tool name

Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

Hayden in the zone all the time for LCA

How best to describe Lexington Christian Academy's 5-foot-9, 225-pound senior running back Domonique Hayden as he blasts through the line of scrimmage and barrels over would-be tacklers?

"A college coach watched him on film one time, and he told me Dom looked like a bowling ball with butcher knives," LCA Coach Paul Rains said with a chuckle.

"Teams just don't know how to get a hold of him."

Teams sure don't know how to keep him out of the end zone.

Last week Hayden scored his 117th career touchdown, breaking the state record of 116 set by Danville's Kelvin Turner in 2004.

Hayden also figures to shatter the state mark for career points — 722 — set by Herbie Phelps of Old Kentucky Home in 1963. Hayden has 711.

He has a shot at the state record for career rushing TDs — 110 — set by Derek Homer of Fort Knox in 1996. Hayden has 100.

Homer, a former LCA assistant, is one of Hayden's biggest fans.

"Domonique is an old-school type football player," Homer said. "He's built low to the ground. He's strong and powerful. He has agility and balance. He's got a great attitude, too. He's there for his teammates."

Hayden's modesty and unselfishness is obvious when he's asked about his assault on the record book.

"God's really blessed me with coaches and teammates who've believed in me and helped me accomplish all this," he said.

Hayden also credits older brother Tyrell, a junior running back at Western Kentucky University. Tyrell was a two-year star at LCA and had 51 career TDs.

"He's always been there to help me, and he's proud of me," Domonique said.

Rains thinks Hayden's "four-year body of work" should qualify him as a Mr. Football candidate. Besides his bundle of TDs, he has 5,773 rushing yards and 1,600 receiving yards for a perennial Class A contender.

Hayden's speed (4.57 in the 40-yard dash), strength and determination make him tough to tackle.

"You rarely see anybody bring him down single-handedly," said LCA quarterback Lucas Witt. "I don't think anybody can do it."

Rains figures Hayden might be the strongest running back — high school or college — in Kentucky. He can bench press 345 pounds, power clean 325 and squat 620.

"Dom was the strongest player on our team, by far, when he walked in here as a freshman," Rains said.

"He can literally carry four or five tacklers on his back. And his explosiveness is unreal. When he uncoils on somebody, people go backward and get hurt."

Hayden's height is keeping college coaches from offering him a scholarship.

"I know they look for taller-type backs," Hayden said. "But I'm not going to let that get to me. I know what I'm capable of doing. I've just gotta keep proving myself."

Rains thinks Hayden has the necessary skills to play at the Division I level.

"He's unique in what he brings to the table. He's strong, he's quick, and he's got great hands," Rains said.

"Physically, he could hold his own in college right now. Mentally, he's been in (Tony) Franklin's system for four years. It's a complicated offense, and he can handle it."

Homer, who was listed at 5-11 when he played for UK, said he's actually about the same height as Hayden, so he doesn't think that should dissuade college coaches.

"That would definitely be a mistake," Homer said. "I feel UK could use Domonique. He'd be a great asset. He's more ready physically than I was coming out of high school."

Hayden isn't concerned with college right now. He's focused on trying to help LCA get to the Class A finals again. The Eagles were state runners-up to Beechwood in 2007. They're rated No. 1 in Class A this season.

"I'd pretty much give up everything, all my touchdowns, to make it to the state championship and be able to get a ring," he said.

"I'm going to do whatever I can to help us get there, just like I always do whatever I can to get to the end zone."

And nobody in state history has done that better than Domonique Hayden.