Who are 3 finalists for NC’s biggest high school football award? Plus NCHSAA previews
On this week’s episode of Talking Preps:
▪ North Carolina high school football expert Chris Hughes previews the NCHSAA quarterfinals in all classes. Butler coach Brian Hales and Independence’s DJ McFadden join us live in studio to talk about their teams’ big game Friday.
▪ We reveal the three finalists for the state’s biggest prep award in the sport, Mr. Football (more below).
▪ The N.C. players of the week are honored: Greensboro Dudley’s Andrew Attmore, Shelby’s Izay Bridges, Mount Airy’s Tyler Mason, Hickory’s Brady Stober and Crest’s Ny’Tavious Huskey. Huskey joins the show this week.
▪ Two new “Fresh Faces” are introduced: Forest Hills running back Rodney Smith and Hertford County quarterback Keveon Rodgers.
▪ On Coach vs. Coach, Jonathan Grice and Sam Greiner debate who is the better NFL prospect: UNC quarterback Drake Maye or Southern Cal’s Caleb Williams. They also discuss whether the NCHSAA’s six-week playoff format is too long and whether the new South Carolina High School League rule for charter and private schools could work in North Carolina.
Mr. Football finalists announced
Providence Day’s Jadyn Davis, Crest High School’s Ny’Tavious Huskey and Scotland County running back Zay Jones are the three finalists for the N.C. Mr. Football award.
The winner will be named during the Dec. 5 Talking Preps episode and that player will receive a trophy and a banner courtesy of Mr. Football sponsor Deer Park, the water company.
▪ Davis, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior quarterback. won the Mr. Football award last season. Last week, he led the Chargers to a third straight state championship. Providence Day rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to beat nationally ranked Rabun Gap, 34-27.
For the season, Davis didn’t play in the fourth quarter in five of 13 games. He completed 204-of-288 passes for 3,370 yards and 43 touchdowns. He had nine interceptions. Davis is a top-10 recruit nationally at his position and has committed to Michigan. He will play in the All-American Bowl on Jan. 6 (NBC).
▪ Huskey, a 5-10, 180-pound senior quarterback, has led the Chargers to a 13-0 record. Crest will play unbeaten Greensboro Dudley at home Friday in an N.C. 3A state quarterfinal.
Huskey rallied his team from a 22-6 second-half deficit to a 30-29 win in overtime against West Charlotte last week. He completed 14-of-27 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran 12 times for 49 yards and a touchdown and threw the game-winning two-point conversion pass in overtime.
For the season, he has completed 187-of-270 passes for 3,228 yards. He has 40 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Huskey has rushed 85 times for 528 yards and six scores.
▪ Jones, a 5-8, 175-pound senior running back, led his team to a 10-3 record this season. Scotland finished third in the Sandhills 3A/4A conference and lost to Northern Nash, 45-44, on Friday in the third round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs.
For the season, Jones ran 305 times for 2,432 yards and 39 touchdowns.
