Henry Daily Herald

Photo by Derrick Mahone / ELCA quarterback Dalton Etheridge has emerged as a dangerous weapon on offense for the top-ranked Chargers.

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 threw for 411 yards and six touchdowns on 13 of 22 passing and rushed for 95 yards on six carries in the Bulldogs’ 52-22 win over Eagle’s Landing. Jones’ six touchdown passes tied a county record set by Henry County’s Drew Little (2008). On the season, Jones is 60-for-91 passing (65.9 percent) for 1,139 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions and has rushed for 575 yards and five touchdowns on 78 carries.

2. Dalton Etheridge, ELCA: Etheridge threw for 58 yards and three touchdowns on 4-for-4 passing in the Chargers’ 62-0 victory over Mount Vernon Presbyterian. On the season, Etheridge is completing 70 percent of his passes for 700 yards, eight touchdowns and just one interception and has rushed for 250 yards and eight touchdowns. The junior first-year starter hasn’t played in the second half since the Chargers’ victory at Briarwood on August 31.

3. Derrick Craine, Union Grove: Craine rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in the Wolverines’ 54-6 victory over Forest Park. On the season, Craine has rushed for 808 yards and eight touchdowns on 123 carries, averaging 6.57 yards per carry. Craine also leads the team in tackles at linebacker and is the team’s primary punter.

4. Keenan Wise, Locust Grove: Wise rushed for 84 yards on 11 carries, threw for 97 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions on 6-for-25 passing and caught one pass for 35 yards in the Wildcats’ 23-14 loss at Woodland. Over his last six games, Wise is 49 of 105 passing (46.7 percent) for 895 yards and 10 touchdowns and has rushed for 476 yards and seven touchdowns.

5. Cortez McDowell, Locust Grove: McDowell had one catch for 24 yards and rushed for 32 yards on three carries in the Wildcats’ 23-14 loss at Woodland. On the season, McDowell has 29 catches for 601 yards and eight touchdowns, has rushed for 179 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries and has two interceptions on defense.

Out: Keyante Green (ELCA), Trent Earl (Stockbridge)