A's perennial powers in the last month and kept a nearly spotless sheet - 42 touchdowns against a single turnover - dating back to Week 2. It's time to cast aside the inauspicious opener against Spencer County, if you haven't already. 

Godby Ties Record, But Woodford County Ensures It Stays That Way

I'm sure if you ask him, Chandler Godby would gladly trade his newfound placement in the KHSAA record books for a win over Woodford County. It's one of the worst circumstances under which to achieve historic notoriety, in a losing effort that ends not only your season, but your career.

The touchdown reception record was tied, but will not be broken this year after Pulaski County fell to Wofo by three scores. Godby didn't go quietly, doing work on ten receptions for 131 yards and the two scores necessary to leapfrog Brett Hamblen (Highlands '00) and pull even with John Cole (Somerset '06) and Jamarielle Brown (Lone Oak '07) with 28 receiving touchdowns this year. 

He accounted for nearly 300 all-purpose yards, including a kickoff return for six that induced a strategy by Woodford County to squib every kick from that point on.

The triple crown of receptions, yards, and touchdowns is not yet set in stone, but he's got a firm hold on the lead in all three categories.

His quarterback, Brysen Dugger, had a pedestrian night in accordance with his season standard, completing half of his throws for just 159 yards and the two scores to Godby. The Dugger ➡ Godby connection was Pulaski's only real offensive threat against the Yellow Jackets.

For the time being, he leads the state in touchdown passes amid one of the greatest passing seasons in Pulaski County history.

 

Howard Proves He Belongs, But Gators Leave Rash With Carbon Poisoning

The most intriguing mano a mano Mr. Football duel of last week went down in Owensboro. The anticipation of those in attendance was richly rewarded as Lofton Howard and Kenyata Carbon didn't wait long to showcase their talents. Howard picked off a screen pass from Kasey Boone and housed it from midfield within the first minute of the game.

Carbon countered with a 71 yard sprint down the sideline for six before the end of the opening frame. That run was his only score of the night and represented half of his yardage output. It also gave the Red Devils their first, albeit short-lived, lead of the game. Howard struck back on the ensuing possession with a touchdown run of his own to put the Gators back in front.

It was a tight contest throughout, with every snap seemingly carrying great significance when factoring in the high impact abilities of both senior stars. 

As to who got the better of the confrontation... It may have been a push or it may have been Lofton Howard, who contributed some strong runs and several standout plays on defense, including the pick-six. But if Howard won the battle, Carbon won the war with a strong showing that aided in the continuation of Owensboro's season and the conclusion of Greenwood's.

Odds And Ends

- Hopkinsville coach Marc Clark may have nightmares for weeks to come after Ryan Rayno butchered his defense for the second time this season. He outdid his 202 yard performance against the Tigers earlier this year by logging a hefty 32 carries for 254 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lift Logan County to victory once again. Going back to last year, Rayno has run for 706 yards across four straight wins over Hoptown. He's now eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark for the season.

- No result from round two inspired more water cooler talk than Male upending the #1 team in the state, St. Xavier. The Dawgs have been bolstered by a healthy Daniel Swinney, who missed a few games in the middle of the season, including the loss to Bullitt East. He returned against Manual with 154 yards rushing in a Male victory and ran for 128 yards in the one point toppling of the Tigers. When healthy, there's a good argument to be made that he's the best running back in the Commonwealth. With the 6A door wide open, keep an eye on Swinney if he can ignite another run to state for the Bulldogs.

- Following consecutive losses, Max Johnson has bounced back nicely in wins over Pineville and Williamsburg with 400+ yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. He gashed the Yellow Jackets in Round 2 for 179 yards and three scores on the ground. His eight interceptions tie him for second in the state, cementing his place as a high impact two-way player.

