2022 Statewide Top Performers: Playoffs Round 2
In this article:
While the regular season was fun while it lasted, the most exciting time of the year in high school football is here. The 2022 high school football playoffs are in full swing and we have had some very impressive performances…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWhile the regular season was fun while it lasted, the most exciting time of the year in high school football is here. The 2022 high school football playoffs are in full swing and we have had some very impressive performances so far. Things are starting to come down to the wire now as we have already made it through the first two rounds. With that being said, here are the top performances that stood out from last week’s second round playoff action.
For the second consecutive week, Madison Central running back Brady Hensley Brady Hensley 6’0″ | 200 lbs | RB Lexington Christian Academy | 2024 State KY finds himself on this list as I believe he had the best overall performance in the state last week. Hensley helped lead the Indians to a 45-42 victory over a very talented Paul Laurence Dunbar football team, carrying the ball 29 times for 354 yards and five touchdowns. He was able to show off his downhill running style, finding the running lane quickly and bursting through it. Hensley showed great contact balance in the open field, bouncing off defenders without breaking stride. He also showed the ability to make defenders miss along with the speed to simply run away from the defense. Brady currently holds one offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come as he is a Division I caliber running back. Hensley and the Indians will be on the road for a third round playoff match up against Ballard this Friday.
Next up on my list is a very talented junior quarterback from the Lexington area, Cole Carpenter Cole Carpenter 6’4″ | 200 lbs | QB Frederick Douglass | 2024 State KY . Cole hasn’t been able to put up the crazy numbers that he is capable of this season mainly due to the fact that most of the Broncos’ wins have been blowouts where the starters have been pulled at halftime. He got his chance last Friday, leading his team to a 33-6 victory over Covington Catholic, completing 15/24 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. Carpenter was able to showcase his impressive arm strength throughout the game. In the short and intermediate passing game, he put enough zip on his passes to deliver strikes into tight windows where only his receiver could catch it. When throwing the deep ball, Carpenter used his arm strength to lead his receivers down the field and hit them in stride. I also liked his mechanics in quick release situations, stepping to the receiver quickly and getting the ball out of his hands to hit them out of their break. Carpenter doesn’t hold any official offers yet but has received a lot of college interest and has the potential to play at the FCS level or higher in my eyes. Cole and the Broncos will host Woodford County for a big time third round match up this week.
Cameron Combs Cameron Combs 6’2″ | 190 lbs | ATH Corbin | 2023 State KY has been a big part of Corbin’s success this season, even after a position change. The quarterback turned running back continued to impress this past week, carrying the ball eight times for 207 yards and four touchdowns, helping lead his team to a 49-0 victory over Letcher County Central. He was able to showcase his impressive vision, showing the ability to find the running lane and hit it with a sense of urgency as soon as it opened up. Combs showed a great amount of burst through the running lanes, using his speed to run straight through the defense on his way to the end zone. He also showed the ability to make defenders miss and break tackles in the open field. Cameron is committed to play college baseball at Bellarmine but definitely has the skill level to play football at the next level if he were to ever have a change of heart. Combs and the Redhounds will host Johnson Central for a third round playoff match up this week.
Sophomore quarterback Andrew Nason Andrew Nason 6’1″ | 175 lbs | ATH Boyle County | 2025 State KY has helped guide Woodford County to a very successful season so far this year and continued to impress last week. Nason led his team to a 49-28 win over Pulaski County, completing 16/22 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. Nason has impressive ball placement ability, putting the ball where only his receiver has a chance to catch it. He also has the arm strength to push the ball down the field and lead his receiver away from their defender. Nason also was able to use his speed and athleticism to make plays on the ground, running the ball seven times for 46 yards and two scores. While he doesn’t currently hold any offers, Nason will be a name to watch over the next couple years as he has the potential to become a highly sought after quarterback prospect. Andrew will lead the Yellow Jackets into a tough road test against a very talented Frederick Douglass team this Friday.
Another quarterback that impressed this past week was Cole Hodge Cole Hodge 6’2″ | QB Christian Academy Of Louisville | 2024 State KY from Christian Academy of Louisville,. Hodge is our top ranked quarterback in the class of 2024 in Kentucky and continued to show why. He led his team to a 46-7 victory over Elizabethtown, completing 12/12 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Combs was able to show an impressive quick release, getting the ball out of his hands and delivering a strike to his receiver out of their break. He was able to make throws all over the field, placing his passes where only his receivers could catch them. Hodge also showed the ability to tuck the ball and pick up yards on the ground, running the ball five times for 63 yards and a touchdown. Cole currently holds offers from Central Michigan and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect that list to continue to grow as he is a true Division I caliber talent at quarterback.
