BluegrassPreps.com Mr. Football Watchlist (9/12)

[DevilMayCare]

Defense Turns The 'Acronym Bowl' On Its Head

At the conclusion of the game's opening series, LCA and CAL were right on schedule to deliver the shootout that was expected. Brady Hensley was effective running between the tackles and Cutter Boley was 3 of 4 on pass attempts before putting the first points on the board with a quarterback keeper. 

Boley - 1 yard keeper to cap the first series

Cole Hodge responded by completing his first three passes on the ensuing possession to push the Centurions into LCA territory. 

And then a funny thing happened on the way to the shootout… both defenses decided to crash the party and transform the night into a war of attrition.

Boley was 7 of 19 the rest of the way and finished with a paltry 64 yards, by far his fewest in an LCA uniform. 

Hensley never got loose, but still managed to top the century mark with 131 yards and a touchdown. His per carry average of 9.4 coming in was reduced to 4.6 by the Centurions. He had to take what he could get rather than what he wanted.

Hensley - 7 yard touchdown run

Hodge fared better from an individual standpoint, throwing for 284 yards and both of CAL's touchdowns, but most of those yards and both scores would be better attributed to receiver Justin Ruffin's abilities than those of his quarterback. 

Hodge to Ruffin - 66 yard touchdown pass

His final throw of the night resulted in his second interception of the season and just the tenth of his career.

Hodge and Hensley weren't exactly "off" that night, but neither was "on". Boley on the other hand, struggled again after being relegated to a supporting role the week before against Pikeville. 

Depending on your point of view, Boley may still hold favorite status, but the Mr. Football waters are substantially muddier now compared to a month ago.

 

Rebels Cook The Cards At A Rolling Boyle

The biggest letdown of Week 4 had to be the thrashing of highly regarded Scott County by highest regarded Boyle County. The Rebels were favored, but this was over in the first quarter, a stanza that featured two touchdown runs from Avery Bodner. 

Bodner was a force throughout, rushing for 141 yards, adding a third score via reception, and immediately forcing a fumble on Scott County's first snap. He created the turnover and then capitalized on it minutes later with the first of his three touchdowns. 

Bodner had the ground game clicking, while Sage Dawson worked the skies. 

Considering the level of competition, and decisiveness and precision of his throws, this may have been the finest performance of Dawson's career. If it's not at the top of the list, it has to be near. He misfired on only two of fifteen pass attempts against one of the best secondaries in the state for 261 yards and two scores. When he's taken shots downfield this year, it's been a thing of beauty, as was the case for his 45 yard strike to Montavin Quisenberry to extend the lead over Scott County. 

To this point, Haddix has performed a masterful job at distributing touches, striking a balance between Bodner and juniors Quisenberry and Brown, while allowing Dawson to showcase his arm, but also make safe throws to his playmakers in space. 

Within the context of Mr. Football, the prevailing narrative around Boyle County is that the juniors are the headline makers. And you'll get no argument to the contrary in here. That will likely persist all season, but the watchlist will continue to acknowledge the excellence of its senior leaders, Dawson and Bodner. 

 

Noteworthy Performances From Week 4

- The sun had long set over Park Hills, and regulation was nearing its expiration as well. With the game deadlocked at 24, Evan Pitzer rolled right on fourth down from the Dixie Heights 21 and saw a favorable matchup downfield, which is another way of saying, Willie Rodriguez on an island with man to man coverage. Pitzer floated a ball toward his UK bound tight end, who absorbed contact, made the catch, stayed in bounds, and crossed the goal line for the game winning score. It was Pitzer's second touchdown pass of the night, both to Rodriguez, to accompany 284 total yards and a rushing touchdown. This week against Beechwood is the last best opportunity of the regular season for both to make an impression before wading into the black hole of their district schedule. 

 

- For the second time in four games, Brody Benke was responsible for touchdowns throwing, running, and receiving. This used to be a rare occurrence, but Benke's making it look easy. The Birds blew Ryle's doors off, with #8 accounting for 247 total yards and four touchdowns. With his versatility and the expanding role of Rio Litmer in the offense, we may see this feat pulled off at least another time or two this season. 

 

- Bryan Station's uptick and the rising stock of JT Haskins Jr. have gone hand in hand the last two weeks. He played dual roles in taking down Ballard with 148 yards receiving and a touchdown, plus an interception. The pick was his second in as many games after turning away Bowling Green the week before as the Purples were going in for the kill. You expect your best player to shine in big games, and Haskins has done just that each of the last two weeks. 

