At 5-foot-9 and 225 pounds, Domonique Hayden is a tough guy to bring down on a football field.
Domonique Hayden, Lexington Christian
Photo courtesy of Lexington Christian
Opponents of Lexington Christian would agree because the senior tailback broke the Kentucky state record last week with 117 career touchdowns and needs just two more to become the state’s all-time points leader.
Hayden has led the Eagles to a 7-1 record and the state’s No. 1 Class A ranking. He has run 154 times for 1,520 yards (9.7 average) and 25 touchdowns, while catching 12 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns. His four-year career totals are 5,552 yards and 100 touchdowns rushing, plus 17 more touchdowns receiving.
“He does something that probably nobody else can do. This kid’s strength is incredible. He can squat 620 pounds clear down to the floor, bench 365 and clean 345," Lexington Christian head coach Paul Rains said. "I’ve been to several colleges and they don’t have one running back who can match him. He can do anything he wants. He’s a bowling ball with butcher knives.
“He’s got as good of hands as anybody on our team. He’s one of the most humble kids I’ve ever coached. His brother (Tyrell) walked on and is the starting tailback at Western Kentucky.”
Surprisingly, Hayden does not yet have any definite college scholarship offers.
* Turning to North Carolina, Shannon Peppers exploded for school rushing records of 414 yards and seven touchdowns as Pittsboro Northwood rolled to a 62-34 victory over Carrboro. The 6-foot, 210-pound senior tailback has carried 172 times this fall for 1,266 yards and 17 touchdowns.
* Junior corner back Shawn Charles made three interceptions – returning one for a touchdown – as Greece Olympia (Rochester, N.Y.) defeated Batavia, 31-21.
* Quinton Spain, a 6-foot-5, 330-pound senior lineman, forced four fumbles – recovering two – as Petersburg (Va.) blanked Hopewell, 44-0.
* Several days after suffering a 57-15 loss to arch rival Lowndes, Valdosta (Ga.) officials informed coach Rick Tomberlin that his contract would not be renewed for next year. Tomberlin won three state titles at Washington County. Valdosta holds the national record with over 800 football victories.
* Steve Solem of BOLD (Olivia, Minn.) posted his 200th coaching victory, 41-0, against Lac qui Parle.
* Eisenhower (Rialto, Calif.) has renamed its football field Ronnie Lott Stadium in honor of the 50-year-old NFL Hall of Famer who once starred in three sports for the Eagles.
Wando sets tennis record
Mount Pleasant Wando blanked Berkeley, 6-0, to win its South Carolina state-record 90th consecutive tennis match. The record of 89 was set by Spartanburg from 1980-87.
Coach Becky Williamson, who has guided the Warriors to five consecutive Class 4A state titles, called the record “a dream come true.” In 11 years at Wando (including two years coaching boys) she has compiled a 203-31 record.
UConn lands a star
The University of Connecticut has received a commitment from one of the nation’s premier junior basketball players – Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. The 6-foot junior forward led Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) to a 32-1 record as a sophomore.
* Not to be out-done, Tennessee has received a commitment from 5-9 senior Meighan Simmons, who averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 3.0 assists as a junior for Steele (Cibolo, Texas).
* Former NBA star Derrick Coleman has been named commissioner of athletics for Detroit Public Schools. He is a graduate of Detroit Northern, which closed in 2008.
Volleyball milestones
Ann Schilling coached her 1,000th volleyball victory when Bayside Academy (Daphne, Ala.) defeated Geneva, 25-9, 25-10, 25-10. The Admirals (46-17) won the Class 3A regional and are seeking their unprecedented eighth consecutive – and 16th overall – state championship.
* Murphy (Mobile, Ala.) coach Nancy Shoquist picked up her 900th victory in 26 years of coaching, 19 at St. Paul’s.
* In Wisconsin, Waupun coach Keith Milkowski recorded his 800th win.
* In Ohio, Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy coach Julie Perry made it an even 500. She has won eight state titles and a national crown in 2003.
State softball hit record
Oakville (St. Louis) senior Maggie Ruckenbrod broke the Missouri state softball record for career hits when she banged out four during a 12-1 victory over Hillsboro. The standout catcher now has 182 hits.
* In Nebraska, Lincoln Southwest (37-2) won its second consecutive Class A state softball crown with a 2-1 thriller against city foe North Star. Senior pitcher Becca Changstrom, who struck out 13, also defeated North Star by an identical 2-1 margin earlier in the tourney, but that one took nine innings.
