Boyle County running back Avery Bodner had a big game against Frederick Douglass last year in a 34-7 win but has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. (Chris Zollner Photo)
Frederick Douglass has breezed to nine straight wins going into Friday’s game at defending Class 4A state champion Boyle County, a team that stunned Douglass 34-7 last season and rolled up 351 yards of total offense.
The Broncos have a lot of Division I talent led by safety/running back Ty Bryant, a Kentucky commit.
Defensive lineman Jamarrion Harkless is an Auburn commit who has five tackles for loss this year. The 6-2, 325-pound Harkless draws a lot of double teams that frees teammates to make plays.
“He plays with good leverage and really is a great athlete,” Frederick Douglass coach Nathan McPeek said. “He’s one of the top defensive line recruits for several SEC teams. I think he’s improved a lot this year. He’s always had athletic ability. He just needed time to put it all together.”
“He had some good camps going into his senior year and a lot of schools got eyes on how well he moves. He’s 300 pounds and moves like he is 250. He is not quite Deone Walker-big like Kentucky has but he is 6-2, 325 and hard to move. He’s going to be a good college player.”
Another defensive lineman, 275-pound Jalen Hand, is committed to Western Kentucky. He has 10 tackles, including three for loss, this season.
Defensive back Isaiah Kenney once had a UK offer and has over 40 games of high school experience. He has 11 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions this year.
“Somebody is going to get a steal with him,” McPeek said.
McPeek thinks he has seven juniors who could be Power-Five players in college. Lineman Demo Kennedy has offers from Kentucky, Ole Miss, Louisville, Illinois and others.
“Some schools like him as a defensive lineman even though he’s not played there a ton for us. He is somebody I think can be a center at the next level,” the Douglass coach said.
Right tackle Zuri Madison is 6-4, 275 pounds. Michigan was at last week’s game and talked to him. McPeek calls him another “elite athlete.”
Junior Darion Neal is a “really good linebacker” with an Eastern Kentucky offer. He has 32 tackles, including six tackles for loss.
“He brings energy and can really move,” McPeek said.
Junior quarterback Cole Carpenter is 67 of 107 passes for 1,123 yards and 13 scores with just two interceptions.
“He is having a great year and has not turned the ball over,” McPeek said. “I am curious to see how he plays in this game.”
In the sophomore class, outside linebacker Logan Busso has 15 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss.
“He’s a good basketball player, too. He is not an elite athlete but he has a lot of ability,” McPeek said.
Sophomore running back Pharo Watts has 19 carries for 199 yards — over 10 yards per carry — and three scores. Sophomore receiver Aveion Chenault is a “really good athlete” who also plays basketball.
