Scouting the Standouts: Knoxville Catholic defeats CPA 28-26

<p>Knoxville Catholic showed great resilience, physicality, and athleticism on a frigid Friday night as they came from behind to defeat the visiting Christ Presbyterian Academy 28-26, despite starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='496084' first='Mack' last='Bartholomew'] on the bench.</p>   <p>In a matchup filled with future college football talent, especially at the Division One level, there were several standouts in a high-leverage game that came down to the wire, with some players stepping up when it mattered the most to come through for their team.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">RUNNING BACKS SHINE</h2>   <p>CPA senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1335216' first='Rawls' last='Patterson'] is a known commodity at this point and put his talents on full display in this game, especially in the first half of this ball game, rushing for two touchdowns.</p>   <p>He is a shorter tailback with a compact frame and the athleticism to burst through the rushing lane when given one, which was evident as both of his scoring runs came from distance.</p>   <p>Knoxville Catholic has a freshman to know RIGHT NOW with 2029 tailback Kruise Buntyn Jr, who is one of the best running backs in the state at putting his foot in the ground and making a cut, allowing for him to be a consistently productive runner when working between the tackles with the ability to kick outside.</p>   <p>He had clutch runs with a touchdown on a fourth down to extend the lead to eight as well as the near-touchdown rush to ice the game tonight.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1981868848707252668 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">BOTH BOAST BIG, PHYSICAL OFFENSIVE LINES</h2>   <p>Both of these programs offensive lines are massive and physical, able to move defensive fronts against their will to create rushing lanes, as well as the athleticism to work to the second level.</p>   <p>CPA has moved junior [player_tooltip player_id='905243' first='Skyler' last='Smith'] to center this season and that has made their front five even bigger with massive junior tackles [player_tooltip player_id='1158911' first='Isaiah' last='Bryant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1154143' first='Ben' last='Hale'], who have continued forward in their development at a significant rate. All three of these prospects are going to be players that college programs at the Division One level will covet, and they have more size around their big trio to complement.</p>   <p>Catholic added seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1218536' first='Jeremy' last='George'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1218538' first='Issiaga' last='Yattara'] (Austin Peay commit) from The Webb School after their football program shut down and it has allowed them to play with a more balanced offensive line.</p>   <p>This has led to significant rushing lanes for Buntyn and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1084814' first='Matthew' last='Rogers'], both of which have taken full advantage of the gaps being opened up at times this season. Buntyn was great tonight, putting on a show, and earning "he's a freshman" chants.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1981891301487280267 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">IRISH DEFENSIVE BACKS SHINE</h2>   <p>Don't get it mistaken with the dynamic rushing attack of CPA; they boast a dynamic passing attack with lengthy outside receivers that can attack defenses vertically, but the Irish were able to halt their momentum and that was a large reason as to why they came out victorious in this game.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1029798' first='Xavier' last='Bowman'] was electric in press man coverage, and it was utterly impossible to make plays against him tonight, whether it was from Alabama commit [player_tooltip player_id='824736' first='Owen' last='Cabell'] early (left game in second quarter), his younger brother Gabriel who already holds Power Four offers, or any other receiver.</p>   <p>Every time [player_tooltip player_id='1586170' first='Gabriel' last='Cabell'] and his quarterback thought they had a window, he made a play on the throw to break it up, showing teach tape throughout the entire game.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402532' first='Chaston' last='Smith'] was also shutdown on his side of the field and made it hard for CPA to get any momentum at all in the passing attack, as the Notre Dame Irish commit has put forth a stellar season for the Irish at Knoxville Catholic.</p>   <p>Sophomore safety [player_tooltip player_id='1031949' first='Brooks' last='Johnston'] is someone that continues to shine this season as he plays with a violent and physical edge that allows him to make game-changing plays such as massive hits and forced fumbles, both of which he did tonight.</p>   <p>This Irish defense is beginning to put it all together as an entire team unit and they are realizing the scary potential that they possess when they play as one.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1981885783305801831 </div></figure>

Knoxville Catholic showed great resilience, physicality, and athleticism on a frigid Friday night as they came from behind to defeat the visiting Christ Presbyterian Academy 28-26, despite starting quarterback Mack Bartholomew Mack Bartholomew 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Knoxville Catholic | 2027 State TN on the bench.