Left to right: LCA offensive coordinator Oakley Watkins, LCA coach Doug Charles, Louisville Quarterback Club president Gordon Crawford, UK commit Cutter Boley, Scott Boley and Mary Beth Boley.
His numbers might have been down some this season but Lexington Christian Academy coach Doug Charles says Cutter Boley was the perfect choice as this year’s Paul Hornung Award winner.
The Louisville Quarterback Club annually gives the award named for Hornung to the state’s top player based on productivity, recruiting ranking, college potential and character. Hornung, a Kentucky native, won the Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame,, was the first pick in the NFL draft by Green Bay, won four NFL titles, was named MVP and is both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame.
“Cutter has every talent that you want. His arm talent, his IQ and all those things. But what a lot people don’t see is how humble he is and how he came to work every day as one of the guys,” said Charles. “He did everything behind the scenes you would not think a guy with his accolades or ranking would be so willing to do.”
After throwing for 3,901 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2022, Boley completed 172 of 268 passes for 2,187 yards and 24 scores with nine interceptions this year. He finished his career completing 565 of 937 passes for 8,331 yards and 82 scores. He also ran for 17 touchdowns.
“Cutter embodies all of the qualities of a Hornung Award winner — character, leadership, academics, success of his team and potential to excel at the next level,” Louisville Quarterback Club president Gordon Crawford said. “His career statistics say it all about his talent and we think the best is yet to come for him.”
LCA finished 11-2 this season. It lost 47-38 at Boyle County, a team going for its fourth straight Class 4A title Friday. It lost 58-36 at Mayfield in the playoffs and Mayfield plays for the Class 2A title Friday. LCA beat Bowling Green 56-52, Pikeville 31-13, Louisville Christian Academy 14-12 and Raceland 48-21 — and all four teams are playing for state championships this weekend.
Boley said winning the award is an honor based on some recent winners — Jager Burton, Dane Key and Ty Bryant —but also based on previous winners like Tim Couch, Shawn Alexander and others.
“Me seeing those names of past winners it is a blessing to have my name in in the same group,” Boley, a Kentucky commit and the state’s highest ranked recruit, said. “To be named after a guy with such a great football reputation is definitely remarkable and big honor. You don’t play to win awards but it is quite an honor to have my name in the same category as him and others.”
Charles noted that Boley’s numbers were down this year because LCA played a daunting schedule and also returned a veteran offensive line that opened big holes for Brady Hensley, who ran for 2,408 yards and 43 touchdowns.
“We did not have a true over the top receiver this year but Cutter never got frustrated. He never said a word about getting mine. He played within the scheme of our offense and did what we asked,” Charles said. “We averaged about 11 yards per carry running the football.
“We can all get caught up in stats but look at what he did with the spotlight on him and some deficiencies we had and I could not be more proud of him. I know this is a very coveted award, right up there with Mr. Football and the Gatorade Player of the Year. I can not think of a more deserving winner of this award than Cutter.”
