KSR Today: First weekend of high school football in the books
Good morning, folks! Football time in the Bluegrass has arrived. While the Kentucky Wildcats still have about two weeks separating them from the beginning of the 2023 season, high schools across the state got a head start throughout the weekend. Here at the KSR headquarters, we’ve been busy traveling all over the Commonwealth to cover some of the most buzzed-about season-opening games.
Thursday was the unofficial kickoff of the new season with Lloyd Memorial taking down Newport Central Catholic 24-7, but Friday and Saturday is when the action heated up. KSR’s Daniel Hager was in Louisville to cover a top 20 matchup between Trinity and Bryan Station, which saw the Shamrocks dismantle the Defenders to the tune of a 36-3 victory. Elsewhere, the four-star Smith twins, Jerod and Jacob, were ruled eligible just in time to lead No. 4 Corbin to a 47-12 win over Hughes (Cincinnati) while Kentucky football tight end commit Willie Rodriguez lit up Ryle with three catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in the 37-22 win.
Saturday’s slate of games somehow wound up being even more entertaining, headlined by the first Kroger KSR Game of the Week this year. Down at Western Kentucky University, UK quarterback commit Cutter Boley and talented running back Brady Hensley (EKU commit) powered No. 13 Lexington Christian to a high-scoring, statement win over No. 7 Bowling Green, 56-52. KSR had the whole crew there to cover that one, where the talented Steven Peake crafted up a highlight video that you can check out below.
Also on Saturday, we saw No. 2 Frederick Douglass get absolutely shell-shocked, 45-6, by Ohio’s Archbishop Hoban — a top 40 program in the entire country. KSR’s Brady Byrdwell was in attendance to catch No. 14 Bullitt East’s 41-28 victory over No. 21 Woodford County. We’ll have a full recap of that game plus a scoreboard rundown of every matchup from this weekend (presented by our lovely friends at Kroger) coming later this morning to the website, so stay tuned for more high school football coverage.
Mark Stoops spoke after Saturday’s scrimmage
How about even more football talk, eh? Also on Saturday was the second closed scrimmage of fall camp for the Wildcats, which will begin its 2023 season on Saturday, September 2 against Ball State. With the schedule quickly approaching, the main goal between now and kicking off the season is staying healthy. So far, mission accomplished.
“Nothing overly dramatic to report. We’re relatively healthy,” Stoops said, “Playmakers made some plays, and both sides did some good things.”
After the scrimmage was over, head coach Mark Stoops spoke with the media for about 10 minutes before players Trevin Wallace and Josh Kattus took the microphone to answer some questions, as well.
With classes at UK beginning on Monday, Saturday’s scrimmage was the last of fall camp. Now, we shift to the typical afternoon practice schedule. Stoops appears pleased with his team up to this point.
“We got some good work today. Did quite a bit of situational work. Did some red zone, two-point, coming off the goal line, four-minute, two-minute. Lot of situational work,” Stoops said. “It was good, guys were energetic, focused. Overall, pleased.”
- Kentucky Practice Report: Mark Stoops is ‘pleased’ as fall camp ends
- ‘Means an awful lot’: Marks Stoops thanks Kentucky fans for doing their part
Levis sidelined for preseason Week 2
Following an unspecified lower-body injury that he sustained during practice earlier this week, Tennessee Titans QB Will Levis did not suit up in the team’s second preseason outing on Saturday. Currently listed as QB3 for the Titans, the timing of this mysterious injury certainly isn’t ideal, but reports indicate that Tennessee doesn’t intend on signing another quarterback — potentially good news that Levis’ injury isn’t all that serious.
With Levis out, QB2 Malik Willis suited up the entire game for the Titans on Saturday, finishing the 24-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings on 10-17 for 85 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Veteran QB Ryan Tannehill is still the presumed starter for Tennessee to start the 2023 season.
There is currently no timetable for a return regarding Levis.
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Hagans signs with Blazers
Former Kentucky point guard Ashton Hagans has earned another shot in the NBA. After appearing in just two games for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020-21 season, Hagans will now have an opportunity to stick in the league with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2023-24.
Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes reported on Friday that the Blazers signed Hagans to an Exhibit 10 contract, which is a one-year, minimum salary agreement that gives NBA teams the ability to convert the contract into a Two-Way deal.
Hagans averaged 6.8 points and 4.5 assists per game for the Greensboro Swarm last season and will look to improve on those numbers with the Trail Blazers’ brand-new G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix this season.
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