Austin Oppel is one of the best running backs in Kentucky High School football. That isn’t any secret. If you are just hearing this then thank goodness you have signed up for a service in which you were desperately in need.
Guys who are bad at football aren’t included (generally) in the Lexington Herald-Leader’s top-Hundred football players, Kentucky-wide. Austin Oppel made the list. He has been making plenty of lists these days.
In this crazy year of pandemics, and shortened schedules, every week counts. When Meade County got off to a 1-0 start, beating John Hardin this past Friday night, 14-7, that was the start the Green Wave desired.
Now Austin looks to have added a new facet to his attack for the senior year. He’s always been a down-hill threat in the run-from-scrimmage game. Now he’s a down field target in the throw game.
In 2019, Oppel averaged over 124-yards a game in his seven starts running the pigskin. His season was shortened by injury. Had it not, we would have been able to nearly double the 880-yards he gained.
In the passing game he only caught 15-passes, in those seven games, which isn’t too shabby. He came close to half that amount of receptions in the opener. From the looks of things. Oppel’s numbers should exponentially increase in 2020, pandemic or no pandemic.
Austin carried it 12 times for 80-yards against John Hardin. That is solid, though not spectacular. He should get way more carries against the Eagles this coming game.
In the passing game, where we aren’t so accustomed to seeing Austin contribute to the level he does in the run-game, Austin’s contributions looked, Friday night, more impressive.
Oppel, against John Hardin, caught 7-passes for 67-yards and two scores. Yessir, that would be the same two scores which comprised 12 of the 14-points underpinning the winning Friday night margin.
Now, Austin’s being a prime-timer on the high school stage should be a surprise to exactly no one. Austin is 5-9, weighs a hardy 180-pounds, and clicks off the 40-yard dash in 4.53-seconds. For anyone doubting the 40-speed, the kid also has a vertical leap of 36-inches.
Tie that all in with his 3.8 GPA and registered 23 on the ACT, what does one have? We’ll tell you…one of Kentucky’s top-100 football players. That would be our guess anyway.
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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