’27 QB/ATH ‘hot shot’ from Dresden itching to show what he is capable of doing
Last year, in the semis against a tough Lloyd Memorial team, Kenyon Cunningham’s number was called. The ’29 freshman QB, and coach’s son, found fellow freshman, Braylon Patterson, on a 47-yard toss to the Juggernaut 11-yard line in the final seconds of the third quarter. Isaiah Martin would “Wildcat” his way into the end zone to stake the Tigers to a 24-20 lead it wouldn’t relinquish and the rest is sort of history, if you will. Point is, coming into a season (2026) where much of last season’s production will have graduated, how will the Tigers fair? We believe the chances are they will thrive and much of this belief is tied to our faith in the staff’s ability to develop its young, superbly athletic QB, Kenyon Cunningham.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
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The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company, based in Cadiz, Kentucky, was founded August 7, 1970. The bank obtained trust powers in 1978.
It is a locally owned, independent bank which has expanded, through the years, to locations in Hopkinsville and Murray in addition to Cadiz. The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company has focused on community finance and dealing face-to-face with both families and small-business owners while fulfilling customer needs and the dreams of area families and businesses regardless of size or construct.
We, like our area schools, strive for high performance and finding ways to prosper in an ever-changing economic environment. The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company remains committed to superior performance goals coupled with an exceptional quality of customer service.
’27 QB/MLB, Bruce Willis was among the young, high school athletes who also rendered a superior performance while achieving exceptional quality this past season. In Willis’s case it was in Dresden, TN as a Lion, but will be for Murray High this coming Fall. What will this star QB/ATH/MLB pull off in the coming season?
Well, that is the reason Willis is our featured player of the week. If history should repeat itself, and should he perform anywhere close to as well in Kentucky 3A as he did playing Tennessee 1A a year ago, whatever it turns out to be should be mighty special.
The Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company…committed to superior performance with an exceptional quality of customer service
Friday Night Fletch
Murray, KY: Melvin Cunningham has done a tremendous job moving from West Virginia to Murray, KY to accept the reigns of the Murray High Tiger football program. Of course, when the Tigers got Melvin, they got the entire Cunningham clan including his son, Kenyon.
Kenyon is quite the prize. The 6’2,” ’29 prospect is ranked in basketball, within the commonwealth of Kentucky, to go along with his ever-burgeoning football prowess.
Kenyon looks to have some competition this coming Fall at the QB-slot. Murray High has an accomplished transfer from Dresden High School who has impressed scouts with his play to date and his skills so far in the Sevens (7 on 7) season.
His name is Bruce Willis and he has the same given and surname as a Hollywood leading man. Willis has moved to Murray to live with his mother. Willis lived with his father a year ago in Dresden.
We have reached out to a scout of the magazine familiar with West Tennessee football. He had some high praise for Willis as a player, student, and citizen.
“Willis is an athlete,” our guy told us. “Willis is big (6’3,” 220-pounds), strong (270-pound bench press, 455-pound back squat, and a 265-pound power clean), and loves the game. If Willis gets downhill and one on one with a defender, Willis ain’t juking, he ain’t head-faking. Willis will square the defender up and either plant him or punish him.”
Willis led Dresden to a birth in the 1A playoffs a season ago in Tennessee. The Lions were 9-3 and thought to be in statewide contention much of the year.
Dresden has a proud tradition. Dresden High finished runner-up in 2A in 2011 (12-3) and won it all in 1A in 2016 (15-0).
While Willis was tearing up Tennessee 1A, the Murray High Tigers went on to Lexington and played (perhaps) the best high school team in Kentucky at any classification in the Christian Academy-Louisville (CAL). While that outcome wasn’t what the Tiger faithful were hoping, we don’t know, as we sit here today, it would have been outcome determinative with Robbins under center. If you will recall, Robbins missed that game owing to an injury suffered in the semis.
Robbins under center is no longer an option. With so many weapons graduating in just a few months, what appears to be the answer going forward? We believe Bruce Willis is a strong candidate.
If Willis’s chances were to die, they would certainly Die Hard. Forgive the pun. We couldn’t resist.
Last season, Willis threw for nearly a thousand yards and had a TD:INT ratio of 3:1 (13-TDs, 4-INTs). Willis was strong on the ground and appeared, on film, to be a north/south guy; disinterested in avoiding contact. Willis will square you right up, defender. Be advised…
Willis may well inherit the reigns to the offense in ’26
Friday Night Fletch
We believe Willis may develop as the season progresses into a future two-way, multi-phase performer and right nice QB option, should Coach Cunningham decide to make that personnel election. Willis has plenty of length, strength, power, speed, and explosion; is a plus athlete; and has good straight line, separation speed when in the open field.
The Tigers served notice in ’25 that it was a powerhouse 3A program with whom to reckon. Murray High will have a target on its back going forward. Picking up a piece like this to compete for running its offense is 2026 is a huge add.
Can Coach Cunningham continue the development and run of success he has enjoyed with this program to date? If it is to do that he will need sustained brilliant flashes similar to what we saw a season ago from Willis in the TSSAA.
We know this, the Tigers will be excellently coached and excellently prepared. We like this program’s track record. We love this program’s trajectory.
This offseason will go along way in answering questions. Regardless, seeing the answers revealed should prove entirely interesting.
Let’s just hope Bruce Willis continues to demonstrate the skills and ability he showed in 2025 for Dresden. That would really get this program off on the right foot in 2026!
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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