’28 TE/DE an example of the type talent the Prestonsburg program is developing
When talking Prestonsburg High football there aren’t but a few legends who stand out amongst the rest. There was the great Doc Ferrell who was a star player at UK and walked through the town as its head football coach, dressed to the nines, like he owned the place (and may well have). The late Phillip Haywood whose stardom transcends any one city or county in the Bluegrass. Last but not least, Hall of Fame football coach and former Prestonsburg shoe-shine boy, Dan Goble, who presently lives in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and who keeps alive the legends of Prestonsburg’s past. We think you may add the name Brody Hicks to this burgeoning list of great Blackcats if his play so far, this season, is any indicator.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
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Friday Night Fletch, “KPGFootball”
Prestonsburg, KY: Prestonsburg is having another extraordinary season. The Blackcats stand at 4-0, have a date with Pike County Central tonight in Pikeville and, looking over the remaining schedule, it is difficult to not see Prestonsburg sliding off into the playoffs 10-0 and home through the Regionals with a shot at hosting a semi-state final.
Now Prestonsburg pounds the rock. Against East Ridge, the Blackcats gained over 200-yards rushing against an unusually high throwing output from Alexander Johnson (’27). Johnson completed 14 of his 19-passing attempts for 291-yards and two (2) TDs.
Brody Hicks caught one pass for 32-yards on the night, meaning they found the TE for the first time this season. Through four (4) games, all of which they won, Prestonsburg has rushed for nearly 400-yards a game (395.5) against 511-yards passing nearly 300 of which came in the East Ridge game.
So, you get my point. Prestonsburg is known for running the ball down hill, not targeting the TE. Therefore, Hicks’s offensive numbers are going to be scant because most of his offensive production has been as a blocker in the run-game. In the run game, Hicks has blocked very well; thank you very much.
Hicks’s prowess on the defensive side of the football is a bit easier to describe. This year, Hicks has 22-tackles, eight (8) TFLs, and four (4) QB-sacks. Hicks has also recovered a fumble.
That is fine production from the DE post. We feel these type numbers place Hicks rather prominently among the finer DE’s in Kentucky 2028 graduating class.
Now Hicks has a teammate who is coming off a tremendous junior year, is a senior, and appears in most scouting reports under the caption, “stay away from No. 44.” Number 44 is Logan Stumbo, by the way, and this senior class has revived a tradition which formerly flourished around the mountains for many, many years.
Hicks has 8-TFLs and 4 QB-sacks already through 4-games with a reception covering 32-yards
KHSAA Statistical Website
Stumbo has 22-tackles, like Hicks, with a pair of TFLs and a sack. Not as gaudy of numbers as his DE counterpart; but, then again, they are running away from Stumbo. They will soon begin running away from “No. 0” too, if Hicks keeps playing like he has.
Looking forward on the road ahead, we don’t know who can play with this Prestonsburg team this side of the playoffs. Josh Munsy’s Cardinals, from Martin County (3-1), will welcome Prestonsburg to Inez, KY on October 24.
The Cardinals can play. Their only loss to date was to a very good Lawrence County team. Lawrence County is 3A, is undefeated presently, and have beaten Paul Blazer High (4A, Ashland) at home on September 4, 24-21.
Lawrence County hosts South Laurel (5A) tonight. We like the Bulldogs (Lawrence County) over the Jaguars (South Laurel) by 10-14 points. Louisa, Kentucky is a tough place to have to play, ask Ashland Blazer.
One thing is clear: developing talent like Brody Hicks and turning Hicks into the two-way player he has become this season, so far, is the sine qua non of running a HS football program. Four and zero, coming out of the East Ridge game, in the won-loss column ain’t a bad place from which to start. Five and zero after the game Coach Scott Grizzle’s “Hawks” would be even better.
We believe the Blackcats run it to 5-0 tonight in Pike County. Sorry, Hawks; see you guys at the game.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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