Blue Collar Gem
Welcome to our Blue Collar Gem feature! Each week, we showcase outstanding athletes who have demonstrated the true meaning of being a Blue Collar Gem. These players contribute significantly to their team's success through skills such as rebounding, defense, passing, and leadership, even if they may not be the primary scorers. They are valued for their ability to impact the game in multiple ways beyond just scoring.
How It Works:
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Nomination Period: At the beginning of each week, we open the floor for nominations. Coaches, teammates, fans, and sports enthusiasts can nominate deserving players who have shone in recent competitions or demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship.
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Voting: Once the nominations are in, it's time for the community to vote! Visit my Twitter (X) and cast your vote for the player you believe deserves to be crowned Blue Collar Gem. Spread the word on social media to rally support for your favorite athlete.
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Winner Announcement: At the end of the week, the votes are tallied, and the winner is announced. The chosen player receives recognition, a featured story on our website, and, of course, the title of Blue Collar Gem!
All Blue Collar Gem vote polls will be pinned to my Twitter(X)
Nominate a Blue Collar Gem below.
Diego Garcia @DDAT_210 of Taft HS (TX) went to work in a big win over Eagle Pass, putting up 183 total yards with 151 through the air and 32 on the ground. The Class of 2030 QB came ready to battle, helped get the job done and showed that blue-collar grind from start to finish.
Ethan Foemmel was sharp, efficient, and in complete command as Marshfield HS rolled to a 37-19 win over River Falls. Ethan needed only 2 1/2 quarters to go 9/12 through the air for 155 yards and 2 TDs, carving up the defense while making his opportunities count. That is a 75% completion rate with two trips to the end zone before his night was finished early, helping Marshfield stack another team win.
Nick Street turned special teams into his own personal playground as Conneaut Area Senior HS rolled to a huge 60-23 win over Northwestern. Nick had a 13-yard catch, but the fireworks came in the return game, where he ripped off kickoff returns of 30, 81, and 79 yards, taking the last two all the way to the house for touchdowns. That is 190 kick-return yards with two trips to paydirt as Nick flipped the field, lit up the scoreboard, and gave Northwestern a reason to hold its breath every time the ball was kicked his way.
Micah "Agent 0" Billups made sure his first regular-season middle school game came with plenty of noise as Hewitt-Trussville grabbed a wild 56-42 win over Auburn HS. Agent 0 exploded for his first 100-yard game, punched in a 2-point conversion, and brought that same fire to the other side of the ball with 7 tackles on defense. In his first regular-season game, Micah showed right away that Agent 0 is ready to make his presence felt on both sides of the ball.
Kyson “Primetime” Thomas was making noise on both sides of the football for Billingsley HS despite a tough 52-22 loss to Thorsby. Primetime had 2 touchdowns and 85 rushing yards, then brought that same fire to the defensive side with 7 tackles and a sack. Whether he was carrying the load out of the backfield or chasing down the ball on defense, Kyson stayed right in the middle of the action and gave Billingsley everything he had from start to finish!
Jayden Crosby-Mosley was out there taking the football away for The Benjamin School against Melbourne Central Catholic! Jayden picked off 2 passes on the night and made one of them hurt even more by taking it all the way back for a pick-6. The Benjamin School came up just short in a tough 35-28 loss, but 2 interceptions and a trip to the house made sure Jayden left his fingerprints all over this one!
Christopher “CJ” Person Jr. kept the ground game cookin' for West Craven HS in a big 27-6 win over Wilson Prep! CJ powered his way to 108 rushing yards and a touchdown, bringing the juice out of the backfield and helping West Craven control the night on the way to another strong win.
Kellen Donnelly was doing a little bit of everything for Somerset HS against a strong Northwestern squad! In a tough 48-19 loss, Donnelly battled his way to 158 all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns, then flipped over to defense and grabbed an interception while also booming punts at an impressive 49.3 yards per kick. Offense, defense, and special teams, Kellen left his fingerprints all over this one and kept fighting from start to finish!
Reagan “KOBA” Bullard brought his hard hat and went to work in Kirby’s 43-0 win over Sheffield. A strong blue-collar performance saw KOBA punch in a touchdown while grinding out 37 yards on just 4 carries, then flip the field defensively with 2 interceptions, including a 32-yard pick-six, while adding a PBU. Two touchdowns, two picks, and impact on both sides of the ball made this a statement performance from KOBA.
Max Kinney had himself a statement game for Marian Central Catholic HS, making his presence felt on both sides of the football in a dominant 42-0 rout of Hansberry HS. Kinney was explosive through the air with 3 catches for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns, then flipped the switch defensively with an interception, a pass breakup and 3 tackles to help preserve the shutout. Big plays on offense, disruption on defense and a complete two-way performance made for one impressive way to open the season.