As parents, fans or media, we all have those moments in time where we see a student athlete perform at an incredible level.
As the Sporting Times celebrates its 20th season, we have seen many incredible individual and team accomplishments. As founder of the Sporting Times, I have two individual performances at the running back position that I will always remember. Bell County’s Daniel Thomas (2023) and Bowling Green’s Jamale Carothers (2014). Both of these running backs told me during interviews, that they would not have had the success they did without the efforts of their offensive lineman.
Let’s first take a look back at Jamale Carothers. Going into the 2014 season, the Bowling Green Purples football team were riding a 44 game win streak. Having added another three wins to open the season, the (47-0) Purples headed to Owensboro to play the Red Devils.
At the half, Owensboro had opened up a two score lead, and to make matters worse the Purples senior running back was injured for the second half of the game. As the second half began, a new running back for the Purples, sophomore Jamale Carothers made his debut at the running back position.
The first rushing play for Jamale was a TD run through the middle of the Owensboro defense, cutting and slashing his way into the endzone. What happened next was one for the history books. Carothers rushed in the 2nd half for 336 yards, scoring 4 TD’s defeating Owensboro and preserving the Purples win streak. Carothers went on to having a tremendous career at Bowling Green high, capped off by being named Mr. Kentucky Football in 2017. Carothers committed to Navy where he played football for the midshipman.
Bell County’s senior running back Daniel Thomas crushed every single season rushing record in Kentucky’s history and on top of that, he led the nation in rushing this season. (Photo by Scott Warren)
Preparing for a Sporting Times/ST Livestream semifinal championship game between Bell and Hart County, I was fascinated to see how a 5’9″ 170 pound running back could gain close to 3,500 yards and 49 TD’s going into that game. As Bell County’s offense took the field, it didn’t take long to see what Daniel Thomas was all about, pure toughness! When you take toughness combined with speed and a natural ability to move in space you have an outstanding running back.
Thomas rushed for 236 yards on 41 carries and 4 TD’s. Thomas touched the ball all but 8 times during any offensive possession against Hart.
Advancing to the KHSAA 3A State Championship game and despite losing the game, Daniel Thomas has inked his name into the history books. Thomas for a single season rushed for over 3,800 yards this season and 54 touchdowns. As of the time of this article, 2023 Mr. Kentucky Football had not been announced. If I had a vote, it would be hands down presented to Thomas.
Having interviewed both Thomas and Carothers after their games, they both had similarities. They both are high achievers academically, they were modest and respectful student athletes who gave credit to teammates and others for their successes.
