BluegrassPreps.com Mr. Football Watchlist (9/19)

[DevilMayCare]

Mount "Rush" More

Like unbroken streams, they ran to waters deeper and wider. Following blocks and maneuvering around tacklers the way water moves with the current and flows past rocks and fallen branches. 

It knows where it wants to go. Only an airtight seal will keep it from its destination. Like a dam, for example. 

There were no such obstacles impeding the progress of four of the state's premier ball carriers.

Brady Hensley made a run at the title of state rushing leader with 248 yards and five touchdowns accrued on a career high 39 carries against Lexington Catholic, with "carry" being the optimum word. Hensley has hoisted LCA across his upper back and carried them to wins over Pikeville, CAL, and now, Lexington Catholic. 

Brady Hensley. Pic cred to Silas Walker for the Herald Leader.

Daniel Thomas was able to fend off Hensley's attempt to knock him from his perch. He's been Bell County's spearhead all season, and a career best 357 rushing yards and five touchdowns helped the Bobcats edge Whitley County by six. Three of his scores came in the fourth quarter to help open a three score cushion. 

Daniel Thomas. Pic taken Kentucky Prep Gridiron

An inauspicious start by Bardstown put Tyleeq Williams on the backburner for a few weeks, but the 2022 All-BGP performer reminded us against Elizabethtown what a handful he is to deal with. A season best, breakout showing that featured 244 rushing yards, a 78 yard punt return score, and five total touchdowns powered the Tigers past the Panthers. Per usual, his fingerprints were all over the game, scoring all Tiger touchdowns, relentlessly breaking tackles, and wreaking havoc defensively. 

Tyleeq Williams. Pic taken from twitter/x.

As impressive as Hensley, Thomas, and Williams were, the week's mightiest performance belonged to Knox Central's superman, Steve Partin. The KHSAA record book was on watch as the Yale commit assaulted Danville for 526 yards, the third highest single game total in state history. The Admirals were powerless to contain him, as he scored six touchdowns to help the Panthers escape the shootout with a 50-40 win. Partin, now healthy after missing the first couple of weeks, has rushed for over 700 yards and ten touchdowns over the last two games. He's making up ground, fast.

Steve Partin. Pic taken from twitter/x.

 

Wasik Wins The Battle, But Boley Wins The War

Cutter Boley picked up his level of play to help LCA narrowly survive the 'Holy War' with Lexington Catholic, 49-42. He threw for 224 yards and ran for two scores, but failed to throw a touchdown pass for the third game in a row. He hasn't had a pass reach the endzone since Week 2 against Boyle County. 

Hensley's legs were again the focal point of LCA's game plan. And with the way he's running the football, who can blame them?

Despite coming out on the losing end of the scoreboard, Jackson Wasik got the better of the head to head battle with Boley. In a Herculean effort, he accounted for 475 yards (420 passing) and six touchdowns. 

Wasik throws accurately on the run and extends plays as well as any quarterback in the state. He'll need all of that and more as Boyle County comes calling this week.

 

Noteworthy Performances From Week 5

- On a night when CAL trailed by double digits in the second half and Cole Hodge wasn't at his best, he was still good enough. The East Carolina commit was effective with his legs, running for 71 yards and completed 22/30 passes for 202 yards and a pair of scores to help the Centurions win on the road at Ryle.

- Boyle County's offensive machine continued its march against Taylor County. The Rebels hit their season average of 48 points behind nearly 200 yards passing and a touchdown each, throwing and running from Sage Dawson, plus 139 rushing yards and three scores by Avery Bodner. Bodner also added his first sack of the season to help stifle the Cardinals. 

 

 

Players Featured This Week

Brady Hensley (RB/DB, Lexington Christian Academy)

Season to date: 146 carries for 1,125 yards and 16 touchdowns | 128 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns

 

Daniel Thomas (RB/LB, Bell County)

Season to date: 125 carries for 1,278 yards and 21 touchdowns | 22 tackles | 1 scoop and score 

 

Tyleeq "TyTy" Williams (ATH, Bardstown)

Season to date: 49 carries for 562 yards and 7 touchdowns | 221 yards and 2 touchdowns | 1 scoop and score | 1 sack | 2 kick return touchdowns - statistics incomplete 

Highlights: vs. E-Town

 

Steve Partin (RB/QB/LB, Knox Central)

Season to date: 68 carries for 812 yards and 11 touchdowns | 22 tackles | 7 TFL | 3 sacks

 

Cutter Boley (QB, Lexington Christian Academy)

Season to date: 87/144 for 1,196 yards with 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions

 

Jackson Wasik (QB, Lexington Catholic)

Season to date: 81/125 for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns with 1 interception 

 

Cole Hodge (QB, Christian Academy of Louisville)

Season to date: 84/121 for 1,349 yards and 19 touchdowns with 3 interceptions | 223 rushing yards and 1 touchdown

Highlights: First Five Games

 

Avery Bodner (RB/DB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 53 carries for 520 yards and 11 touchdowns | 191 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns | 38 tackles | 3.5 TFL | 1 sack | 1 interception 

Highlights: First Four Games

 

Sage Dawson (QB/DB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 54/75 for 1,036 yards and 8 touchdowns with 1 interception | 1 rushing touchdown

[Statsdontlie]

Brady Hensley should be the front runner right now. 

[DevilMayCare]

17 hours ago, Statsdontlie said:

Brady Hensley should be the front runner right now. 

Hard to argue against it at the moment.

[DevilMayCare]

Question: Will Daniel Thomas reach the 3,000 yard mark this season? It's only been achieved eight times in history.

3,361 Frank Jones (Bath County) 1969

3,203 J.J. Jude (Johnson Central) 2010

3,166 Shaun Alexander (Boone County) 1994

3,076 Rees MacShara (Boyle County) 2009

3,061 J.J. Jude (Johnson Central) 2011

3,044 Jeremy Simpson (Lincoln County) 1993

3,003 Derek Homer (Fort Knox) 1996

3,001 Jeriah Hightower (Madisonville-North Hopkins) 2019

Thomas is currently on pace for 2,556 yards in the regular season and Bell County is a strong candidate for a deep playoff run. Dudley Hilton likes to run the football and isn't afraid to feed his workhorse, making 3k an attainable goal. It really comes down to two factors:

1. How many touches will he get in any blowout wins on the upcoming schedule - this week vs. winless McCreary Central, for example.

2. Whether or not the Bobcats are still playing in late November. 

[DevilMayCare]

Mr. Football Spotlight Games

Boyle County vs. Lexington Catholic - Wasik looked good in two meetings with Rebels last year, but Bodner put LexCath away in the playoff game with a career high 39 carries.

CAL vs. Manual - Huge opportunity for Hodge as he takes on an unbeaten big school contender. This is his first look at one of Louisville's heavyweights.

St. X vs. Trinity - Havill got benched against the Rocks last year and only completed 2 of 10 passes, though the second accounted for the game winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. We'll see how far he's come in a year.

Highlands vs. Cooper - Benke's mobility will be tested as he's pursued by Cooper defensive stars Alexander and Lonaker. Alexander sacked him once last year and Benke only completed 46% of his throws against the Jags that night.