 

- After three weeks of running wild and free, Perry County Central made Daniel Thomas grind for every yard. Added up, the yardage surpassed a hundred, but his per carry average from the first three weeks was slashed in half by a Commodores defense bent on slowing the state's leading rusher. Thomas made his mark regardless, scoring three times to help Bell County escape the upset bid in Hazard.

 

Players Featured This Week

Cole Hodge (QB, Christian Academy of Louisville)

Season to date: 84/121 for 1,147 yards and 17 touchdowns with 2 interception | 152 rushing yards and 1 touchdown

 

Cutter Boley (QB, Lexington Christian Academy)

Season to date: 59/98 for 908 yards and 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions

 

Brady Hensley (RB/DB, Lexington Christian Academy)

Season to date: 107 carries for 877 yards and 11 touchdowns | 123 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns

 

Avery Bodner (RB/DB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 30 carries for 381 yards and 6 touchdowns | 6 receptions for 177 yards and 1 touchdown | 33 tackles | 3.5 TFL | 1 interception 

Highlights: vs. Scott County

 

Sage Dawson (QB/DB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 42/58 for 837 yards and 7 touchdowns with 1 interception 

 

Evan Pitzer (QB, Covington Catholic)

Season to date: 49/68 for 725 yards and 7 touchdowns with 0 interceptions | 149 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. Dixie Heights

 

Willie Rodriguez (TE/LB, Covington Catholic)

Season to date: 11 receptions for 235 yards and 5 touchdowns | 18 tackles | 3 TFL | 1 fumble forced and 1 recovered

 

Brody Benke (QB, Highlands)

Season to date: 49/63 for 693 yards and 8 touchdowns with 3 interceptions | 394 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns | 92 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns

Highlights: vs. Ryle

 

JT Haskins Jr. (ATH, Bryan Station)

Season to date: 17 receptions for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns | 13 tackles | 2 interceptions

Highlights: vs. Ballard

 

Daniel Thomas (RB/LB, Bell County)

Season to date: 95 carries for 921 yards and 16 touchdowns | 22 tackles | 1 scoop and score 

[Arndog]

While Bodner is a stud for the Rebels, I am pretty sure that the first fumble by Scott County was caused by Quisenberry and maybe fallen on by Bodner. Regardless, he is a workhorse that shows up every week on both sides of the ball.

[DevilMayCare]

8 minutes ago, Arndog said:

While Bodner is a stud for the Rebels, I am pretty sure that the first fumble by Scott County was caused by Quisenberry and maybe fallen on by Bodner. Regardless, he is a workhorse that shows up every week on both sides of the ball.

It was such a bang bang play. Watching it over, it could have been either that caused it. It was Austin Bodner that pounced on it for the recovery. 

[Check184]

Another athlete to watch is Kaydon Custard QB/ATH from Harrison County.  He is putting up impressive numbers so far.  

61/123  1,139 yards, 11 TD's 

86 carries for 566 yards (652 total all purpose yards), 9 TD's, avg 6.6 a carry.  

1,694 total yards so far.  

29 tackles, 2 INT (one pick 6), 1 FR

4A stats: 

#1 in passing 

#6 in rushing 

#1 in scoring

[Voice of Reason]

2 hours ago, Check184 said:

Another athlete to watch is Kaydon Custard QB/ATH from Harrison County.  He is putting up impressive numbers so far.  

61/123  1,139 yards, 11 TD's 

86 carries for 566 yards (652 total all purpose yards), 9 TD's, avg 6.6 a carry.  

1,694 total yards so far.  

29 tackles, 2 INT (one pick 6), 1 FR

4A stats: 

#1 in passing 

#6 in rushing 

#1 in scoring

That completion percentage is bad. The other numbers are good.

[Runcible Owl]

7 hours ago, Check184 said:

Another athlete to watch is Kaydon Custard QB/ATH from Harrison County.  He is putting up impressive numbers so far.  

61/123  1,139 yards, 11 TD's 

86 carries for 566 yards (652 total all purpose yards), 9 TD's, avg 6.6 a carry.  

1,694 total yards so far.  

29 tackles, 2 INT (one pick 6), 1 FR

4A stats: 

#1 in passing 

#6 in rushing 

#1 in scoring

Looks like a fine all-around player. Looking forward to seeing him and his recieving corps on the Cov Cath livestream in October.

4 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

That completion percentage is bad. The other numbers are good.

His TD/INT ratio has improved this year. Good news on that front.

[DevilMayCare]

4 hours ago, Runcible Owl said:

Looks like a fine all-around player. Looking forward to seeing him and his recieving corps on the Cov Cath livestream in October.

If he's going to create a ripple on the watchlist, he first has to make a splash in Park Hills.