HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: 12 Central players named all-district
Nov. 23—Madison Central was well represented when the Class 6A, District 8 awards were announced earlier this week.
A total of 12 Indians were honored — including six who were named First-Team All-District.
Seniors Jayden West and Malachi Wood were both named First-Team All-District on offense and defense, while senior tight end Travis Grant, junior lineman Rylan Rhodes, senior kicker/punter Pat Moren and junior fullback/tight end/linebacker Hayden Kiser were also First-Team All-District honorees.
Central's Brady Hensley, Aiden Howard, Brock Eads, Taveon Kirby, Parker Mullins and Eli Steele were all Second-Team All-District selections.
West led the team in receptions (39) and interceptions (five). The senior had 698 receiving yards, caught 14 touchdown passes and returned two INTs for a scores as well. In addition, the defensive back recovered two fumbles and had 16 tackles, including one for loss.
Wood once again anchored Central's offensive line at tackle, helping the Indians rack up more than 3,000 yards — and 30 touchdowns — on the ground. The University of Kentucky commit also saw extended action on the defensive side of the ball this season for the first time in his high school career. He finished with 23 tackles (0.5 for loss) and also forced a fumble.
Rhodes missed four games because of an injury, but just like Wood, was an important piece of the team's offensive and defensive line. He finished with 19 tackles on the season and also recovered a fumble.
Grant was out of the line-up late in the season as well because of a knee injury, but returned to the line-up for the region title game against Ballard. The senior had 13 receptions — second-best on the team — for 218 yards and two touchdowns. At linebacker, Grant had 21 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, two sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble.
Kiser played in only nine game because of injuries, but still finished second on the team with 65 tackles. He also had four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The junior had two receptions for 23 yards also.
Moren turned in an almost perfect performance as Central's placekicker in 2022. The senior hit 47-of-48 extra-point attempts and was 3-of-3 on field goals. He also punted and handled all the kickoffs.
Hensley had another tremendous season for Central. The junior running back missed four games because of ankle injury, but still finished with 1,470 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns (16 rushing, two receiving). Hensley had a school-record 354 yards on the ground in a playoff win over Dunbar, while also scoring five TDs -tying his own school record.
Eads, a senior wide receiver/running back/defensive back, made a big-time impact all over the field for the Indians before an injury cut his season short. He had 86 carries for 467 yards and eight touchdowns, caught nine passes for 111 yards and one TD and also returned a kickoff for a score. Eads also had 29 tackles, 1.5 for-loss and forced a fumble.
Steele, a junior defensive back, was fifth on the team in tackles (43 — 27 of which were solo) and also had a rushing touchdown.
Mullins, a junior wide receiver/running back/linebacker, shined in a variety of roles for the Indians during the 2022 season. He had 27 carries for 202 yards and two touchdowns, three receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown, while also finishing third on the team in tackles (58). Mullins also had 3.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three interceptions — second-most on the team.
Howard, a junior, and Kirby, a sophomore, were constant steady forces on both the offensive and defense line for the Indians.
Kirby had 32 tackles — sixth-best on the team — and added 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Howard had five tackles.
Central finished the season with a 9-4 record, 2-1 in district, and lost to Ballard in the region championship game.
