BluegrassPreps.com Mr. Football Watchlist (11/21)

[DevilMayCare]

The Bell-Cow Outruns History

It's time to knock the dust off of one of the oldest records on the books. The 54 year old single season standard for rushing yards has a new name attached to it.

Once the Pond Creek hurdle was cleared, it felt more like a matter of when, not if, Daniel Thomas would eclipse Frank Jones' record. He needed 203 yards against East Carter, which would have been his third lowest total of the season.

The Raiders put a fright into Bell County in a see-saw affair, but Thomas would not be denied, in regulation or overtime. He totaled 287 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries, including the game tying score and walk-off two point conversion in extra time.

For the time being, the number sits at 3,446 yards. He potentially has two more games to add on and could put the new standard out of sight.

The records keep coming and the names grow in stature, as Thomas' 32 points scored against East Carter move him past Shaun Alexander for #1 all-time in single season scoring with 341 points. He has 'Alexander the Great' in his sights again, needing two more rushing touchdowns to surpass him for the single season record in that category, as well.

That one will have to wait a few more days. In the meantime, all hail the new rushing king. 🤴

Graphic taken from Bell County's football twitter/x.

 

Cards Kill Two Birds With One Stone

There will be no coronation for Cutter Boley and Brady Hensley at Kroger Field. No new addition to the trophy case at Lexington Christian Academy after months of hype around two talented individuals capable of reaching towering heights.

LCA was unable to overcome the mystique of War Memorial and a Mayfield team bent on reminding the state that Black Friday football is a borderline birthright of the Cards. 

Hensley delivered on the numbers front with 270 rushing yards and a pair of touchdown runs. 

Boley delivered too, but all too often it was to the wrong team. He threw three interceptions - including a nail in the coffin pick-six - and lost a fumble. 

With a state title now off the table, it's hard to see a path to Mr. Football for Cutter Boley. He was unable to clear the high bar set by his junior year and commitment to the University of Kentucky. Hensley's body of work will keep him in play as a legitimate contender, but he's been relegated to the role of spectator as Daniel Thomas continues to rewrite the record books.

 

Hodge And Wasik Shine In Quarters To Set The Table For Semis

Louisville Central being taken to the woodshed and laid over a knee was the most jaw dropping result of the quarterfinal round. It was the Yellow Jackets' largest margin of defeat in the playoffs in at least a quarter century. After frustrating Cole Hodge in a one score game on October 13th, Central had no answer for him in the rematch. 

 

Photo by Jeff Faughender for the Courier Journal.

 

Hodge showed his mettle against a program with an impeccable reputation for defense and winning in November. He was a crisp 11 of 14 passing with 300 yards of total offense and six touchdowns to keep the top ranked Centurions on track for a repeat.

Meanwhile, in Mount Vernon, Jackson Wasik had Lexington Catholic humming against Rockcastle County. He threw for 262 yards and accounted for four touchdowns as the Knights left the Rockets on the launch pad.

Hodge and Wasik leading brand name programs onto Kroger Field would make for the ideal 3A championship game, but the RPI had other ideas. The fast track at CAL should make for a worthy consolation prize.

 

Noteworthy Performances From Round 3

- Highlands and Covington Catholic are a combined 25-1 with hopes of bringing dual state titles to the rivalry for the first time ever. Quarterback play has been a driving force for both. Brody Benke and Evan Pitzer were again bright spots in quarterfinal wins over North Laurel and Johnson Central, respectively. Benke accounted for 203 yards and three scores, running and throwing. Pitzer was also responsible for three touchdowns, but all of the damage was inflicted with his right arm.

- A subplot to the blockbuster playing out in Mayfield was the work of "Juju" Starks and Zane Cartwright. Hensley outgained Starks by a hundred yards, but the big moments belonged to the Card's running back. He broke the game open with two long touchdown runs within a span of three minutes in the fourth quarter and finished the night with 173 yards and three second half scores. 

Photo by Edward Alan Marlowe.

While Starks turned it on in the second half, Cartwright was consistent throughout, throwing for 272 yards and three touchdowns. He kept a clean sheet, compared to Boley's four turnovers. No one is picking Cartwright over Boley in a "look test", but he was the better quarterback on this night.