Another player making my “Top Performers” list for the second consecutive week is senior Harris Phelps Harris Phelps 5’11” | 180 lbs | RB Paintsville | 2023 State KY from Paintsville. Phelps continued to do damage on the ground in Paintsville’s 42-16 victory over Bishop Brossart, carrying the ball 21 times for 155 yards and four touchdowns. Once he bursts through the running lane, Phelps doesn’t stop, showcasing his breakaway speed to run straight through the defense. He also has shown the ability to make defenders miss in the open field when they do get close enough to try to tackle him. Phelps also showed that he is a threat in the passing game, catching four passes for 64 yards on Friday. He also made an impact on defense, coming away with an interception. Harrison currently holds offers from Hanover, Centre, Grinnell, Kentucky Christian, and Denison, and I see him becoming a true impact player wherever he decides to play at the next level. Phelps and the Tigers will be on the road this week for a third round playoff match up with their rival, the Pikeville Panthers.
Another senior running back that impressed me this past week was Jayden Newsome Jayden Newsome 5’6″ | 165 lbs | RB Shelby Valley | 2023 State KY from Shelby Valley. Newsome helped lead his team to a 28-21 victory over Middlesboro, running the ball 31 times for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Newsome has impressive vision as a ball carrier with the ability to find the running lane quickly and also find cut back lanes in the open field. Once he turns the corner or gets into the open field, Newsome shows the speed to run away from the defense to break off on long runs. He also has the elusiveness to make defenders miss and can cut back across the field when needed. Newsome doesn’t currently have any reported offers but he should be on the radars of college coaches as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level. Jayden and the Wildcats will have a tough third round playoff match up on the road this Friday against Beechwood.
Sophomore running back Cortez Stone Cortez Stone 5’10” | 170 lbs | RB Louisville Central | 2025 State KY has had a very impressive year so far, emerging as one of the better running backs in the state. He continued to stand out this past week, carrying the ball 21 times for 229 yards and three touchdowns, helping lead Central to a 31-7 victory over North Oldham. Stone has a great amount of burst out of his stance, hitting the running lane with a sense of urgency. Once he hits the lane, he keeps running right by defenders on his way to the end zone, showing off his electric speed. He also has the quickness to make defenders miss in the open field along with the strength to run through tackles to pick up extra yards. Stone currently holds offers from Louisville, Purdue, Western Kentucky, and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect that list to continue to grow as he is a truly special talent. Cortez and the Yellow Jackets will be on the road this week for a third round playoff match up against Logan County.
Speaking of Logan County, their running back had a nice performance of his own this past week. Senior Ryan Rayno Ryan Rayno 6’3″ | 190 lbs | RB Logan County | 2023 State KY carried the ball 32 times for 254 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead his team to a 21-7 victory over Hopkinsville. Rayno has great vision as a ball carrier, showing the ability to bounce to the outside and use his speed to run away from the defense to break off long runs. He also has the strength and contact balance to run straight through defenders in the open field without breaking stride. Rayno also showed the ability to make catches out of the backfield, finishing the game with two receptions for 19 yards. Ryan doesn’t currently hold any offers but has the skill set to play at the next level and will look to continue to showcase his talent against Central this week.
Highlights
Dane Parsley
Dane Parsley
Sophomore quarterback Dane Parsley is a player that I’ve had my eye on all season as he has had a very impressive year. Parsley continued to showcase his talent this past week, leading Warren East to a 28-17 victory over Madisonville-North Hopkins. He completed 7/16 passes for 35 yards but did most of his damage on the ground, running the ball 21 times for 248 yards and four touchdowns. As a passer, Parsley has the ability to make throws all over the field, putting the ball where only his receiver can catch it. He also has the arm talent to stretch the field in the deep passing game. In the run game, Parsley runs the read option to perfection, using his speed to break off on long runs when he decides to keep the ball. He also has the vision to find cut back lanes in the open field to make defenders miss. While Parsley doesn’t hold any offers yet, he will be a player to watch over the next couple years as he has the potential to become a high caliber prospect once his senior year comes around. Dane and the Raiders will host a very talented Franklin County team this Friday in a third round playoff match up.
The last player on my list is no stranger to these “Top Performers” lists. Wide receiver Chandler Godby Chandler Godby 5’9″ | 170 lbs | WR Pulaski County | 2023 State KY has been one of the best players in the state this year and continued to impress this past week. Although Pulaski County fell short as a team, Godby did everything in his power to keep them in the game against Woodford County. Godby finished with ten catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He was able to showcase his impressive route running ability, creating separation with quick breaks in his routes. Godby also showed the ability to adjust to the ball in mid air and catch it at its highest point. He was able to use his speed, quickness, and strength to turn short passes into big gains and also showed ability as a ball carrier on designed run plays, carrying the ball two times for 39 yards. Godby also made an impact on special teams, returning a kickoff for a touchdown. Chandler currently holds offers from Union College, Cumberlands (KY), and Montana Tech, but I think he’s shown that he deserves more offers to come his way as he has the talent to be a very productive receiver at the next level.