2022 Prep Football Previews: Scott running back has confidence in team's experienced offensive line - NKyTribune

The NKyTribune is featuring players on each of the 21 high school football teams in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties leading up to the first games of the 2022 season this Friday. We will then provide focused coverage of our local teams throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.

By Sarah Mae Wilson
NKyTribune sports reporter

The team leaders in every offensive and defensive statistic for Scott last season were seniors who played so well that the Eagles made it to the region finals in the Class 4A playoffs and finished with an 8-5 record for the second time in three years.

The team did keep one major asset on offense in running back Bennie Hill, the second leading rusher last season with 508 yards and six touchdowns. With most of last year’s offensive linemen also returning, Hill said the Eagles can’t be counted out as a playoff contender.

Scott running back Bennie Hill expects to surpass his 508-yard rushing total from last season behind an experienced offensive line. (Photo from Twitter)

“I know a lot of people doubted us last year and we ended up proving ourselves winning districts,” he said. “Now we have more work to do and my teammates and I are ready to shock people once again.”

Hill is a senior who has been playing with the veterans on the offensive line long enough to predict they are going to do “amazing things.”

Last year, they provided the blocking and pass protection that enabled quarterback Gus Howlett to rush for 715 yards and score nine touchdown while throwing for 1,748 yards and 19 TDs.

Hill knows he has big shoes to fill now that Howlett is gone, but the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior is up for the challenge.

“I feel like everyone is starting to lean on me to put up big numbers on the offensive side due to my skills many seen last year,” Hill said. “I do have to play a bigger role.”

Last season, Hill averaged 42.3 rushing yards per game and surpassed the 100-yard mark just once. Howlett picked up 55 yards per game with a good percentage coming on run-pass option plays that made him hard to contain.

Scott will have another double-threat quarterback in senior Dasani Lane, who did not see much playing time in that position last season when he had only three pass attempts. He did have 22 yards receiving and scored one rushing touchdown.

Bennie Hill

Hill said that Lane is confident in his abilities and has been improving constantly in preseason practice.

“We have great players with a variety of skills on both sides of the ball,” Hill said. “The coaches keep pushing us every single day, making us work hard to better our team for us to have a successful season. And we are very grateful for that.”

Lane was a starting safety on defense last season. He made 48 tackles (15 solo, 33 assisted) and had one pass interception. But the two players who led the Eagles in tackles were senior linebackers Zach Scheper and Damond Hacker, who made a combined total of 218 stops.

The team’s top returning tacklers is Aaron Cummins with 51, followed by Desani (48), Boomer Klusman (47) and Jordan Johnson, Emmanuell Mills and Zach Weier (41).

“This years defense is looking good,” said Hill, who is excited for Friday’s season opener against Walton-Verona, a team that made it to the Class 2A region finals last year. Scott won’t play its first Class 4A district game until late September.

SCOTT EAGLES
2021 SEASON:  8-5 record, lost in third round of Class 4A playoffs.
DISTRICT:  Class 4A, District 4 with Boyd County, Harrison County, Holmes, Rowan County.
HEAD COACH:  Eric Turner (61-42 in seven seasons at two schools, 17-15 in three seasons at Scott).

2022 SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 – at Walton-Verona, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 – at Boone County, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 – HOLY CROSS, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 – at Conner, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 – GRANT COUNTY, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 – at Rowan County, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 – HARRISON COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 – BOYD COUNTY, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 – at Holmes, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 – DIXIE HEIGHTS, 7 p.m.

Other NKyTribune prep football previews:
COOPER JAGUARS
HIGHLANDS BLUEBIRDS
CAMPBELL COUNTY CAMELS
HOLMES BULLDOGS
BROSSART MUSTANGS