State Final Headlines
• Hodge completes unique legacy
• Coffman takes the ram by the horns 
• Atwell reaches milestone, but fails again to grab brass ring 

First Team All-Watchlist
Connor Hodge (Christian Academy of Louisville, ATH)

Good things come in threes, so they say. I'm sure Hodge would agree after doubling up Union County on the scoreboard to seal CAL's third consecutive state championship. 

He masterfully mixed passing and running to the tune of 362 total yards (225 passing/137 rushing) and all six Centurion touchdowns. 

For a brief career retrospective, he's started both ways for three consecutive state championship teams and excelled at three different positions. Hodge aggressively grew into his role at quarterback in his first year on the job after being all-state at defensive back and all-state worthy at receiver as a junior. He simultaneously led the state in receptions and interceptions in 2023 before sliding to quarterback and leading the state in total offense.

The depth and reach of that career arc is unmatched by anyone else running this race. There are certain names that evoke demi-god like reverence within this state. Michael Bush is one of those. Purely from a high school perspective, Hodge to Bush is a worthy comparison. 

2024: 244/353 for 3,659 yards and 40 TDs with 9 INTs | 984 rushing yards and 19 TDs | 5 INTs as a DB

Second Team All-Watchlist
Brock Coffman (Sayre, ATH)

The criticism hovering around Sayre this year clearly never phased the Spartans. The regular season strength of schedule was held together by scotch tape, but the naysayers (finger pointed directly at myself) ring hollow now.

Coffman swung a wrecking ball at the critics with dominant performances and signature plays against the best 1A had to offer.

He housed a punt against Pikeville to bury the three time defending champions and displayed the form that will likely earn him first team all-state receiver honors against Raceland, catching twelve balls for 143 yards and three touchdowns. 

His 101 receptions rank 8th all-time for a single season and the 27 touchdown catches are #4. Both figures place Coffman atop the history books of Class 1A and Lexington. 

2024: 101 receptions for 1,530 yards and 27 TDs | 3 KR TDs | 77 tackles | 5 INTs including a pick-six 

Third Team All-Watchlist
Brady Atwell (Owensboro Catholic, QB)

With both barrels blazing, Atwell went out the same way he came in. 

No matter what you hit the Aces with, he finds a way to hit back. 

He accumulated 419 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in defeat to Beechwood, a team that hits with alarming frequency. 

It's fitting that his final play in an O-Cath uniform produced six points. No one in the history of Kentucky high school football has been responsible for more touchdowns than Brady Atwell's 201. That's two incredible careers rolled into one and he did it mostly in three seasons. 

He checks every box but one. The numbers, the records, the awe inspiring talent, the multi-sport golden boy aesthetic… everything but a ring. The lack of a state championship is a glaring omission on an otherwise sterling resumé. 

2024: 256/377 for 3,772 yards and 49 TDs with 6 INTs | 616 rushing yards and 20 TDs 

 

Honorable Mention
Jarren Johnson (Union County, ATH)
He didn't disappoint against CAL, accounting for 239 yards of offense and all three UC touchdowns. He scored running, passing, and put a jolt into Kroger Field with a 72 yard pick-six. 

His second half antics turned a halftime blowout into a respectable final score, but slaying 3A's dragon was beyond the reach of his sword.
2024: 270 carries for 2,682 and 44 TDs | 719 passing yards and 7 TDs | 49 tackles | 5 INTs including a pick-six 

Luke Pennington (Sayre, QB)
Pennington threw for 219 yards and three scores against Raceland. He leaves behind a two year touchdown to interception ratio of 103/4 and the fourth highest completion percentage (75%) ever in a single season. 
2024: 211/281 for 2,939 yards and 53 TDs with 4 INTs | 5 rushing TDs | 1 INT as a DB

Jack James (Paducah Tilghman, QB)
James threw for 352 yards on a sleek 27/31 attempts and accounted for three touchdowns to help the Tornado edge Franklin County for their first title in fifteen years. He's passed for over 4,000 yards and 50+ touchdowns in consecutive seasons, a first in KHSAA history.
2024: 304/438 for 4,133 yards and 57 TDs with 9 INTs | 8 rushing TDs  

Deuce Bailey (Bowling Green, QB)
Bailey's legs took the starring role with 76 yards and three scores to accompany 133 yards passing against Cooper. With his career numbers and two titles in his back pocket, he's got a strong case as BG's greatest quarterback. 
2024: 198/297 for 3,111 yards and 45 TDs with 9 INTs | 414 rushing yards and 5 TDs

Clay Hayden (Beechwood, QB)
The numbers (208 total yards and zero touchdowns) will do little to move the needle, but the bottom line shows that Hayden led the Tigers over Atwell's Aces for another state title.
2024: 180/268 for 2,974 yards with 46 TDs and 6 INTs

Martels Carter Jr. (Paducah Tilghman, ATH)
The Tornado are so deep with offensive skill people, they basically parked him for most of the regular season. Dusting him off for the playoffs helped deliver a championship, as he torched Franklin County's secondary for 169 yards and a touchdown on nine catches, plus a rushing score. He's without question one of the most dynamic players in the state, but do the numbers stack up? 
2024: 44 receptions for 659 yards and 6 TDs | 2 rushing TDs | 1 KR TD | 3 INTs 