 

Players Featured This Week

Daniel Thomas (RB/LB, Bell County)

Season to date: 320 carries for 3,446 yards and 49 touchdowns | 82 tackles | 1 sack | 1 scoop and score

 

Brady Hensley (RB, Lexington Christian Academy)

Season to date: 235 carries for 2,408 yards and 43 touchdowns | 213 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns

 

Cutter Boley (QB, Lexington Christian Academy)

Season to date: 172/268 for 2,187 yards and 24 touchdowns with 9 interceptions | 5 rushing touchdowns

 

Cole Hodge (QB, Christian Academy of Louisville)

Season to date: 239/329 for 3,542 yards and 52 touchdowns with 7 interceptions | 505 rushing yards and 5 touchdown

Highlights: Season so far

 

Jackson Wasik (QB, Lexington Catholic)

Season to date: 173/262 for 2,698 yards and 30 touchdowns with 2 interceptions | 264 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns

Highlights: Season so far

 

Brody Benke (QB, Highlands)

Season to date: 109/167 for 1,773 yards and 26 touchdowns with 4 interceptions | 1,128 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns | 208 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns

Highlights: vs. North Laurel

 

Evan Pitzer (QB, Covington Catholic)

Season to date: 155/213 for 2,508 yards and 32 touchdowns with 4 interceptions | 513 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. Johnson Central

 

Jutarious "Juju" Starks (RB/DE, Mayfield)

Season to date: 147 carries for 1,313 yards and 26 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. LCA

 

Zane Cartwright (QB, Mayfield)

Season to date: 126/174 for 2,130 yards and 31 touchdowns with 2 interceptions | 158 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. LCA

[zoneblitz2]

“Tutt” Carrico definitely deserves to be mentioned on this list. Productive career and getting it done on both sides of the ball for undefeated Aces. 

[DevilMayCare]

6 minutes ago, zoneblitz2 said:

“Tutt” Carrico definitely deserves to be mentioned on this list. Productive career and getting it done on both sides of the ball for undefeated Aces. 

Oversight on my part. I thought he was a junior, but it's his brother that's a junior.

[tcjkbt]

What about the young man I'm hearing so much about in the Tilghman-CovCath thread - Martels Carter?   Do you feel like  he may be deserving of Mr. Football?   I really don't know much about him, but he must be something else.

[DevilMayCare]

1 hour ago, tcjkbt said:

What about the young man I'm hearing so much about in the Tilghman-CovCath thread - Martels Carter?   Do you feel like  he may be deserving of Mr. Football?   I really don't know much about him, but he must be something else.

He is something else, but he's a junior. This is a senior only award. He'll have to wait till next year.

[RedHawk]

Pitzer is definitely gaining momentum in this race. 

[Lion pride 89]

I think Kam Hughes from Somerset deserves some ink he has 1899 rushing yards on 208 Carries and 255 yards receiving he also has 80 tackles and 6 interceptions. He also punts with a 48 yard punt average. 

[DearToday]

I don’t see how anyone but Daniel Thomas wins it. Broke the record for rushing yards in a season. Broke the record for points scored. Next game will break the record for rushing touchdowns. 

[DevilMayCare]

On 11/21/2023 at 8:13 PM, DearToday said:

I don’t see how anyone but Daniel Thomas wins it. Broke the record for rushing yards in a season. Broke the record for points scored. Next game will break the record for rushing touchdowns. 

The historical significance of his season is too great to ignore. Getting to Kroger Field would probably seal it.

[nikeman49]

Cutter Boley is the best football player in the state. Nothing anyone can say to prevent this from being true, regardless of Mayfield game or any other game.

[DevilMayCare]

2 hours ago, nikeman49 said:

Cutter Boley is the best football player in the state. Nothing anyone can say to prevent this from being true, regardless of Mayfield game or any other game.

How do we define "best football player in the state"? Boley has more upside than anyone in contention for the award, but he didn't even have the best season on his own team. 

I couldn't vote for Boley after the year Brady Hensley had.

[nikeman49]

41 minutes ago, DevilMayCare said:

How do we define "best football player in the state"? Boley has more upside than anyone in contention for the award, but he didn't even have the best season on his own team. 

I couldn't vote for Boley after the year Brady Hensley had.

The best pure football player should get the award, regardless of team standings or record. The award was meant for the best player and that is head and shoulders Boley, and that’s fairly easy to see.