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Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Fields notebook: Oct. 23

Super six for mr. football

At last count, I've had 17 coaches tell me they have a legitimate Mr. Football candidate (or two) this season. I'd guess that 117 other coaches think they've got a senior player deserving of consideration, too.

I've never seen any clear-cut criteria for Mr. Football, but in my mind it's an honor based on career achievement. It also helps to be part of a winning program, especially a state title contender. Being a big-time Division I prospect isn't a requirement. After all, this is an award for high school performance.

With seven weeks of football still ahead, there's plenty of time for players to step up or fall back. But right now these six players would top my list of Mr. Football nominees (in alphabetical order):

ANTONIO ANDREWS. He's got a 22-0 record as Fort Campbell's starting quarterback. Andrews was phenomenal in last year's Class 2A title game, and he's led the Falcons to an 8-0 record this season. In two years he's rushed for 2,559 yards and 43 touchdowns, and passed for 2,431 yards and 34 TDs.

AUSTIN COLLINSWORTH. As a sophomore he started at cornerback on Highlands' 5A title team. As a junior he started at receiver and strong safety on the Bluebirds' 5A title team. This year he's at running back and safety, and he's a big reason Highlands is undefeated and rated No. 9 in the nation by USA Today. It doesn't hurt Austin's candidacy that he's the son of former NFL star Cris Collinsworth and grandson of former UK basketball player Abraham Lincoln Collinsworth.

DOMONIQUE HAYDEN. LCA's little big man (5-foot-9, 225 pounds) has set a state record for career TDs (117), and is on pace to break two more records — career points (722) and career rushing TDs (110). He's totaled almost 7,800 yards rushing and receiving in four years as a starter for the Class A contenders.

REES MACSHARA. Boyle County's fleet running back has helped the Rebels win 21 of 22 games over the past two years by rushing for 3,162 yards and 49 TDs. Boyle County's only loss last season was in the semifinals to 4A champ Bell County. The Rebels are No. 1 in 4A this year.

JACOB RUSSELL. Anderson County's QB has his team pointing toward its second undefeated regular season in three years. In his career, Russell has thrown for 6,270 yards and 61 TDs, and run for 907 yards and 34 TDs.

MILES SIMPSON. He burst onto the scene last year by rushing for 2,309 yards and scoring 41 TDs to lead Simon Kenton to the 6A finals. The 6-2, 210-pound running back is following that up with a big senior season. He's rushed for 1,392 yards and has 29 TDs for the Pioneers, who've got a shot to get back to the 6A title game.

■ Harrison County sophomore Joe Korona's first field-goal attempt of his career was a memorable one. He booted a 24-yarder with 1.9 seconds left to give the Thorobreds a 24-21 win over Bourbon County. Malcolm Thomas' 55-yard punt return with less than a minute to play set up the winning field goal. Harrison County rallied from a 21-0 deficit for the biggest comeback in school history.

■ Senior QB T.J. Green rallied Harlan County from a 14-0 deficit in the final minutes to beat district rival Perry Central 15-14. Green's 5-yard TD run made it 14-7 with 2:30 left. On Perry Central's next play, Green recovered a fumble at midfield. He then triggered a Harlan County drive, capping it with a 3-yard TD and two-point conversion to give the Black Bears the victory.

■ Henderson County intercepted six passes in its win over Marshall County last week, giving the Colonels 20 picks this season. That's three shy of the school record set in 1994.

■ Shawn Berner, who has led Fort Campbell to back-to-back Class 2A football titles and has his team undefeated this season, is the Falcons' new boys' basketball coach. Berner replaces Matt Wallace, who had a 5-19 record last season.

■ Alcoa, Tenn., the only team to beat 4A champ Bell County over the past two years, is 8-0 and rated No. 1 in Class 3A in Tennessee.