The tale of the Kennedy Race last few weeks is better told through the prism of who hasn’t played as opposed to who has.
And frankly, that’s a boring story. So, if you’re still with us, thank you.
That didn’t change this week as only three of the top candidates, including the two recent additions, took the field. But that issue should come to an end right quick.
From frontrunner to newbies, my weekly list has grown, shrank, and grown again to 11 players strong. The good news? All 11 players and their respective teams qualified for the postseason.
The bad news? We now wait for the Saturday COVID map to rain down disappointment on how statistical parade. Let’s stick with glass is half full and assume everyone plays in the first round.
It’s the first and, potentially, final chance for these players to make their mark this postseason. Kennedy Award voting ends prior to the Super Six, so for legit top few candidates, these next weeks are crucial.
Performance-wise, some have definitely pushed to the front of the pack. Statistically, few have played their full compliment of games and you don’t have absurd numbers like those that last season’s winner, Poca’s Ethan Payne, amassed during a storied regular season.
Seeing as I’ll be making my postseason predictions during my previews which will run Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I might as well give my Top 5 for the Kennedy Race.
This is only my opinion, based on in-person viewing and watched film.
My top five are, in ABC order ONLY, are:
- Atticus Goodson, Independence
- Blake Hartman, Musselman
- Gage Michael, Fairmont Senior
- Keon Padmore-Johnson, Spring Mills
- Hunter Patterson, Oak Glen
If you’ve been paying attention, you know who my top two are. Otherwise, let the waiting game begin.
On the Hunt
Patterson and his Golden Bears’ teammates returned to the field after a lengthy hiatus and made sure they secured a first-round home playoff game.
Per usual, Patterson did his damage on few opportunities in the 49-7 rout. He had two carries for 30 yards and a touchdown and three receptions for 69 yards and another score. Oak Glen got up big early and the coaching staff subbed liberally.
Consider this statistic: The Golden Bears ran for 392 yards as a team. Twenty-nine different players recorded at least one carry. Now that’s spreading the wealth.
He’s Back
Oh look, Cabell Midland finally got to play a game. I was starting to wonder if that was going to happen again in 2020. But the top-seeded Knights showed no signs of rust in dispatching St. Albans to the tune of 71-13.
Fullback and Kennedy candidate Jakob Caudill was his usual self. The senior rumbled for a team-high 142 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries as Cabell too spread the wealth offensively with four ballcarriers eclipsing 100 yards.
Torture Us No More
East Fairmont is likely glad that Friday’s loss to Fairmont Senior is the last time it will have to deal with Polar Bears’ quarterback Gage Michael.
Michael passed for 111 yards and a score on 13 of 21 passing while rushing for 87 yards and another touchdown.
The remaining candidates all had the week off, or in the case of Payne, did not suit up in his team’s win against Winfield. Those names include Hartman; Padmore-Johnson; Carson Deeb of Bluefield; Noah Brown of Greenbrier West; Beau Heller of Wheeling Park; Trey Dunn of South Charleston; and Goodson.
Full Circle
Wheeling Central senior Payton Marling saved his best offensive effort for his final regular season game.
Marling had career highs in rushing yards, total yards and touchdowns in Wheeling Central’s 49-13 road win against Petersburg. He ran for 167 yards and two scores on eight rushes and had one reception for a 53-yard scoring strike. Defensively he had eight stops, including two for a loss.
When the Knights needed him most, Marling responded. A loss guaranteed Central’s absence from the playoffs, something many outside of Ohio County probably were hoping for. No such luck folks. Provided upcoming Saturday COVID map cooperates, the Maroon Knights will take on St. Marys in the first round of the Class A postseason.
It’s a full circle result from how Marling’s season started. His first season as a full-time offensive starter, Marling tried his hand both at quarterback and running back against Poca in the opener. Neither went well.
In fairness, little went well for ANY Maroon Knights in that loss. But Marling was held to 35 rushing yards, 69 passing and fumbled the ball seven times, losing four. Far from the start he wanted.
He could have waived white flag right there and retreated to the sideline. But he hasn’t. Marling’s offensive output has steadily improved and twice in the last three games he’s eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark.
Teams that believed the key to beating Central was to stop Jordan Waterhouse now have a legitimate second rushing option to deal with.
Other Notables:
Grant Cochran, Princeton: Sophomore has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this season. He finished the regular season with 233 yards and three TDs on 14 of 27 passing in a 21-0 win against George Washington. The Tigers head to the Island on Sunday to take on No. 10 Wheeling Park.
Kevin Robertson, Montcalm/Conner Bell, Webster County: Robertson and Bell both put on a show in Webster’s 44-43 shootout win against Montcalm. Bell had 233 rushing yards on 24 carries with four touchdowns while the Montcalm QB ran for 233 on 27 carries with three scores to go with a 46-yard touchdown pass with 1:37 left in regulation.
Tyler Cox, Braxton County: Cox had three TDs in a 36-0 win against Clay County. He caught five passes for 93 yards with an 18-yard TD reception. Defensively, Cox had a 51-yard fumble return for six and a 50-yard pick-six for the all-around effort.
Jeremiah King, RCB/David Tate, Lincoln: In another game with dueling offenses, Robert C. Byrd’s Jeremiah King put on another epic performance with 212 yards rushing on 12 carries with four touchdowns whilst also taking a kickoff return to the house. Cougars’ quarterback David Tate kept his team in the game with a 23 of 34 passing effort for 351 yards and four TDs.
Drew Boczek, Trinity Christian: Warriors sophomore QB threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns in a narrow 28-21 loss on the road to Wahama.
