Jerek Hoover from Holy Cross (Louisville) is the Mingua Beef Jerky Protein-packed Performer of the Week @cleats2whistle, @jerek_hoover_2, @CoachWatson11, @HCougs_Football, @CoachEricDick, @LasatersCoffee, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHghFootball

’26 duel threat QB among the KHSAA’s very finest players

Jerek Hoover is probably the best dual threat QB in the Bluegrass, regardless of enrollment size, of whom you might not have heard. Simply put, it is difficult to compete with the bigger “Derby City” high schools for both roster talent and coverage. Still, the Cougars are in the hunt for a 1A title in the KHSAA more years than they aren’t. It seems every year we are looking at Holy Cross (Louisville) to potentially factor in the title chase. Hoover is a 6’0,” 170-pounder who has good speed (4.0-seconds in the 40-yard dash) and an enviable “head on his shoulders (3.7-GPA).” Next level, the sky is the limit for this kid. Look for him to land at an Ivy, a “Near Ivy,” or a service academy.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Mingua Beef Jerky uses Enviro-Pac CHU-2000 equipment to cook its meat to USDA required levels for both moist or dry operation. Mingua Beef Jerky wants you to become one of its many satisfied customers by sampling its quality hand sliced, all natural beef jerky. We know you’ll love it and come back for more, again and again.     

Ronnie Mingua began experimenting with making beef jerky back in the 1990s. He shared his efforts with neighbors and friends, soon realizing he had come up with something different and superior to all other beef jerkies on the market. From these humble beginnings, Mingua Beef Jerky got its start.  

Today, the Mingua Beef Jerky Company still prides itself on using its old-fashioned, all-natural recipes which offer outstanding products to customers across the nation. The recipes are a family tradition, passed down from generation to generation.     

Our recipes and our quality ingredients, hand-cut from solid pieces of beef, are never chopped or formed like other brands, making our products superior and one of a kind. That would make our products similar to this week’s Protein-packed Performer, Jerek Hoover, ’26 dual threat QB/ATH from Holy Cross High School in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Louisville, KY: We have said this before but it bears repeating. There are two Holy Crosses which field high school football teams across the commonwealth of Kentucky. One of them is in Covington, KY and the other is in Louisville.

Now the one in Covington generally struggles. The one in Louisville generally thrives.

Covington was 3-8 in 2024. We have seen them do worse.

Louisville was 6-6 in 2024. We are accustomed to Coach Eric Dick’s Cougars performing markedly better.

Not all “six and sixes” are equally composed. While struggling (by its standards) in ’24, consider the fact the Cougars lost to 5A, seven (7) win team, North Bullitt by three (3) points in the opener. Consider further that the Cougars were on the road in round two of the KHSAA playoffs attempting to vanquish a 10-win, 1A team in Kentucky Country Day (KCD) at their place.

An eight (8) win team, heading to the region championship round would have felt a ton different from six and six (6-6). The Cougars were “right there.”

One reason for the team’s success was its super versatile, three phase performer at QB, Jerek Hoover. Hoover was scintillating and electric in his sophomore season. Matter of fact, he may have been among the very best ’27s at QB in all of the commonwealth regardless of enrollment.

Holy Cross didn’t file all of its statistics a year ago so it is impossible for us to say for sure what the official stats either were or weren’t. That aside, we had Hoover completing 125 of 213 passing attempts for 1,884-yards through the air with 16-thrown TDs against only three (3) picks. We had Hoover with 634-yards rushing in 121-carries with 11-TDs on the ground.

Hoover was second (2nd) on the team in scoring and that is saying something. Thrown TDs don’t get credited to the QB. They are credited to the WRs.

Hoover played a little defense. Hoover registered around 14-tackles and a TFL if our agent’s calculations should prove accurate.

Regardless of what his stats were or (perhaps) weren’t, it is undeniable the team improved last season in spite of youth at key slots. It is uncontroverted the team was well coached and, therefore, developed over the course of the year.

It seems undeniable the team which lost to KCD in the regular season, 33-19 at home on October 11, 2024, had tremendously improved by the time it traveled to KCD, in round two (November 15, 2024), and dropped that game by a single score (27-21). Improvement; that is, after all, the goal of coaching. N’est pas?

Join us next week as we return to honor another weekly prize winner. Until then, pop some Mingua Beef Jerky in your mouth and savor the quality and flavor which sets it apart from the competition. Remember, our product is superior and one of a kind; just like Holy Cross’s Jerek Hoover.