BluegrassPreps.com Mr. Football Watchlist (11/14)

[DevilMayCare]

3,000 Down, 203 To Go

The possibility of Daniel Thomas reaching the 3,000 yard plateau was first pondered in the September 19th edition of the watchlist.

 

 

Instead of slacking or leveling off, his pace only sped up from there. He's currently working on six consecutive games of 200+ yards.

The latest wasn't a career day. Far from it. But when you take into account the opponent and location, this was more than worthy of inclusion in his time capsule of a season. 

Pond Creek is a graveyard for visitors in November, a place where playoff dreams are laid to rest at the bottom of pirate infested waters.

Thomas not only lived to tell about it, he thrived where so many before him have wilted.

He registered 249 yards on 35 carries to help power Bell County to victory over Belfry. He added his 45th touchdown of the season in the first quarter, leaving him five rushing touchdowns shy of Shaun Alexander's single season standard.

 

The night's crowning achievement - aside from the hard earned win - was the breaching of 3,000 rushing yards, making him the eighth player in KHSAA history to eclipse that mark.

Thomas' yearly tally of 3,159 is good enough for #4 in the record books and places him seven yards away from Alexander for #3. 

The Bobcats return to Log Mountain with Thomas needing 203 yards against East Carter to break the 54 year old single season record held by Bath County's Frank Jones. That would be well below his season average. 

One of the oldest records on the books is in danger. Start the countdown. 

 

3A Quarterbacks On A Collision Course

With Thomas' pursuit of history taking center stage this weekend, the best head to head quarterback duel of the playoffs so far will be relegated to the watchlist's peripheral vision.

Lexington Catholic visits Mount Vernon in a battle of the two most elusive signal callers to appear in the watchlist this season.

Jackson Wasik and Tucker Warren are cut from a similar cloth; Neither has ideal measurables for the next level, but both project leadership and moxie. 

Mobility is a strength for each. Wasik is as good as anyone at escaping pressure to extend plays, while Warren is more likely to rip off a 20-30 yard gain.

They went about setting the table for LexCath vs. Rock in different manners.

Wasik's level of play was too hot even for the Red Devils to handle. He completed 17 of 21 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns in a one sided rout of Russell.

Warren, on the other hand, had to sweat out a fourth quarter rally by Lawrence County to advance. A pair of deep balls and short runs accounted for four touchdowns. He also picked off his fourth pass of the season from his safety position. On the whole, it didn't do much to forward his progress among the field of contenders, but it was good enough.

Only one will be left standing after this week, with an opportunity to extend their visibility.

 

Noteworthy Performances From Round 2

- Cole Hodge has spent the last two weeks taking target practice, completing 24 of 28 passes with 11 touchdowns and zero picks. The fine tuning couldn't come at a better time as he prepares for a rematch with the best defense he's faced to this point. Central won't be as accommodating as Marion County and Elizabethtown. 

- There's something about Dixie Heights' red that brings out the bull in Brody Benke. Highlands' domination of the Colonels at the line of scrimmage was so severe that the game culminated in a first half running clock despite Benke only completing one pass. In the interest of being comprehensive, that completion resulted in a touchdown. But the real story was his legs. Benke rumbled for a career high 194 yards and three scores, bringing his two game haul against Dixie to 360 yards and eight touchdowns on 12 per carry. 

Brody Benke. Photo cred to Charles Bolton for the NKY Tribune.

 

- The only team to deal Benke and the Birds a loss so far was arch rival Covington Catholic. Evan Pitzer got the better of his Highlands counterpart that night. The Blue Colonels have gotten the better of everyone this season, with Pitzer's consistently high level as a driving force. He's completing 73% of his throws with 38 total touchdowns. Ashland is on the hook for three of those scores in CovCath's closer-than-expected win over the Tomcats.

Evan Pitzer. Photo cred to Gunnar Word for The Cincinnati Enquirer

 

All three of Pitzer's touchdown passes were caught by Willie Rodriguez, who was due to go off. His six receptions and 115 yards were both career highs. As the competition ratchets up in a loaded 4A bracket, the Pitzer to Rodriguez connection should come more into focus.  One of the indelible visuals of Round 2 was Rodriguez giving a piggyback ride to a Tomcat defender powerless to do anything about it.

 

Players Featured This Week

Daniel Thomas (RB/LB, Bell County)

Season to date: 295 carries for 3,159 yards and 45 touchdowns | 68 tackles | 1 sack | 1 scoop and score

 

Jackson Wasik (QB, Lexington Catholic)

Season to date: 160/239 for 2,436 yards and 27 touchdowns with 2 interceptions | 246 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns

 

Tucker Warren (QB/DB, Rockcastle County)

Season to date: 126/190 for 2,111 yards and 29 touchdowns with 4 interceptions | 1,062 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns | 57 tackles | 4 interceptions including a pick-six 

 

Cole Hodge (QB, Christian Academy of Louisville)

Season to date: 228/315 for 3,317 yards and 48 touchdowns with 7 interceptions | 430 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns

 

Brody Benke (QB, Highlands)

Season to date: 95/149 for 1,619 yards and 25 touchdowns with 4 interceptions | 1,079 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns | 208 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns

Highlights: vs. Dixie Heights

 

Evan Pitzer (QB, Covington Catholic)

Season to date: 141/192 for 2,321 yards and 29 touchdowns with 4 interceptions | 500 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. Ashland

 

Willie Rodriguez (TE/LB, Covington Catholic)

Season to date: 24 receptions for 434 yards and 11 touchdowns | 31 tackles | 3 sacks | 1 fumble forced and 1 recovered

Highlights: vs. Ashland

[BLUEHOUND]

Still have to go with Benke at this point! 

[DevilMayCare]

Late addition:

Tyleeq Williams ran for 166 yards and two scores, picked off his second pass of the year, and housed a kickoff to put Bardstown on top of Logan County in a 51-48 shootout. 

 

Tyleeq "TyTy" Williams (ATH, Bardstown)

Season to date: 177 carries for 1,734 yards and 20 touchdowns | 413 yards and 3 touchdowns | 1 touchdown pass | 2 fumbles forced and 2 recovered, including a scoop and score | 30 tackles | 1 sack | 2 interceptions | 3 kick return touchdowns

Highlights: vs. Logan County