Kadien Vance is practically a senior now and he’s quarterbacked Westside like a veteran of late.
The junior standout had a career night Friday with six touchdown passes and a rushing score to boot in a win at Mount View. For his efforts Vance has been named the Week 10 Lootpress Player of the Week.
The award is sponsored by Little General, The Northside Automotive Group, Dutch Miller Auto and The Law Offices of Brandon Steele.
Vance beat out Independence’s Tyler Linksweiler in the fan poll, breaking the tie between the sports writers.
Vance completed 19 of 27 passes for 200 yards and rushed for 80 yards to go along with his seven scores.
“It’s a team effort,” Vance said. “Football’s played with 11 guys for a reason. It was 11 guys Friday. The line moving people, guys getting open. I just give it to them when they’re there.”
While preparing for the Golden Knights, Vance thought the opportunity for a big night existed but he didn’t expect seven scores in a half of football. Still he delivered and the team keep kept its spirits up despite the postseason now being out of reach.
“We thought it could happen, Vance said. “But we just had a good week of practice and everybody was excited to play. With the playoffs out the window we’re just looking to have fun now.”
The performance was an example of just how far the junior QB has come. He’s thrown for 1,549 yards, just 52 yards shy of breaking the regular season record set by his coach Justin Cogar back in 2014. He also has 21 touchdown passes, three shy of breaking the record Cogar also set in 2014. The performances of late have vaulted Vance to third in the area in passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns.
“It’s just confidence,” Vance said. “Not just confidence in myself but confidence in coach (Justin) Cogar and him having confidence in me. He puts me in situations to air it out and the work we’ve put in during the offseason to find out what works for us – he put me in a system I can be successful in.”
River view QB Jackson Danielson won the Community Choice Award and will advance to the year end poll.
Vance will be honored at the Lootpress Player of the Year Banquet on Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.
2023 Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Trey Bowers, Independence
Week 2: Brady Green, Shady Spring
Week 3: Marquel Lowe, Princeton
Week 4: Elijah Redfern, Beckley
Week 5: Dominick Collins, Princeton
Week 6: Chaz Boggs, James Monroe
Week 7: Kaiden Simms, Meadow Bridge
Week 8: Gavin Davis, Shady Spring
Week 9: Brandan Issac, Summers County
Week 10: Kadien Vance, Westside
2023 Community Choice Winners (Will advance to year end poll for $500 scholarship)
Week 1: Jayden Roop, Midland Trail
Week 2: Logan Carver, Montcalm
Week 3: Jaylen Younger, Montcalm
Week 4: Trey Bowers, Independence
Week 5: Cooper Ridgeway, James Monroe
Week 6: Chaz Boggs, James Monroe
Week 7: Kaiden Simms, Meadow Bridge
Week 8: Gavin Davis, Shady Spring
Week 9: Brandan Isaac, Summers County
Week 10: Jackson Danielson, River View
