“Sneaky Good” Week 4 Rushing Performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As each successive week's games unfold and outstanding rushing performances begin to pile up, it can often prove challenging to acknowledge and highlight all of those ball carriers deserving recognition for their standout efforts. Naturally, those who produce in high-profile games or those impactful performers at larger or historically successful programs might find that recognition comes more easily when they excel, but each week we can also find countless talented prospects steadily improving their craft and contributing to their teams' success. In Week 4, these fast-rising talents produced ground game performances essential to their teams' wins:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["504243"],"_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":"A sophomore quarterback who has led his Eagles to their first 5-0 start since 2015, Eastridge was a dual-threat dynamo in his team's big 34-27 win over Somerset, rushing for 174 yards and 4 touchdowns on 25 carries while also completing 4 of 6 passes for 74 yards. A physically strong, durable athlete with exceptional quickness and open-field elusiveness, he excels on predetermined, downhill quarterback runs between the tackles and always poses a run threat whether setting up in a traditional passing pocket or moving the launch point toward either perimeter. Currently 29 of 47 passing for 559 yards and 6 touchdowns, he also has rushed for 374 yards and 7 touchdowns on 52 carries and ranks among both the top 20 rushers and passers in Class A. With over two seasons of development remaining, look for his comfort and accuracy levels with additional routes on the passing tree to improve and his status among the state's top signal callers to rise.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["381912"],"_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":"After finishing both his sophomore and junior seasons as the Cougars' leading tackler, Hawkins has smoothly transitioned into his additional offensive roles and his rushing performance was instrumental in Logan County's 29-26 win over Allen County-Scottsville. Breaking free for 160 yards and a touchdown on only 15 carries, he also turned in his customarily impactful night defensively with 5 solo tackles, 3 assists and 2 tackles for loss. A physical downhill runner with exceptional pad level and the ability to run through initial contact, he currently leads all Cougar rushers with 410 yards and 4 touchdowns on 50 carries and also still leads all defenders with 33 solo tackles, 14 assists, 6 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble. Most likely projecting as an outside linebacker or drop-down safety and special teams performer at the next level, his long-term production and versatility are sure to attract ongoing interest from a number of college programs.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='735602' first='Jaden' last='Samuels']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Western Hills","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The Western Hills Wolverines' early success is one of the u0022feel-goodu0022 stories of the 2023 season thus far, and the considerable contributions of Samuels both offensive and defensive are big contributors to his team's first 4-0 start in school history. In their 38-18 win at Morgan County, he averaged over 23 yards per carry by rushing for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 8 carries and also contributed a takeaway (1 pass interception) defensively. Currently tied for 12th among all Class AAAA rushers and averaging 113 yards per game, he has totaled 452 yards and 6 touchdowns on 36 rushes and also remains his squad's #3 tackler with 3 solos, 15 assists, 1 tackle for loss and 0.5 sacks. A compact, powerful competitor with smooth and efficient change-of-direction mechanics, he exhibits the acumen and skill set to play either offensively or defensively at the next level, and with two full seasons remaining in his prep career, his developmental ceiling remains high.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Martavious Smith","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Bethlehem","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"After missing the entirety of his junior season due to injury, Smith continues to improve and thrive in his senior season and added another impressive outing to his resume in his Eagles' hard fought 24-21 come-from-behind win over Washington County. Finishing the evening with 223 yards rushing on just 14 carries, his 66-yard run early in the fourth quarter set up a 1-yard score that pulled his Eagles to within 21-16, and on the very next Bethlehem possession, he twisted out of a tackle at the line of scrimmage and outraced everyone to the end zone for a 79-yard, game-turning score. Currently his team's leading rusher with 603 yards and 5 touchdowns on 62 carries, his 120.6 average rushing yards per game places him 4th among all rushers and Class A and 40th statewide. Also the team's #3 tackler with 17 solos, 2.5 assists, 2.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks, the 3-2 Eagles are counting on his best efforts on both sides of the ball when they travel to clash with undefeated district rival Campbellsville tonight.","_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":"Durell Turner","_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":"5'7u0022","_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":"Simon Kenton","_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 a very challenging early-season schedule and some initial setbacks, the Pioneers enjoyed some much-needed success in their 42-21 win at Conner, as Turner's rushing performance provided a consistent driving force throughout the contest. Finishing with 315 yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 carries, he scored on runs of 60, 6 and 2 yards, respectively, and enabled the Simon Kenton offense to dictate the pace of the game with long, sustained drives culminating with scores. Although appearing in only five varsity contests as a sophomore, Turner still averaged almost 10 yards per carry in limited duty, and now fully healthy, he seems poised to establish himself as one of this season's breakout talents at his position. Enlisting exceptional acceleration, vision and a low center of gravity, he currently leads all rushers in Class AAAAAA with 654 yards and 7 touchdowns on 84 carries, and his average of 163.5 yards per game places him 8th statewide. His current average of 11.0 points per game also places him #4 among all Class AAAAAA competitors.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-650dcdf86acd6"} /-->