A hound dog still on the hunt

Kade Elam (Corbin, QB)
If any quarterback is going to challenge Atwell's physical gifts, it's Elam. His senior year is in the running for greatest season ever in Corbin's long, storied history. He's the state's career leader in completion percentage at 72.5% and had the second highest ever in a single season this year at just shy of 77%.
2024: 189/246 for 3,288 yards and 40 TDs with 3 INTs | 374 rushing yards and 14 TDs

Lurking in the shadows of West Danville

Montavin Quisenberry (Boyle County, ATH)
If the voting were done at the end of the regular season, he's probably your winner. He's got stats, rings, and a variety of highlights no one can match, but he bowed out earlier than anyone outside of Park Hills could have imagined. Quisenberry was left out in the cold while all other names on this list were making their case at Kroger Field. 

We're going on three weeks since he was last seen in action, and yet his presence lingers like a spectre over the conversation. 

2024: 79 carries for 882 yards and 13 TDs | 49 catches for 794 yards and 13 TDs | 2 passing TDs | 2 kick return TDs | 3 INTs 

Great list and work here DMC!

Obviously, I'm biased and pulling for my guy Deuce Bailey.

He likely doesn't have the numbers this year to get the nod.

However, for his time at BG and being the leading man earning berths in 3 straight State Championship games and winning 2 straight is pretty significant.

Just thankful he is on this list and in the conversation.

Lot of very good football players in the State of KY!

@DevilMayCare was a tremendous resource when we prepped for this episode. Here is the Youtube version that will premiere, Thursday night at 7:30 pm EST.

Thank you to DMC for the help!

 

 

When is the last time someone in Class A won Mr Football? 

7 hours ago, Hard Work said:

When is the last time someone in Class A won Mr Football? 

Off the top of my head, did Kash Daniels win it with Paintsville? 

15 hours ago, DearToday said:

Off the top of my head, did Kash Daniels win it with Paintsville? 

Yes.

Only four 1A players have ever won Mr. Football. 

• Kash Daniel (Paintsville) - 2015

• Travis Atwell (Hancock County) - 1999

• Dennis Johnson (Harrodsburg) - 1997

• Scotty Russell (Evarts) - 1991

Tilghman is backing its guy, the 'Bazooka from Paducah'.

* That nickname is not my handiwork. It's been floating around X all season. 

On 12/11/2024 at 10:23 PM, ChiefSmoke said:

@DevilMayCare was a tremendous resource when we prepped for this episode. Here is the Youtube version that will premiere, Thursday night at 7:30 pm EST.

Thank you to DMC for the help!

 

 

Thanks, coach. It was my pleasure.

I like coach Smith's perspective on Button. If anyone went above and beyond to will his team to great things this year, it was him. No disrespect intended to South Warren, but Button wasn't dealt the hand that several others on this list were. The Spartans felt incomplete with the guys they were missing, but he got the most out of that team.

As always, great podcast.

8 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

Thanks, coach. It was my pleasure.

I like coach Smith's perspective on Button. If anyone went above and beyond to will his team to great things this year, it was him. No disrespect intended to South Warren, but Button wasn't dealt the hand that several others on this list were. The Spartans felt incomplete with the guys they were missing, but he got the most out of that team.

As always, great podcast.

You make a good point. Hate to admit...Button and Hodge were not even on my radar last week. Your argument for Hodge and Coach Smith's for Button made me re-evaluate. 

Your input made our podcast better. Thank you for the help. You came highly recommended from @theguru himself!  ?

On 12/10/2024 at 1:13 PM, Purple88 said:

Great list and work here DMC!

Obviously, I'm biased and pulling for my guy Deuce Bailey.

He likely doesn't have the numbers this year to get the nod.

However, for his time at BG and being the leading man earning berths in 3 straight State Championship games and winning 2 straight is pretty significant.

Just thankful he is on this list and in the conversation.

Lot of very good football players in the State of KY!

At least one more would vote with me for Deuce Bailey:

If Hayden were to win, it would give the Tigers two Mr. Football winning quarterbacks in the last five years, the other of course being Cam Hergott.

Career record of 36-3. The losses came to Covington Catholic (×2) and Mayfield. 

If you look closer at Hayden’s numbers you will see that he did not play any varsity reps as a freshman, his sophomore year he was injured in a pre season scrimmage against Cooper and missed half the season.  During his junior and senior seasons he rarely played the majority of the 2nd half because Beechwood frequently put a running clock on their opponents by the end of the first half.  And finally during his senior season Beechwood ran the ball a lot more than previous years because they had a great o line and Chase Flaherty at RB who ran for around 1500 yards.  Most of the other QBs being considered have started since their freshman year.  If Haden played 4 complete seasons and Beechwood would have thrown the ball more this past season his career numbers would have been as good or better than any of the other candidates.  And the most important stat is he led Beechwood to 2 state championships and played on the team that won another one.  3 state championship rings in four season is not bad.  Clay Hayden from Beechwood is my Mr. Football.