Octavious McKeage from Russellville High is the @1776Bank Revolutionary Player of the Week- @WRUS_RHS @Coach_MikeB @markandwillshow @minguabeefjerky @HopkinsCentral @_CoachManning @evans02_mike @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @teeroyhowell

’25 two-way Panther star set to really take off over junior season

Talk about your athletes, this guy really does it all for the Panthers, leading them in critical statistical categories and on both sides of the scrimmage line. He is a varsity basketball player too. Russellville is really counting on this young man to lead them back to prominence from a 1-10 abyss suffered in ’22. It is not uncommon for small high schools to ascend to the heights of a Championship game appearance only to fall off drastically post-graduation. The Panthers will be back and soon.

HB Lyon, Scouting Division, KPGFootball

There is no better time than the present to anoint another Independence Bank Player of the Week. Independence Bank is proud to sponsor a weekly article highlighting players in the areas where Independence Bank flourishes who embody the same type of revolutionary service to their respective football teams which has made Independence Bank unique and special in the banking industry.  

Independence Bank has a goal of achieving everyday excellence, and this week we are focusing on a ’25, two-way, versatile athlete who is looking to return his program back to its previous glory. Today, we are featuring Octavious McKeage, a ’25 ATH from Russellville High.

McKeage’s performance, especially over his sophomore campaign (and in only 9-games of run) exceeded reasonable expectations for the Panthers from Russellville, Kentucky. McKeage and his teammates are coming off a 1-10 but are not too far removed from a title-game appearance on Kroger Field in ’21.

Russellville is a program which has recorded well over 500-wins, won three titles (’80, ’83, and ’90), and been to the title game an additional 4-times (’64, ’66, ’87, and 2021). The Panthers have won 14-region titles, 24-district crowns and been undefeated three times (’50, ’66, an ’84). Needless to say, 1-10 is not a common occurrence for this proud football tradition.

McKeage’s Russellville High is located just down the road from one of our finer branches in the Independence Bank family. We have a branch located at 115 Sam Walton Drive, Suite 1 in Russellville, 42276. The phone number there is 270-946-7151.

Call us or get on by and visit this fine branch today. Discover what makes Independence Bank’s people, products, and services revolutionary in the financial services industry. 

Russellville High had a tough year coming on the heels of a championship game appearance and a narrow loss to Pikeville in the ’21 1A title game on Kroger Field. The Panthers did have some young players emerge to give rise to optimism going forward. One of those was certainly ’25 QB/S Octavious McKeage.

McKeage was the head of the offensive attack for the nine games of run he got with the varsity football team. Over those nine games, he was the leading producer in several separate categories and on both sides of the scrimmage line.

McKeage was the team’s leading passer (51 for 117 for 614-yards). McKeage was the team’s leading rusher (63-carries, 368-yards, and four-rushing TD’s). McKeage was tied for the lead, in the defensive third-level, in INT’s from his safety post.

McKeage was the team’s third-leading scorer. McKeage was among the leaders in tackles (43), FF’s (1), and PBU’s.

This versatile athlete also plays varsity basketball. His athletic prowess isn’t in question.

How he fares as a college prospect will have a lot to do with how his frame finishes. We see him, next level, more as a DB/Slot WR than at QB; but hey, who really knows in the end?

Congratulations to Octoavious McKeage both for his Revolutionary Play over the course of his sophomore season and that which is to come in ’23 and beyond from the fastest growing bank in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, your friends at Independence Bank. 

This is Fletcher Long, reporting for Kentucky Prep Gridiron, reminding all of you reading this to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!