Sylas Gunn was a lot of things for the Storm, first and foremost,…a football player
We covered Sylas Gunn when he was a middle school phenom on a very good KYMSFA Webster County squad. We followed him through his transfer to Hopkins County Central and through what can only (fairly) be described as an extraordinary high school career. What did Gunn do? All he ever did was make his teams better by plugging in wherever needed and rendering extraordinary performances. Through injury, through tough losses, through improbable wins, through it all; Gunn was among the better high school football players we have had the privilege for covering at KPGFootball. Gunn will be sorely missed on Morton’s Gap. We [very likely] “…will not look upon his like again…”
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Morton’s Gap, KY: I remember stopping by a beloved teacher’s room upon leaving my own HS baccalaureate practice in the spring of 1987. I was graduating and I thought I would tell her what she had meant to me.
I expected a tear-soaked, heart wrenching, “Goodbye.” What I got was way different and completely unexpected.
“Well,” I told her, “it appears official. I am graduating.” This fact should loosen up the waterworks. I wasn’t ready for her response.
She said, “So what?”
I thought perhaps I had misheard her. Then she said, “Fletcher, if you ever think you will be missed upon vacating any school, town, or employment; immerse your hand into a bucket of water and pull it out. What ever amount of water you notice missing, will be how much you will be missed.”
Well that is one school of thought. There is a flip-side to that argument.
William Shakespeare’s greatest work was (probably) Hamlet. In Act 1, Scene 2 of the play, upon the death of his father the King (also named Hamlet), Prince Hamlet remarked, “He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”
“He (King Hamlet) was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”
Prince Hamlet, “Hamlet” Act I, Scene II
As I sit here reflecting on the fact one of the KHSAA’s better all-around football players, I have ever had the privilege of covering, has run out or HS eligibility; I am much more bent toward the commentary of the Bard of Avon than my beloved former teacher. I would note, though not applicable to Sylas Gunn, my former teacher’s comment about how much one is missed has proven (both generally and sadly) accurate through the years.
It just doesn’t apply to Gunn. Gunn will be missed.
Foremost, Gunn conducted his affairs while at Central as a scholar (honors student), an athlete (starring in football, basketball, and track), and an exemplary citizen. There is not a speck of dust on him.
This season Gunn threw for 825-yards and 9-TDs. Gunn rush for 903-yard and 9-TDs.
Gunn caught 3-passes for 101-yards and a TD. Gunn led the team in scoring (70-points), including his housing a punt and scoring a pair of two-pointers.
Gunn led the team in tackles (100). Gunn was among the leaders in TFLs (5), the leader with a pair of fumble recoveries, and the leader with three (3)-INTs. Gunn also led the team in PBUs (passes broken up).
Gunn led the team, his senior season, in eight (8) different statistical categories
Friday Night Fletch, KHSAA Statistical Website
Gunn did all of this while playing hurt and having his play limited for three to four games in the middle of his senior season. No telling what his numbers might have been, nor what Central’s record might have ended up being, had Gunn not suffered through injury through some of the season.
We have covered guys who were their club’s leading rushers, leading tacklers, leading INT-guys, etc. We can’t think of a single guy (other than Gunn) we have ever covered who led the team in rushing, rushing TDs, passing, passing TDs, FRs, INTs, tackles, and scoring. Gunn ended up fourth in receptions, and among the leaders in TFLs.
Gunn led the team in eight (8) separate, distinguishable, statistical categories while being “among the leaders” in two others. I mean, who does something like that? Who does this while missing valuable game time being injured? Who does this while also competing in both basketball and track & field?
Gunn, a 6’2,” 180-pounder, from Morton’s Gap is the only answer we can proffer. Gunn appears headed to Centre College to play collegiately. Centre College is a great fit for him, athletically and academically.
My son played collegiately for the Colonels. In a small way, I feel like I may be sending the Colonels another son to play there.
Regardless of where Gunn goes, Gunn is a winner. Gunn will do big things in life. To quote no less than William Shakespeare, “[we] shall not look upon his like again.”
Believe that, Central. Believe that…
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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