Three members of the Russellville football program received significant honors last week, Athletic Director Calvin Head has announced.
Senior quarterback/defensive back Tacorian Darden has been selected as the Class 1A District 1 Player of the year; this is in addition to be named regional player of the year from all classes last week.
Senior defensive end Desmon Quarles was selected as the Total Fitness Athlete of the Week for his performance at Holy Cross High School in the second round of the high school football playoffs. Quarles totaled 218 yards rushing on 21 attempts and scored four touchdowns
Coach John Myers has been selected as the Class 1A District 1 Coach of the Year. His honor—along with that of Darden’s—is from the Kentucky Football Coaches Association. They will be honored at halftime of the state Class 1A finals game on Saturday, Dec. 6 in Bowling Green.
Darden rushed for 645 yards and 8 touchdowns on 82 carries as the quarterback of the 9-4 Panthers, who made it to the regional championship game. Also on offense he completed 43 of 96 passes for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns. He even caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. He also returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown.
“CoCo’s best attribute is playing safety. He’s tremendous defensive back and will play at the next level,” Myers predicts. Darden had 86 total tackles going into the regional championship game, including 62 primaries. He pulled in six interceptions and forced two fumbles.
Additionally, Auburn native and former Logan County Cougar Marc Adam Clark was named Class 5A, Region I, District 1 Coach of the Year. He not only led Hopkinsville into the playoffs but to a win over Greenwood in the first round of the playoffs.
Also honored were Doug Preston of Franklin-Simpson in Class 4A and Kevin Wallace of Bowling Green in Class 5A's second district.