Larry “PeeWee” Irvin, ’26 ATH (QB) for Ballard, hoping to build off his team’s playoff win
Larry Irvin is called “PeeWee.” There is nothing minor about his performance. Irvin threw for nearly 2,000-yards (1967), 17-TDs, 9-picks, while leading the Bruins in rushing yards (440) and tying for second on his team in rushing TDs (4) on only 90-carries. We call that versatility at the 6A level. That is called being an athlete. Irvin was a junior in 2024 and had the team playing its best football of the year entering the playoffs. What will he do in ’25 as a senior? Stud-out would be our educated guess.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
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Friday Night Fletch, “KPGFootball”
Louisville, KY: Playing 13-games in a season is a sign of accomplishment. This is additionally true when you play at the 6A level around Kentucky’s largest and most fertile football playing and recruiting grounds, the Derby City, a.k.a. Louisville.
Larry Irvin sort of emerged on the Louisville football playing scene a year ago. As the season progressed, so did his play. As his play progressed, so did his team. Isn’t this about what being a QB, at the high school level, is supposed to be? We think so.
Larry is a 6’1,” 190-pound athlete. While his primary position is QB, he can play other places and on both sides of the scrimmage line.
We could see him being a college RB or even a safety or OLB depending on how much “filling out” in the weight room he is willing to undertake. Either way, we foresee there being a college level where Irvin may thrive.
If any one were to doubt our forecast, all they had to do was watch about two and a half minutes of the Bruins’ overtime win over Male in the second round of last season’s playoffs. That “eye in the sky (film)” never lies.
With less than 2 ½ minutes left in the fourth quarter and 93 yards to go, as the article in the commonwealth’s largest circulated newspaper reported around the time (Courier-Journal, Prince James Story), Ballard High turned to Irvin. Irvin promptly led the Bruins down the field to tie a Male team many believed destined to play on Kroger Field for the 6A title at year’s end.
The drive knotted the score at 17 with under a minute to go. The game would reach OT.
We will do OK, (then) we’ll make a mistake, but to [the team’s] testament, they don’t let [mistakes] bother them,”
Ballard coach Matt Kuehn to the “Courier-Journal“
In overtime, Male’s drive stalled and the Bulldogs missed a field goal. When Ballard got the ball back, it kept it in Irvin’s hands, and he delivered.
The junior QB/ATH scored on a sneak from two yards out to give his team a 23-17 victory. The rest, as they say, was “history.”
Ballard, in round two, avenged a 49-21 loss to Male on August 30 with its 23-17 victory in round two of the KHSAA playoffs. Ultimately, the Bruins lost to Trinity, 35-21, in the regional championship game.
Of course, Trinity won it all. The Shamrocks beat a tough Ryle Raider squad, 42-23, on Kroger Field in the 6A title game.
Prior to beating Male in round two, the Bruin list of victories wasn’t earth shattering. Ballard did “show up” a few times in ’24 in games which probably should have been blowouts.
There was the seven point loss (17-10) in Lexington to Bryan Station and the three point loss, in Louisville, to Woodford County (27-24). Both of those games were against powerhouse teams though Woodford County was (and still is) a 5A squad.
Ballard “showed up” a few times in ’24 playing opponents tough who should have routed them
Friday Night Fletch
Irvin, over the course of his junior season, threw for nearly 2,000-yards (1967), 17-TDs, 9-picks, while leading the team in rushing yards (440) and tying for second in rushing TDs (4) on only 90-carries. Bruin fans enjoyed watching Irvin morph, over the course of the year, into the type field general to lead his troops into battle and emerge victorious against daunting odds.
Throwing for nearly 2,000 yards is a respectable number. A QB rushing for 440-yards and four touchdowns (4) TDs is too.
The most respectable number may end up being the number, “13.” You see, it is the QB’s main job to deliver wins in big games and take his team deep into the playoffs.
A run to the regional championships is a deep run. Such a run from a team which entered the playoffs first round at four and six (4-6) would count as quite a remarkable run, particularly under the presenting circumstances.
Beating perennial heavyweight Male High in round two? Well that was just icing on the cake. Go ask those Bruins from Ballard!
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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