Kaden Long is Central football's cheat code.
There's no other way to put it. The senior quarterback led the Bobcats in all passing and rushing stats in 2025, and is on pace to do it again early in the 2026 TSSAA football season.
Long unleashed his full offensive repertoire on Sept. 3 as visiting Central (3-0, 1-0 Region 2-5A) grabbed its first Region 2-5A win over West, 35-30.
"It changes for me," Long told Knox News. "Sometimes my arm is up, sometimes it's my legs. I just rely on either one, and it was the legs tonight. It's nice having both."
Long finished with 171 passing yards and a touchdown on 17-of-25 passing. He punished West (1-2, 0-1) most
on the ground with 20 carries for 189 yards and three touchdowns.
"He knows the offense in an out," Central coach Kevin Lane said about Long. "Obviously his legs and athletic ability is a strength. It helps him a ton when the (play) breaks down. Designed runs help him a ton. And we've got other guys around him that he can pop the ball to.
"Having him on our team is fun and it's fun to watch him play. I trust him with every snap."
In the preseason, Long also filled in as a mediator for receiver and South-Doyle transfer, Rondell North. North had four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown against West, but he wasn't always easy to handle.
"He was a bit of a headcase when he got here," Long said. "I had to stay on him and stay with him. I told him it would be okay, I had to talk him off the ledge a couple times. But I told him we'd be okay and we would go right back to him. We went right back to him, and he scored."
North had a drop in the second quarter that would've led to an easy touchdown. Later in the drive, he soared for a tough grab in the end zone that helped Central tie the game.
"I think they're trying to say I've got a heavy head, like I've got a bad attitude," North said. "But I've worked on it a lot ... Coach Lane, he'll really tell you the truth. In the first week against Dobyns-Bennett I dropped the ball and he told me, 'Get that out of your head, you'll make another play.' That's exactly what I did."
Last season, North watched from afar as Long recorded video game numbers and nearly captured the Mr. Football title in Class 5A. Now, after working with him up close, North has a firm premonition for 2026.
"He wasn't a runner-up for Mr. Football for no reason," North said. "That's all I'll say. He'll get it this year. Mark my word."
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why quarterback Kaden Long is a cheat code for Central football
