Holy Cross High School kind of turned it on last season, late in the year, in beating consecutively Clinton County, Fairdale, and then winning on the road in the playoffs at Ludlow, before traveling to take on Kentucky Country Day, which didn’t go so well. The Cougars, from Class 1A, District 3, ended the year 6-6. Now this offseason, the Cougars picked up the most talked about offensive line prospect in the Class of 2022, certainly in Kentucky and maybe in the entire country, in 6-8, 370 pound Kiyaunta Goodwin. Goodwin is holding offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Kentucky, Louisville, and probably many more of which we aren’t even aware in spite of his not having played a single down of high school football yet. Not his fault, he’s entering 9th grade.
Last year, the Cougars rushed for between 2,400 and 2,500 yards on the year behind the rushing of Mario Convenuto, a Class of 2018 prospect. Mario had 210 rushing attempts for 1,381 yards and 21 rushing TDs to go along with his 27 receptions for 270 yards and 2 TD receptions. Of course with that level of production, Mario will play on Saturdays this fall at Division I, FCS, Morehead State University. The second leading rusher, a season ago, was Demetrius Dillard who gained 485 yards rushing and 5 rushing TDs over his 46 attempts. Both of those backs have graduated, taking with them well more than half of both the rushing TDs and yards gained rushing. The leading rusher returning in 2018 is QB Jaren McDonald who ran for 203 yards in 92 attempts and one score while passing for 1,001 yards with 10TDs and 10 thrown INTs while completing 92 of his 203 passing attempts. So who is left to help McDonald and the most ballyhooed, incoming freshman prep player in the Derby City’s history? Gavin Foushee is back, and he ain’t nothing at which to sneeze.
Now, we have talked about different players featured being multiple-sport athletes. It is a very prized attribute among some college recruiters seeking football talent for its level of Saturday play. But when KPGFootball tells you the 5-8, 140 pound FS/WR, Gavin Foushee, is a two-sport star, we really aren’t kidding. Foushee on the football field in 2017 caught 30 passes for 350 yards and 4 TD receptions from a team which ran it tremendously more than the ball was thrown. After Foushee, the next leading returning receiver caught 7 footballs. What Foushee did on offense doesn’t begin to compare to his defensive contributions. Fooshee had to have been at the top of the 1A classification,a year ago, with 8 interceptions, which he returned for 50 yards. Foushee also broke up 12 additional passes on the year; meaning he was doing exactly what a free safety is supposed to do, he was always around the football. Foushee was also an active participant in the run defense coming up to make over 50 tackles on the year.
In baseball, Foushee batted .406, with 41 hits in his 124 plate appearances, scored 47 runs, collected 6 doubles and 18 RBIs. His on-base percentage was .484, his slugging percentage was .465, and had an OPS of .949. Now, for those wondering what OPS is, it is the saber-metric statistic which is the sum of a player’s on-base percentage plus the slugging percentage. Is Foushee fast? Well, we couldn’t locate any speed numbers for the young man, but he apparently is fast enough to steal 15 bases this past season in 16 attempts.
Now I know the Cougar fans are excited to see the new HUGE offensive tackle in Kiyaunta Goodwin. Believe me, Coach Bronger, KPGFootball, and about half the power five coaches in the FBS will be monitoring that situation closely. Goodwin‘s addition to the roster should also mean a lot as to future Louisville football stars looking at prepping at Holy Cross. For 2018, and as for the Cougars and its chances to improve on the 6-6 posted a year ago, KPGFootball believes those chances hinge way more on the play of Gavin Foushee than any freshman, no matter how big.
Reporting for KPGFootball, this is Fletcher Long reminding all of you ballers out there to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE.
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