Overachievers: Week 9’s Most Impactful Two-way Performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As each football season progresses, the added physical and mental demands placed on two-way performers accumulate, making it increasingly challenging to excel both offensively and defensively. An extended, grueling schedule of practices and games takes a toll on both their bodies and minds. Thus, these competitors have maintained not only their physical conditioning, but they also have maintained a heightened level of mental focus and concentration in their quest to help their teams excel: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Isaiah Adkins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"East Ridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Despite his Warriors' ultimate 58-30 district loss to Shelby Valley, Adkins' performances on both sides of the football were definitely noteworthy, as he rushed for 284 yards and all 5 of his squad's touchdowns on 27 carries while also contributing 6 solo tackles and 1 assist defensively. A multi-skilled offensive threat with above-average speed, lateral mobility and a knack for setting up second-and-third-level blockers, he has produced 984 yards and 9 touchdowns on 101 carries this fall after topping 1,100 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns last season. Currently the #6 rusher in Class AA (37th statewide), he proves equally effective as an inside slot receiver or route-runner out of the backfield and has caught 28 balls for 438 yards and 6 more scores. A fundamentally sound defender typically aligned as a drop-down safety, he excels in alley run support and displays the ball skills to also play within a more traditional u0022Cover 2u0022 look. Adkins and his Warriors (4-5) will travel to Knott County Central for their regular season finale before traveling to Floyd Central for the first round of the Class AA playoffs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1149612' first='Dwaylon' last='Dean']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"West Carter","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Dean's diverse and impressive athletic skill set was on full display in his Comets' 41-6 district road win at Lewis County, as he compiled 295 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries offensively while also contributing 6 total stops, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery from his safety position. Typically aligned as the lone running back in a variety of spread formations, he excels at the u0022bread-and-butteru0022 interior runs like inside zone and counter-trey, and he also exhibits the vision, patience and acceleration to produce yardage outside the hashmarks on stretch zone plays or more traditional sweeps. Currently the #3 rusher in Class AAA (#6 statewide) averaging 165.4 yards per game, he has run for just under 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, and he remains his squad's 4th-leading tackler with 30 solo stops, 26 assists, 9.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack. His current average of 14.0 points per game also places him 4th in Class AAA (19th statewide). A high-energy, impactful and durable next-level prospect, Dean and his Comets will host Rowan County to conclude their regular season and then travel to Lexington Catholic for round one of the playoffs.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["510250"],"_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":"Very few if any KHSAA competitors rank as highly in both offensive and defensive production categories this fall than Seymour, and his most recent performance in his Dragons' 38-21 district-clinching win at Metcalfe County might be his most impressive yet. Offensively, he charted 100 yards rushing on 18 carries, another 77 yards and a touchdown on 5 receptions, and then defensively, he contributed 4 solo tackles, 2 assists, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and a 41-yard pick-six. After rushing for 752 yards and 9 touchdowns on 124 carries last season, he already has exceeded those numbers this fall and currently ranks 12th among Class AA rushers (93.1 yards per game), 33rd among receivers (40.9 yards per game) and 5th among scorers (13.6 points per game/22nd statewide). Yet despite his obvious offensive prowess, he likely projects even more favorably as a defender at the next level. After concluding last season as his squad's top tackler, he ranks #2 among Dragon defenders this year with 31 solo stops, 15 assists and 1 tackle for loss, but clearly his primary impact defensively emerges from his exceptional ball skills and his acumen for takeaways. Currently tied for the statewide lead in interceptions with 8, he has returned 2 for scores, in addition to forcing 1 fumble and recovering 2 others. After hosting Taylor County for their last regular season matchup, Seymour and his 8-1 Dragons will host Fort Knox in round 1 of AA playoffs.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["943481"],"_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":"A versatile and durable competitor, Stephens rushed for 140 yards and 4 touchdowns on 22 carries in his Rebels' 41-32 district win over Marion County while also proving to be the most impactful defender on the night with 7 solo stops, 6 assists and 1 tackle for loss. Aligning as a single back in spread sets, a traditional tailback in short-yardage formations and even splitting wide as a Z receiver in some packages, he has rushed for 959 yards and 12 touchdowns on 175 carries, and his current 106.6 yards per game average ranks him 11th among all Class AAA ball carriers (42nd statewide). Defensively, his downhill, physical play makes him exceptionally effective versus inside run concepts, as he has contributed 45 solo stops, 42 assists, 2 sacks and 1 interception. After finishing as the 5th-leading tackler in Class AAA last season, he currently ranks 15th among all Class AAA defenders this fall with an average of 9.7 tackles per game.rnProjecting most favorably as an inside or outside linebacker at the next level, Stephens and his Rebels will travel to Rockcastle County to conclude their regular season and then travel to Louisville Central to begin the Class AAA playoffs next week.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["653378"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"In his Panthers' decisive 41-0 district victory over Bath County, Trent was efficiently impactful in a wide variety of ways after scoring touchdowns rushing, receiving and defensively in the contest. Last year's KFCA Class AAA, District 6 Player of the Year and a strong, physical runner with deceptive speed, he rushed 43 yards on 8 touches, caught 2 passes for 31 yards and collected 12 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 45-yard u0022scoop-and-scoreu0022 fumble recovery. After finishing last season as the #2 rusher in Class AAA (149.0 yards per game/11th statewide) as well as the 12th-leading tackler (9.2 tackles per game), he has compiled 897 yards and 9 touchdowns on 153 carries this fall, and his 7.3 points-per-game average currently ranks him 32nd among Class AAA scorers. The second-leading tackler on his defensive unit, as well, he has collected 16 solos, 56 assists, 11 tackles for loss 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery this season. Trent and his Panthers will travel to Greenup County for their regular season finale and then travel to Erlanger to face Lloyd Memorial in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6538027a75ef2"} /-->