BluegrassPreps.com Mr. Football Watchlist (12/4)

[DevilMayCare]

Hodge Makes His Bid, Helps Close The 'Book Of Daniel'

The final chapter has been written. It wasn't the conclusion Daniel Thomas was hoping for, but the book was a New York Times best seller. 

Thomas toiled between the tackles for 135 yards on a hearty 39 carries, by far the hardest yards he earned this season. He can finally take a knee and reflect on a monumental season and career.

• 3,817 single season rushing yards (#1 all-time)

• 7,143 career rushing yards (#8 all-time)

• 54 single season rushing touchdowns (#1 all-time)

• 104 career touchdowns  (#9 all-time)

• 400 single season carries (#5 all-time)

It took over half a century for the single season rushing record to fall. Thomas has improved on the previous number by 456 yards. This one may stand at least that long, but records are made to be broken.

Bell County couldn't have scripted the first quarter of the 3A finals any better. They ate the entire opening frame and scored early in the second, playing keep away from Cole Hodge and an explosive CAL offense. A sound strategy, but one the Bobcats were unable to sustain. When Hodge got his hands on the ball, the Centurions were unstoppable. They scored five offensive touchdowns, despite only twelve minutes of possession and 28 snaps. His marksmanship was on point, connecting on 18 of 20 attempts for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns, plus three scores running.

 

It was stated in the preseason watchlist that Hodge's junior year was the superior on-field body of work. He cleared that high bar this season with 4,729 yards of total offense, 67 combined touchdowns, a 74.4% completion rate (4th highest ever), and another state championship. 

Hodge won the day. As for who won the season, it's in the hands of the voters now.

 

Starks' Cards Outrun Carrico's Aces In An All-timer

Thomas wasn't the only record breaker competing on championship weekend. 'Tutt' Carrico's stock rose more than anyone's with an all-class finals record 332 receiving yards and three touchdowns on eleven catches. He now holds the single season touchdown reception record and finishes #2 all-time in single season receiving yards. 

 

When factoring in his defensive contributions, Carrico posted the top iron man resumé in the state, not that anyone is submitting defensive tape from the 2A finals.

Also like Thomas, Carrico's body of work is lacking a championship. 

Mayfield continued to ride the back of 'Juju' Starks, who capped his career as a Cardinal with an MVP performance to deliver state title #13 over the Aces. How's this for a three game stretch run:

• 173 yards and three touchdowns against #1 LCA

• 220 yards and three touchdowns against #2 Beechwood 

• 194 yards and four touchdowns against #3 Owensboro Catholic 

Starks fell short of Mayfield's single season rushing record, but his playoff push might be the best ever in a Cardinal uniform.

 

Zane Cartwright provided the offensive balance with another sterling performance - 23/33 for 322 yards and two scores. Adrift in a sea of stat monsters at the quarterback position, he was a consummate field general, seldom making a bad decision with the football - 72% completion percentage and only two picks all year.

 

Rebel Souls Crush CovCath

If we're putting together a list of the most accomplished players from a career perspective, you'd have to have Avery Bodner at or near the top. Boyle County is 52-3 with four championships during his four years in the black and gold, with him featured as a foundational player since his sophomore season. He's had three consecutive thousand yard seasons running the ball with 61 touchdowns during that time.

The latest addition to Boyle's hardware haul saw Bodner basically doing what he's done his entire career. He is Boyle County's glue guy.

The numbers are seldom spectacular, but his impact is ever present, even when Montavin Quisenberry gets the headlines. 

 

The 4A finals were a microcosm of his career: 79 rushing yards, 44 receiving yards, a pair of touchdowns, seven tackles, and two sacks.

Bodner mixed runs and receptions throughout the game and led a defensive effort that strangled the life out of Covington Catholic.

Evan Pitzer had nowhere to go with the ball, finishing with more combined pass attempts and runs (40) than yards of offense (37). The Rebels reduced his 72% completion rate on the season to 41% and induced his fifth interception this year. 

His Boyle counterpart, Sage Dawson fared much better, completing 11 of 16 throws with 197 yards of offense and two touchdowns. 

 

 

The Kentucky Football Coaches Association Has Selected The Following Players As Finalists For Mr. Football:

(In Alphabetical Order)

Avery Bodner (RB/DB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 151 carries for 1,274 yards and 22 touchdowns | 378 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns | 87 tackles | 15 TFL | 7 sacks | 1 interception | 2 fumbles forced and 2 recovered, including a scoop and score

 

Cutter Boley (QB, Lexington Christian Academy)

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

 

Zane Cartwright (QB, Mayfield)

Season to date: 149/207 for 2,452 yards and 33 touchdowns with 2 interceptions | 158 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns

 

Sage Dawson (QB/DB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 137/194 for 2,509 yards and 29 touchdowns with 5 interceptions | 385 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns | 2 fumbles forced and 1 recovered for a scoop and score 

 

Max Gainey (WR, Male)

Season to date: 57 receptions for 1,019 yards and 20 touchdowns | 2 rushing touchdowns | 3 kick return touchdowns

 

Brady Hensley (RB, Lexington Christian Academy)

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

 

Cole Hodge (QB, Christian Academy of Louisville)

Season to date: 283/380 for 4,104 yards and 57 touchdowns with 7 interceptions | 625 rushing yards and 10 touchdown

