Henry Daily Herald

Photo by Brian Paglia / Locust Grove junior Cortez McDowell caught the longest receiving touchdown in school history Friday on a 97-yard pass.

Each week the Henry Daily Herald will track the progress of potential high school football player of the year candidates throughout the season.

Here is an updated ranking of who’s in the running based on last week’s performances:

1. Donovahn Jones, Dutchtown: Jones rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and threw for 123 yards and a touchdown on 9-of-16 passing in the Bulldogs’ 40-37 loss at Locust Grove. On the season, the senior quarterback, who is committed to Missouri, has 11 total touchdowns — six passing, five rushing.

2. Keenan Wise, Locust Grove: Wise rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and threw for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 9-for-19 passing in a compelling 40-37 victory over Dutchtown. Over his last five games, Wise is 43-of-80 passing (53.8 percent) for 798 yards and eight touchdowns and has rushed for 383 yards and seven touchdowns.

3. Keyante Green, ELCA: Green and the Chargers were off last week following their 42-3 victory over Holy Innoncents’ on Sept. 29. Green rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries in that game. On the season, he’s rushed for 359 yards and eight touchdowns for the No. 1-ranked team in Class A despite missing two-and-a-half games with an injury.

4. Cortez McDowell, Locust Grove: McDowell had 165 yards receiving and three touchdowns on seven catches in the Wildcats’ thrilling comeback win over Dutchtown. Locust Grove trailed 31-0 at one point in the second quarter, but rallied for the win. For the season, the junior wide receiver and safety has caught 28 passes for 577 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for three more.

5. Trenton Earl, Stockbridge: Earl, a senior quarterback, was a steady hand in the Tigers’ 31-7 victory at Eagle’s Landing in their Region 4-AAAA opener. Earl passed for 64 yards and rushed for 50 more to help No. 8-ranked Stockbridge win its fifth straight game.

Out: Josh Shockley, ELCA