The Best from the District in 2023
JACKSON – November 22, 2023 – Brendon D. Miller
2023 was a great year of football in District 6 of Class 2A. The newly realigned District melded together Breathitt County and Leslie County from the East from the previous District 7, and Somerset and Danville from the West from former District 4. Somerset was the class of the District as the Briar Jumpers ran the table with wins over Breathitt (42-21), Leslie (36-13) and Danville (50-7). Somerset has continued their great season in the playoffs and will play for a chance to get back to the State Championship Game this Friday as they travel to Owensboro Catholic for the State Semi-Finals.
As an editorial note, I personally did not assemble this team, or participate other than formulating this post and publishing same, as is not appropriate with my son Evan a member. The team was selected by BSN announcers, who are former players, State Champions, and coaches, Rob Hounshell and Eric Collins. Rob and Eric called each of the games in which Breathitt played the other District teams and saw first hand the performances of each of the team members for their evaluations for selection.
For clarification, it was determined to recognize a player only once on either offense or defense, despite players who were worthy on both sides of the ball for more players to be recognized.
PLAYERS OF YEAR
Our three POY’s stood our and are very deserving of their designation.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER of the YEAR – KAM HUGHES – No Question on this one, as Hughes was selected the KFCA District Player of the Year and we follow suit. Hughes has been spectacular running for 1,899 yards through 13 games (146.1 per game) and 34 touchdowns on the ground and one each on a reception and on a punt return. Hughes was equally as outstanding on the Defensive side of the ball amassing 86 tackles and six interceptions.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER of the YEAR – BRYCE PUGH – Just a tackling machine in his Senior season. Pugh amassed 149 tackles through 11 games of the regular season and one playoff game, with 106 solos and 43 assists, and 20 tackles for loss and three and a half sacks. The stats for Leslie’s 12th game have not been posted to the KHSAA site.
LINEMAN of the YEAR – EVAN MILLER – Another excellent performance in his Senior season, after receiving the designation in 2022 in the former District 7. Captain of the Bobcats and started every game at center for Breathitt County for three seasons running the OL. Evan also did his work in the classroom as a 2023 Governor’s Scholar.
ALL-DISTRICT TEAM OFFENSE
QB – LANDRY COLLETT – Junior – Leslie County
RB – KAM HUGHES – Senior – Somerset
RB – DALTON MAGGARD – Senior – Leslie County
WR – DEMONTRAE TRUMBO – Senior – Danville
WR – ISAAC TURNER – Senior – Breathitt County
WR – DALTON BAKER – Senior – Leslie County
WR – KRIS HUGHES – Sophomore – Somerset
TE – BRADY TINCHER – Senior – Breathitt County
OL – EVAN MILLER – Senior – Breathitt County
OL – SAWYER HALL – Sophomore – Breathitt County
OL – JASON GAMBREL – Senior – Somerset
OL – CALEB HALL – Senior – Somerset
OL – DYLAN CAMPBELL – Senior – Leslie County
K – ANDERSON RUBLE – Junior – Somerset
OFFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
QB – DILLAN STACY – Senior – Breathitt County
QB – JOSH BRUNER – Junior – Somerset
RB – JAYDEN GIBSON – Sophomore – Breathitt County
OL – JACOB PARKER – Senior – Breathitt County
OL – CHRIS NEACE – Sophomore – Breathitt County
OL – JOSIAH SPARKS – Senior – Leslie County
OL – ESTIN BRUNS – Senior – Somerset
OL – MATTHEW NAPIER – Senior – Leslie County
ALL-DISTRICT DEFENSE
LB – BRYCE PUGH – Senior – Leslie County
LB – KORY COMBS – Junior – Breathitt County
LB – BRAIDEN BAUGHMAN – Junior – Danville
LB – BRADY BARNES – Senior – Somerset
DB – WES ABNER – Breathitt County
DB – CADEN CIMALA – Senior – Somerset
DB – JAYDEN HACKER – Freshman – Leslie County
DB – GULOCK, GRAYSON – Junior – Somerset
DL – KINGSTON JONES – Sophomore – Danville
DL – ZACK KOGER – Junior – Somerset
DL – WAYLON ABNER – Sophomore – Breathitt County
DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION
LB – CADEN CALDWELL – Sophomore – Leslie County
LB – JASON TOLSON – Junior – Breathitt County
LB – AUSTYN LAWLESS – Sophomore – Somerset
DB – KYLAN COMBS – Freshman – Breathitt County
DB – ISAIAH LEWIS – Junior – Somerset
DB – TANNER ESTEP – Senior – Leslie County
DL – JAMES OGANS – Senior – Breathitt County
DL – BRAXTON TERRY – Junior – Breathitt County
DL – CHANDON CARTER – Freshman – Danville
DL – ADAM WOOTON – Senior – Leslie County
Happy Thanksgiving!! Best of Luck to all honorees!!