Kentucky High School Football: Top 10 Mr. Football Contenders

(Ft. Thomas Highland’s QB Patrick Towles)

With it being the bye week and all, I though I might break away from covering the college game and look into the race for Mr. Football in Kentucky’s high school ranks. There have been several standouts so far in the 2011 season and this may shape up to be one of the most talented groups of player to ever come through the Commonwealth. This is, of course, a very early look considering that all of these players could drastically change their candidacy throughout the rest of the season and the playoffs.

10. Chase Roark – QB – Middlesboro
It might surprise some to find that Roark is actually the top passer in the state of Kentucky right now. The senior has thrown for 1,782 yards and 21 touchdowns through the first six games of the season and he is at the helm of a Middlesboro offense that averages 38 points per game. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, they have still only compiled a record of 4-3 on the season and Roark has thrown 6 interceptions. Add to that that Middlesboro plays in the 2A division and it makes his competition look a little more suspect. Similar to Zeke Pike, it’s going to be tough for Roark to pull this one out with a losing record unless his team can make some serious noise in the playoffs.

9. Caleb Pope – RB – Nicholas County
Running backs are typically safe bets when you’re talking about any award because they churn out stats like no other position can. Pope has taken the role to heart and has piled up an impressive 1,530 yards rushing through the first six games of the season to average 255 yards per contest on the ground. He’s managed to reach the endzone 22 times as well (chipping in two touchdown receptions) and has helped lead Nicholas County to a 5-2 record. The reason he’s so low on this list? Playing at a tiny 1A school doesn’t give spectators the best idea as to how talented Pope really is. Add to that that his team suffered a blowout loss to Raceland and isn’t considered a threat to Hazard, Holy Cross, Raceland, or Beechwood, and it’s tough to see him stealing the award.

8. Thomas Chapman – DT – DuPont Manual
I had to throw Chapman in here because he has had an outstanding season so far. His Rams are rated as high as #2 in the state in the 6A division and he has been a total monster in the middle of the defense. All that being said, it’s tough for a defensive tackle to win an award like Mr. Football because they don’t generate many stats and don’t get the sacks that defensive ends get. Chapman will be double-teamed and triple teamed throughout the remainder of his season, and it’s tough to convey to the powers at be how valuable an interior lineman like him truly is.

7. Zeke Pike – QB – Dixie Heights
Sometimes an award like Mr. Football will go to a guy that has the most publicity or the most hype around him, and that’s where Pike plays into the discussion. He is the highest rated prospect in the state of Kentucky on most recruiting databases and is currently committed to play college football at Auburn. As far as on-field performance goes though, Pike leaves quite a bit to be desired with his 2011 campaign. A tough schedule and a lack of TEAM talent has left Dixie Heights with a 2-5 record at this point. Regardless of Pike’s talent, it would be a big surprise for him to steal Mr. Football as the quarterback of a team with a losing record.

6. Josh Walls – ATH – Scott County
While teams like Louisville Trinity and DuPont Manual will steal a lot of the headlines, Scott County has quietly compiled a 7-0 record while obliterating opponents by an average of 43 points per game. Walls has been theone of the best ‘do-it-all’ players in the state and overall performer on his team and has amassed 425 yards on only 48 carries this season. That’s an average of 11 yards per touch. He has 10 total touchdowns on the season and has chipped in 15 tackles and 2 interceptions from his safety position as well. So why isn’t he better known you ask? With the beat downs that the Cardinals are putting on opponents on a weekly basis, Walls is typically chilling on the sidelines for the entire second half of games. As long as Scott County is keeping teams from even breaking into double digits on the scoreboard (no team has scored more than 8 on them this season) Walls probably wont compile the stats necessary even though he has the talent.

5. J.J. Jude – RB – Johnson Central
Usually a guy that leads all active players the state in career rushing yards would be higher on this list, but Jude has a couple of obstacles to overcome. First off, playing in Paintsville, KY hurts his exposure, and his team not submitting statistics to the KHSAA further hurts his notoriety. Add to that that the only solid team they played (Perry County Central) resulted in a loss, and there is probably just too much going against Jude for him to take home the hardware. All that considered, if Jude can get 700 more yards over the rest of the season (which he probably will), and hold off Anthony Wales, he will finish his career as the state’s all-time leading rusher, so counting him out this early is a bad idea.

4. Austin Sheenan – WR – Ft. Thomas Highlands
Through the first six games of the season, Sheenan has amassed 579 receiving yards, or just under 100 yards per game. Impressive enough in it’s own right, but probably not enough to win Mr. Football by itself. But, the ridiculousness of his statistics comes when you consider that Sheenan has only 14 receptions on the year. For those wondering that is, in fact, 41.4 yards per catch. No that is not a typo. Sheenan has been the victim of his own team’s success though, and has seen very little time in the second half of most games as his Highlands Bluebirds team has beaten opponents by an average of 43.5 points per game. It’s going to be tough to win the award when he’s barely playing.

3. DeMichael Jackson – RB – Jeffersontown
With the highest population in the state, Louisville prep players have the advantage of intense amounts of exposure and Jackson has definitely benefitted. He has blown up this season to pile up 1,093 yards and 14 touchdowns through the first six games and has led his team to a 5-2 record against some good teams. Jackson will have to shine in his team’s last three games and throughout the playoffs though, because Louisville has no shortage of talented running backs this season. If he can help lead the Chargers to the 5A State Championship against what might be the best division of Kentucky high school football.

2. Anthony “Ace” Wales – RB – Louisville Central
The top two here were pretty hard to separate. Wales came in second, but it really has more to do with his team being 5-2 this season than his actual performances. Through seven games, Wales has rushed 162 times for 1,382 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. On top of that, he’s also caught 12 passes for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns. That means this one player is averaging 234 yards of offensive production per game. Not too bad. He has been able to run over, around, and through defenses throughout his career and inches a little closer to Derek Homer’s state record of 8,224 career rushing yards each game. With contests left against a bad Henry County team, an average Larue County team, and a good Pleasure Ridge Park team, Wales might need a deep run into the playoffs to get the record, but he’s proven he
can pile up the yards against some tough competition this season.

1. Patrick Towles – QB – Ft. Thomas Highlands
It’s tough to ignore a 6’6 quarterback that weighs 235 pounds and is built like a defensive end in the first place, it’s even harder when he has played as well as Towles has throughout his career. With his Highlands team sitting at 7-0 and in the driver’s seat to his fourth state championship, Towles has only been able to participate in the first half of almost every game this season while the J.V. finishes off opponents. While completing 89 of 143 passes, he has racked up 2,015 passing yards and 25 touchdowns and has only thrown one interception this year. The senior has also chipped in 207 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground, accounting for 33 total scores. It will be tough for him to hold off Wales through the end of the season, but in all honesty, the 2011 Mr. Football award is just about in the bag for Towles.

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