Round 1’s Most Impactful Two-Way Performances
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In the initial week of Kentucky’s win-or-go-home season, many of the state’s top prospects have clearly signified their desire to keep playing, and leading the way are the following two-way performers who excelled both offensive and defensively in their quest…
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Continue ReadingIn the initial week of Kentucky’s win-or-go-home season, many of the state’s top prospects have clearly signified their desire to keep playing, and leading the way are the following two-way performers who excelled both offensive and defensively in their quest for post-season glory. Whether passing, running, receiving, blocking, tackling or creating turnovers, these multi-skilled competitors produced memorable, impactful performances essential to their teams’ advancement to Round 2:
Anness made the most of every touch offensively, churning out 119 yards rushing, 1 touchdown and 1 two-point conversion on 10 carries in his Panthers’ decisive 46-14 win over Bellevue. Also contributing 3 solo tackles, 4 assists, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 1 interception (a 33-yard pick-six) from his outside linebacker position, he helped his program achieve its ninth straight win in the traditional rivalry’s 109th meeting. For the season, Anness has now surpassed 1,000 yards rushing and ranks 14th among all Class A ball carriers with an average of 93.9 yards per game. A talented pass catcher out of the backfield or when aligned as a shallow slot receiver, he has hauled in 13 catches for 195 yards and accounted for 14 total touchdowns offensively (9.1 points per game). The #2 tackler on Ludlow’s defensive unit, as well, he has impacted that side of the ball in every possible category, producing 84 total stops, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and his pick-six interception most recently. Anness and his 7-4 Panthers have now won 6 of their last 7 contests and will host Newport for a chance to advance to the regional championship.
Mason Estes
Mason Estes
Estes’ timing couldn’t have been better, as he turned in possibly his most complete game of the season in his Hornets’ surprising 26-20 first-round road win at Washington County. Totaling over 227 yards of offense while contributing 7 total stops and 2 takeaways defensively from his quarterback position, his decisiveness and quick delivery resulted in 16 pass completions on 20 attempts for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. An athletic and elusive ball carrier with the ability to run through initial contact, he also added 95 rushing yards on 15 carries, now approaching 1,600 yards of total offense and accounting for 18 touchdowns on the season (13 rushing, 5 passing). A physical and fundamentally sound defender from his safety position as well, he contributed 6 solo tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception in his squad’s first-round upset and currently ranks #2 among Hornet defenders with 49 solo tackles, 15 assists, 3 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception. Estes hopes to replicate his most recent performance this Friday when his 3-8 Hornets will travel to Greensburg to take on the 9-2 Green County Dragons in Round 2 of the Class AA playoffs.
Considering some of the outstanding performances that a few of his older teammates have put together for this fall’s resurgent Rockets, it’s understandable if the younger Jackson might inadvertently get overlooked. However, make no mistake about it: opposing staffs will overlook him at their own peril. A physical, fundamentally polished and versatile performer on both sides of the ball, he hauled in 6 passes for 104 yards in his squad’s big 49-12 first-round win over Estill County and also contributed 4 total stops 1 tackle for loss and 1 fumble recovery (a 27-yard scoop-and-score) in helping his Rockets secure their first 10-win season since 2016. Now averaging 12.0 yards per touch on 33 receptions and 15 rushing attempts, Jackson has scored 8 touchdowns offensively and currently ranks 4th among all Rocket defenders with 30 solo tackles, 16 assists, 7 tackles for loss, 1 interception and 2 fumble recoveries. A durable competitor who exerts full effort whether blocking, tackling or receiving the ball, Jackson and his 10-1 Rockets will look to continue their memorable season when they host Lawrence County in Round 2 of the Class AAA playoffs.
Highlights
Moore continues to demonstrate his knack for big plays in critical moments, as evidenced by his impactful performances on both sides of the football in his Eagles’ dominating 49-6 win over Harlan County in their playoff opener. Totaling 66 yards of offense and 1 touchdown on 6 touches (3 rushes, 3 receptions), he also contributed 2 pass interceptions defensively and tacked on another 56 total yards in returns. Currently totaling 1,260 yards of total offense and 18 touchdowns on the season (passing, rushing and receiving), his average of 9.5 points per game ranks him 11th in Class AAAAA and speaks to his ball skills, elusiveness and nose for the end zone. A polished and physical defender capable of playing multiple secondary and linebacker positions, he also has collected 34 total stops, 2 tackles for loss and 5 interceptions defensively, resulting in 119 total return yards and 1 touchdown. Now riding a 5-game winning streak, Moore and his Eagles will next host North Laurel for a chance to advance to the regional title game.
Highlights
Jakari Ransom
Jakari Ransom
In the Greyhounds’ decisive 55-12 win over Eminence, Ransom’s varied and dynamic skill set was on full display both offensively and defensively, as he generated 142 yards and 3 touchdowns on 9 offensive touches (6 rushes/3 pass receptions), along with 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception from his outside linebacker slot. A versatile performer with the speed and lateral mobility to impact games in a variety of ways, he has now generated 1,078 yards of total offense on 111 touches (9.7 yards per touch) and scored 16 touchdowns (10 rushing, 6 receiving). Currently the #8 scorer in Class A (10.5 points per game), he also has collected 49 total stops defensively this season, including 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and 4 interceptions (1 a 44-yard pick-six). A durable and high-energy competitor with the skill set to fulfill numerous roles/positions at the next level, Ransom and his 10-1 Panthers will travel to Sayre for Round 2 of the Class A playoffs this Friday.