Ty Keys isn't on pace for quite the insane numbers of his junior year, but the impact has been just as profound for a 5-0 Poplarville (MS) team in the early stages of the season. In the Hornets' 42-15 victory over Picayune (MS) on Friday, Sept. 25, the Miami football commit ran for touchdowns of 73 and 63 yards and passed for a 25-yard score.
He's doing it all over the place.
The 73-yard score was a traditional handoff in which he burst through defenders — and once Keys is gone, he can't be caught. The second touchdown of the day was on a passing play, and Keys channeled his baseball pitching skills to loft the ball to an open tight end Aaron Graham, who found the end zone. With the experience of being beat off the pass on the front of the defenders'
minds, Picayune wasn't able to defend a play out of the wildcat in the third quarter, and Keys took off again for a big score.
Keys is having a very good year following an ALL-USA performance as a junior in which he rushed for 3,285 yards and 45 rushing touchdowns in 13 games, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all Poplarville's offensive yards, per MaxPreps.
Through five games this year, he's up to 18 total touchdowns.
Kayden Bradford breaking out
In addition to Keys, Kayden "Speedy" Bradford lived up to his nickname, scoring three touchdowns of his own as he outraced defenders and, in one case, dragged a would-be tackler into the end zone alongside him.
Bradford had touchdowns of 18, 59 and 48 yards.
Listed at 5-foot-9, the sophomore is emerging as a productive player this year. Over his first four games, he had 31 carries for 227 yards and two touchdowns and a pair of receptions for 24 yards. With the performance on Friday, Bradford essentially doubled his season output.
Poplarville plays at home next week against McComb (MS).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elite Mississippi high school RB, Miami commit scores in all ways in lopsided win