 

Players Highlighted This Week

Chase Crone (QB, Simon Kenton)

Season to date: 91/168 for 1,387 yards and 13 touchdowns with 5 interceptions | 971 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns

 

Travis Egan (QB, Bullitt East)

Season to date: 165/253 for 2,302 yards and 27 touchdowns with 4 interceptions | 770 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns | 1 defensive interception

Highlights: vs. Manual

 

Chandler Godby (WR, Pulaski County)

Season to date: 93 receptions for 1,677 yards and 28 touchdowns | 3 interceptions, including 1 pick-six | 2 kick return touchdowns

Highlights: vs. Wofo

 

Brysen Dugger (QB, Pulaski County)

Season to date: 199/300 for 3,188 yards and 41 touchdowns with 4 interceptions | 288 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns

 

Kenyata Carbon (RB/DB, Owensboro)

Season to date: 143 carries for 1,316 yards and 22 touchdowns | 201 receiving yards and 1 touchdown | 2 interceptions

Highlights: vs. Greenwood

 

Lofton Howard (ATH, Greenwood)

Season to date: 57 rushes for 413 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns | 21 receptions for 369 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns | 1 passing touchdown | 100 tackles  | 15 tackles for loss | 7 sacks | 2 interceptions, including a pick-six | 1 scoop and score 

 

Ryan Rayno (RB, Logan County)

Season to date: 243 rushes for 2,030 yards and 23 touchdowns

 

Daniel Swinney (RB, Male)

Season to date: 128 rushes for 884 yards and 7 touchdowns

Highlights: vs. Saint Xavier

 

Max Johnson (ATH, Hazard)

Season to date: 193 carries for 1,643 yards and 18 touchdowns | 34 receptions for 534 yards and 6 touchdowns | 86 tackles  | 8 interceptions | 1 scoop and score 

[DevilMayCare]

Does anyone else see a path to Mr. Football for Daniel Swinney, or is it just me? He was on the preseason watchlist and had a big Week 1 performance, but put together a few sub-par games before an injury kept him off the field for a month. He's looked really strong since he came back.

At this point, his candidacy is rooted more in the potential of what's to come as opposed to what's already behind him. 

[Voice of Reason]

27 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

Does anyone else see a path to Mr. Football for Daniel Swinney, or is it just me? He was on the preseason watchlist and had a big Week 1 performance, but put together a few sub-par games before an injury kept him off the field for a month. He's looked really strong since he came back.

At this point, his candidacy is rooted more in the potential of what's to come as opposed to what's already behind him. 

If Swinney has a path, then Mitchell Berger has a path. They have now played in the same number of games.

[theguru]

25 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

If Swinney has a path, then Mitchell Berger has a path. They have now played in the same number of games.

Decisions, decisions! 

[wingt51]

My top candidate is Rayno. Kid has a very real shot at the 4A title and leading the entire state in rushing yards in the process.

[DevilMayCare]

51 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

If Swinney has a path, then Mitchell Berger has a path. They have now played in the same number of games.

If we crowned Mr. Football after eight weeks last year, Joe Humphreys might have won it. If not him, then Hergott again. But not Isaac Dixon, who ultimately won the award after a performance for the ages in the finals, the only time the eyes of voters were fixed on him.

Swinney has the opportunity to close, something Berger has been robbed of. I won't be the least bit surprised if Berger wins it, but his season already has a ceiling over it. If he has a path to Mr. Football, I think it requires the cooperation of the other contenders. There has to be a failure on the part of the remaining candidates to reach out and take it.

[Voice of Reason]

2 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

If we crowned Mr. Football after eight weeks last year, Joe Humphreys might have won it. If not him, then Hergott again. But not Isaac Dixon, who ultimately won the award after a performance for the ages in the finals, the only time the eyes of voters were fixed on him.

Swinney has the opportunity to close, something Berger has been robbed of. I won't be the least bit surprised if Berger wins it, but his season already has a ceiling over it. If he has a path to Mr. Football, I think it requires the cooperation of the other contenders. There has to be a failure on the part of the remaining candidates to reach out and take it.

Good point about others still having opportunities. And that is the way I would put it. I wouldn't say failure. The others have to seize the opportunity and surpass what Berger has already accomplished.