2024 State Quarterfinals Top Performers: ATH

As we approach the end of the month of November, the 2024 high school football season has almost come to its end in the state of Kentucky. Last week, we had some very exciting state quarterfinal matchups. With that being said, I will be taking the next couple of days to focus on my top performers on each side of the ball from last week's action. After already covering the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, here are my top performing ATH from the state quarterfinals in the state of Kentucky who made an impact at multiple positions.    [player_tooltip player_id='373821' first='Austin' last='Alexander'] has continued to prove that he is one of the best players in the state this season. He continued his dominance during Cooper's win over Southwestern last week. While Austin is mainly known for his impact on the defensive side of the ball, he was at his best on offense last week at tight end. He showed the ability to pose as a vertical threat in the passing game, catching three passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns. Alexander also continued to make an impact on defense at defensive end, finishing the game with one tackle and two fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown. Austin is committed to North Carolina where I can see him developing into a very productive player at the next level.     [player_tooltip player_id='735551' first='Connor' last='Hodge'] is another high-caliber prospect who continued to stand out last week. He was very impressive as a passer in CAL's win over Central, completing 11/22 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Hodge also put his dual threat ability on display, showing the speed to tuck the ball and pick up big gain as a runner. He finished the game as his team's leading rusher with 18 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Connor also made an impact on defense, coming away with two interceptions. Hodge is committed to East Carolina where I can see him finding a key role once he gets there.     [player_tooltip player_id='1200576' first='Gabe' last='Williams'] is a player who stood out on both sides of the ball last week. He played a key role in Highlands' win over Pulaski County. On offense, Williams lined up at running back but made his biggest impact in the passing game. Williams caught two passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. On defense, Williams was very impressive in pass coverage as a defensive back. He finished the game with two interceptions. Gabe doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop.     Aven Blair is a player who jumped onto my radar with a strong performance last week. He made a big impact on both sides of the ball in Lexington Catholic's win over Bell County. Blair was very impressive out of the backfield, finishing the game with 16 carries for 131 yards and three touchdowns. He has explosive speed which he is able to use to run away from the defense on long runs once he hits the open field. Blair also caught two passes for six yards. On defense, Blair made a big impact as a defensive back, finishing the game with 11 tackles and an interception. Aven doesn't currently hold any offers but should be a player to continue to watch throughout the rest of the playoffs.     My final top performer who made an impact at multiple positions in last week's state semifinals action in the state of Kentucky is [player_tooltip player_id='504243' first='Kace' last='Eastridge']. Kace lined up at quarterback but was at his best as a ball carrier. He showed the ability to tuck the ball then use his speed and elusiveness in the open field to pick up big gains as a runner. Eastridge finished the win over Newport Central Catholic with 23 carries for 175 yards and two touchdowns. As a passer, he completed 15/31 passes for 99 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. He also made an impact on defense, finishing the game with 11 tackles and two tackles for loss. Kace is committed to play baseball at Eastern Kentucky but should continue to be an exciting player to continue to watch on the gridiron.

As we approach the end of the month of November, the 2024 high school football season has almost come to its end in the state of Kentucky. Last week, we had some very exciting state quarterfinal matchups. With that being said, I will be taking the next couple of days to focus on my top performers on each side of the ball from last week's action. After already covering the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, here are my top performing ATH from the state quarterfinals in the state of Kentucky who made an impact at multiple positions.