Darnell Burnside Jr. balled out for Tates Creek High School in 2024
LEXINGTON, Ky. ( FOX 56 ) — When you watch Tates Creek High School play football, junior quarterback Darnell Burnside Jr. jumps out on tape and he's a big reason why the Commodores have averaged over 30 points per game.
"I think I've done good, but I can do better, my reads, my feet getting quicker," Burnside said. "I'm good being QB1, it doesn't really faze me."
The first-year starter threw for 1343 yards and 17 touchdowns with only 5 interceptions while rushing for over 160 yards and a touchdown. Burnside's performances this season have caught the eye of his head coach, Jonathan Hawks.
"Just his composure. You know, not really paying attention to the outside noise and anything else. He's really listening to the coaching staff and really buying into the work that I'm asking him to do," Hawks said. "You know, as far as holding him accountable, but also holding the other teammates that he has around him accountable as well. So, he stepped up to that challenge."
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Tates Creek isn't just a one-man show; Burnside knows that his teammates have also stepped up to the challenge this season. Whether it's through big plays in the running game, the offensive line giving him a clean pocket, or receivers racking up yards after the catch.
"We are just playing as a team. We're encouraging our team to play better, and our lineman is getting the push on the line," Burnside said. "So, it makes it easier for us to play through the game. When I know I can just throw the ball to whoever and they go make a play. It just makes it easy for me."
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Despite going through a rough patch in September, Hawks believed the Commodores would right the ship, and he was right. His team won their final four regular season games and finished with a 6-3 overall record.
"They do strive to work hard every day to be better than what they were the week before," Hawks said. "So, I like the work ethic behind everything that we're doing, and I think it'll continue to get better as we get deeper into the season."
