Cruz played QB on Friday night and helped his team reach the 2-3 mark at the season’s mid-point
We love versatility and have learned the college scouts agree. That is why it is important for kids wanting to be recruited to compete in a variety of sports and not just the one. Haden Wise from Fort Campbell could tell you all about it. Wise is a senior who has played LB and some WR but found himself at RB Friday night owing to necessity and performing very well with over 200-yards rushing and two (2) TDs on 27-carries. The Cruz Missile, Isaiah Messer Cruz, also showed out against the Todd County Central Rebels by hooking up with Levi Kruse for a 59-yard aerial which put the Falcons back in the lead in a game which ended up a 44-12 victory. Cruz is a varsity wrestler for Fort Campbell in addition to starring on the varsity football team. The same skill sets employed to grapple are the same skills requisite to thrive in football. Enjoy and congratulations to Isaiah Messer Cruz!
Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Ass. Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
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Jumpin’ Jack Flash
Oak Grove, KY: There are sports, aside from football, which lend well to developing skills important for the grid iron. One of those is wrestling. That is the very reason college coaches encourage high school athletes to compete in more than just the one sport that athlete is hoping will ultimately pay his way toward a diploma.
Let’s talk about wrestling as a “for instance. Isaiah Messer Cruz, who we call The Cruz Missile around the office is a talented football prospect who found himself playing QB this past Friday night against the Todd County Central Rebels in Fort Campbell’s fifth varsity ball game of the 2026 season. The Cruz Missile is not only a star on the Falcons’s football roster but a first rate diamond dandy (baseball) too.
Wrestling requires the development of attributes which lend well to playing football. We will explain.
Key Characteristics Developed in Wrestling
| Characteristic | Description & Transfer to Football |
| Leverage & Body Control | Teaches players to stay low with bent knees and a low center of gravity, which is crucial for winning battles at the line of scrimmage. |
| Tackling Form | Mirroring a clean takedown, the low hips, straight back, and head-up posture translate directly into effective, wrap-up tackling mechanics. |
| Hand-Fighting & Grip Strength | Sharpens upper-body control, helping offensive/defensive linemen shed blocks, receivers break a jam, and ball-carriers fend off tacklers. |
| Mental Toughness & Grit | Forges absolute self-reliance and personal accountability through 1-on-1 competition where there is no teammate to lean on. |
| Agility & Footwork | Cultivates explosive lateral movement, fast footwork in tight spaces, and balance to change direction instantly. |
| Core & Neck Conditioning | Strengthens cervical and core muscles, which helps absorb physical impacts and reduce the risk of injuries. |
Wrestlers develop quick reflexes, agility, mental toughness, footwork, courage, and situational awareness. All of those attributes are common to playing football. They are also attributes which lend well to QB’ing.
The other evening, in a key district battle, Isaiah Messer Cruz’s skill sets were on full display. First, Levi Kruse caught a crucial Cruz 59-yard touchdown missile from the young quarterback (’27) to help reclaim the lead. Secondly, Cruz’s “ball-handling” helped backfield mate, Haden Wise, have a monster night (206 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries).
Most importantly, the Falcons won the team’s third game of the year, its first district contest, and staked itself to a pivotal 2-3 mark at the mid-point of the regular season. The Falcons will have a hot Caldwell County team (5-0) coming to the Fort looking to run its mark to 6-0 before its trip to Mayfield for a contest which may decide the district crown.
Friday night we saw outstanding performances from individual Falcons in several areas. Haden Wise has been burning it up this season.
Isaiah Messer Cruz has his team at 2-3 with a critical stretch of the season upcoming…
Jumpin’ Jack Flash
We talked with head football coach Henry Mitchell about his hotshot multi-sport, versatile skill-set star. Mitchell told KPGFootball, Haden Wise has come in as back-up QB when Isaiah Messer Cruz got injured in the Northwest game. Wise has definitely given this offense the spark it needed.
Mitchell continued, Wise is proving he is the early MVP of the team. Wise is commanding the offense like a General on a battlefield. Wise delivers results from multiple positions in multiple phases of the game.
Haden Wise rushed for 206 yards and two (2) touchdowns on 27 carries, Levi Kruse caught a crucial Isaiah Messer Cruz 59-yard touchdown pass to reclaim a lead, Julius Jessup opened the scoring for Fort Campbell with a 20-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown (scoop and score).
ZiKavion Martin (Todd County, ’27 QB/RB/CB) had a bright moment for the Rebels, who The Good Lord knows well could use some encouragement as a program. The Rebel offensive backfield stalwart ripped off a 58-yard rushing touchdown, in the first quarter, which opened some eyes pertaining to his ability to separate from defensive pursuit.
Wise is commanding the offense like a General
Henry Mitchell, HFC, Fort Campbell High
Todd County Central left the evening dragging along a ’26 mid-season mark of 0-5. The news doesn’t seem to get any rosier as the Rebels travel to Mayfield, Kentucky to play one of 2A’s bullies in the western end of the commonwealth and across the Bluegrass.
In the meantime, Cruz might just find a home at QB the remainder of the season. You know, physical studs like Cruz are good triggering offensive attacks. If the defense puts on to much of a rush, Cruz might just pin the defenders in the backfield and make them wish they had just stayed home.
It’s not just a football-thing. It is a sports thing!
Identifying potential multi-sport superstars is tantamount to getting the Fort Campbell football team prepared for the challenges ahead. That is why this particular Falcon is our Lasaters Coffee & Tea, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Player of the Week.
That being said we felt it was high time for people around Christian County, KY (particularly Oak Grove and Fort Campbell) to take notice of this outstanding performer and outstanding young man. Hey guys, when you have talent like Isaiah Messer Cruz, it may be time to wake up and smell the coffee!
Join us next week as we return to honor another weekly prize winner. Until then, get on down to one of our Christian County Area locations and remember, our products are superior and one of a kind; just like Isaiah Messer Cruz.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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