 

Daniel Thomas (RB/LB, Bell County)

Season to date: 400 carries for 3,817 yards and 54 touchdowns | 94 tackles | 1 sack | 1 scoop and score

 

Noah Wallace (RB/LB, Raceland)

Season to date: 182 carries for 1,198 yards and 15 touchdowns | 1 receiving touchdowns | 82 tackles | 1 sack | 2 interceptions 

 

Additional Players Featured This Week

William 'Tutt' Carrico (WR/DB, Owensboro Catholic)

Season to date: 95 receptions for 1,919 yards and 30 touchdowns | 2 rushing touchdowns | 107 tackles with 12 TFL | 13 turnovers created, including 6 interceptions 

 

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

Season to date: 208 carries for 1,827 yards and 32 touchdowns 

 

Evan Pitzer (QB, Covington Catholic)

Season to date: 170/243 for 2,592 yards and 32 touchdowns with 5 interceptions | 637 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns 

[DevilMayCare]

I was putting the finishing touches on this tonight before I saw the nine finalists announced earlier today.

Those aren't necessarily the nine I would have gone with, but congratulations to all who made the final cut.

[DevilMayCare]

18 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

 

The Kentucky Football Coaches Association Has Selected The Following Players As Finalists For Mr. Football:

(In Alphabetical Order)

Avery Bodner (RB/DB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 151 carries for 1,274 yards and 22 touchdowns | 378 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns | 87 tackles | 15 TFL | 7 sacks | 1 interception | 2 fumbles forced and 2 recovered, including a scoop and score

 

Cutter Boley (QB, Lexington Christian Academy)

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

 

Zane Cartwright (QB, Mayfield)

Season to date: 149/207 for 2,452 yards and 33 touchdowns with 2 interceptions | 158 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns

 

Sage Dawson (QB/DB, Boyle County)

Season to date: 137/194 for 2,509 yards and 29 touchdowns with 5 interceptions | 385 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns | 2 fumbles forced and 1 recovered for a scoop and score 

 

Max Gainey (WR, Male)

Season to date: 57 receptions for 1,019 yards and 20 touchdowns | 2 rushing touchdowns | 3 kick return touchdowns

 

Brady Hensley (RB, Lexington Christian Academy)

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

 

Cole Hodge (QB, Christian Academy of Louisville)

Season to date: 283/380 for 4,104 yards and 57 touchdowns with 7 interceptions | 625 rushing yards and 10 touchdown

 

Daniel Thomas (RB/LB, Bell County)

Season to date: 400 carries for 3,817 yards and 54 touchdowns | 94 tackles | 1 sack | 1 scoop and score

 

Noah Wallace (RB/LB, Raceland)

Season to date: 182 carries for 1,198 yards and 15 touchdowns | 1 receiving touchdowns | 82 tackles | 1 sack | 2 interceptions 

Any obvious snubs here?

I'll throw Carrico and Starks' names out there. I would point to Starks as the driving force behind Mayfield's title push. He was a man running against the top three teams in the class. And Carrico's season was historic, purely from an offensive standpoint. Then you add the year he had on defense.... at the very least he should have been a finalist.

[Tracy House]

Just think if you had Tutt and Starks on the same team, what a dynamic duo.

Edited December 5, 2023 by theguru

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

So, this year there are 9 KFCA Mr. Football Finalists. Those finalists represent 5 of the 6 classes of football in Kentucky:

Avery Bodner – Boyle County High School (4A)
Cutter Boley – Lexington Christian Academy (2A)
Zane Cartwright – Mayfield High School (2A)
Sage Dawson – Boyle County High School (4A)
Max Gainey – Male High School (6A)
Brady Hensley – Lexington Christian Academy (2A)
Cole Hodge – Christian Academy Louisville (3A)
Daniel Thomas – Bell County High School (3A)
Noah Wallace – Raceland High School (1A)

Last year the KFCA never formally announced a list of 2022 Mr. Football Finalists, but per an article in the Herald-Leader on December 5th: "The KFCA's players of the year both at the class and district levels are finalists for its annual Mr. Football award given to the associations choice for the state's top senior." So that means for 2022, with six football classes in Kentucky and eight districts in each classification, there were 48 finalists for the Mr. Football award, with Bullitt East's Travis Egan (who was both the 6A District 4 POY, and the 6A Class-wide POY) winning the award.



In 2021 there were 11 finalists named, and had players from all 6 classes of Kentucky football. In 2020 there were 15 finalists named, and had players from all 6 classes of Kentucky football. In 2019 there were 11 finalists named, and had players from all 6 classes of Kentucky football. In 2018 (the first year the KFCA awarded their own version of the Kentucky Mr. Football Award) there were 6 finalists named, and had players from 5 of the 6 classes of Kentucky football.

I've got to admit, with the guidelines for the KFCA's Mr. Football Award appearing to change up so frequently, it doesn't give me the best feeling about how successful they are going to be in really zeroing in on the truest "best player" in the state. I realize there's never going to be any pleasing everyone when it comes to both naming the finalists and naming the winner, but when the KFCA has the ability to look back on 30-some-odd years of how the AP selected finalists and winners and also the ability to look at the AP's shortcomings, I can't help but feel like they should have really gotten a better long-term guideline for selecting finalists already.