Ground Gamers – Top Week 3 Rushing Performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the growing number of outstanding passing games beginning to click as we approach the regular season's midpoint, it's worth noting that the state's most consistently successful programs continually devise ways to maintain successful running attacks that maximize their players' talents and produce opportunities for sustained offensive success. And certainly, with ground game performances and production like the following group achieved in their respective Week 3 contests, opposing coaches likely feel an increasing urgency to stop (or at least curtail) these running games and compel offenses out of their comfort zones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["287574"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As both the leading rusher and the leading tackler on what many consider the state's top-ranked team, Bodner's performance in the Rebels' 54-21 win over Scott County underscores both his athleticism and durability. Matching his season-high with 15 rushing attempts, he produced his best rushing night of the year thus far with 141 yards and 2 touchdownsu002du002dcomplemented by another 4 touches via pass receptions for 32 yards and another touchdown receiving. Also contributing 4 solo tackles, 4 assists, 2 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble from his safety position versus the Cardinals, he currently leads all Rebel backs with 45 carries, 381 yards and 8 rushing touchdowns. Contributing 139.4 total yards and 15.5 points per game, Bodner clearly does a lot of everything for the defending AAAA state champs, and he certainly will attract a great deal of interest from next-level programs as he continues to pile up contributions like these.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["401923"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The Maroons' leading rusher last season as a freshman with 975 yards on the ground, Hightower enjoyed his most productive night running the ball thus far this season in his team's 56-7 dismantling of visiting Fort Campbell. Rushing for 155 yards on 14 carries and scoring 5 touchdowns, he currently averages over 7 yards per carry this season and already has exceeded his total number of rushing touchdowns last season with 8. Also hauling in 7 receptions this season for 64 yards, he possesses exceptional acceleration, very efficient/fluid change-of-direction mechanics and the pad level and physicality to run through initial contact. Just a sophomore, Hightower already has begun to attract the interested inquiries of numerous programs, and with continued performances like this, that trend will continue.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["873791"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"While an outlier on this list as a quarterback, Holbrook's ability to exploit defenses with his legs certainly warrants his inclusion here, and in his Lions' eye-opening 45-21 win at Mason County in Week 3, he firmly established his status as one of this state's top dual-threat signal callers. In addition to 18 rushes for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground, he also connected on 16 of 23 pass attempts for 159 yards and 2 more scores. With the ability to move around in the pocket and the athleticism to make defenders miss in open space, he has rushed for 388 yards and 7 touchdowns so far this season while averaging 6.7 yards per carry. A tall, accurate passer with the arm mechanics and quick release needed to stretch the field, he has completed 55 of 75 pass attempts for 631 yards and 7 touchdowns this season and currently averages 254.8 yards of total offense per game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["485015"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"While a pre-season injury had delayed Partin's senior season debut until his Panthers' Week 2 tilt at Somerset, it appears that he is quickly rounding into his customary form after his team's much-needed 44-3 win over visiting Scott (TN). In addition to breaking free for 197 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns on 16 carries, he also scored a successful two-point conversion and led the Knox Central defense with 2 solo tackles, 10 assists 7 (yes, 7) tackles for loss and 3 sacks. A competitive and skilled performer capable of playing a variety of roles on both sides of the ball, Partin has committed to attend Yale University next fall and seems to project most favorably as a strong safety or possibly as an outside linebacker and immediate special teams contributor.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='373823' first='Kalen' last='Washington']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Bryan Station","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"After initially breaking the century mark versus Bowling Green in Week 2, Washington followed up in Week 3 with an even more productive night of running the football in his Defenders' 28-21 win on the road at Ballard. In addition to churning out 170 yards, 1 touchdown and a two-point conversion on 19 carries, he also hauled in 1 pass reception for a second touchdown and led his squad's defensive efforts with 8 solo tackles and 1 tackle for loss. After transferring from nearby George Rogers Clark where he led all rushers as a sophomore with over 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns, Washington did not play in Bryan Station's season-opener versus Trinity and played only sparingly in the Week 1 loss to Franklin County. However, in these past two weeks, Washington has rushed for over 300 yards and the Defenders who started 0-2 are now 2-2. A physical, downhill runner with a low center of gravity and the ability to accelerate through his cuts, he appears poised to help his new teammates reclaim their season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6500ad4629bfd"} /-->