From water boy to star quarterback, Blake Burnett has grown up with Bell County football, and he has a clear vision where he wants to play his last game in a Bobcats’ jersey.
“We want to end the season in Lexington and win this time,” Burnett said. “In my eyes, that’s our goal. We have to be willing to be physical. I think that was the thing that made us so strong in ’23. We went to Belfry and won and won at Hart County. We just have to be fearless week in and week out, but you can’t look too far ahead.”
Following in the footsteps of his father, P.J., and then older brother, Cameron, the youngest Burnett has started every game of his high school career as the Bobcats’ quarterback and has taken his place among the best to play the position on Log Mountain. Burnett passed for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns last season while adding 517 yards on the ground to lead the Bobcats to an 11-3 mark and their seventh straight trip to the regional finals.
“He’s just a leader in everything he does. His brother, Cam, was like that, both on and off the field, He does everything he’s suppose to do,” Bell County coach Dudley Hilton said. “He has his head screwed on right. He knows what he wants to do, and he wants to play baseball, wants to play basketball and wants to play football. He doesn’t have to be stressed out worrying about what he should play. He is very coachable with good speed and good arm. He’s made all-state at defensive back. We’re a power team, and the quarterback doesn’t get the recognition, but when he has to throw it you better be ready because he can throw it.”
The Bobcats lose only five seniors from last year’s team and bring back a 15-man senior class this season, including several who played big roles for three, or even four, years.
“I just want to be able to do whatever coach needs me to do, whether that’s throw the ball or run it. We just want to be versatile on offense,” Burnett said. “We have a bunch of athletes. I think that’s something that makes this year’s team so special. We have seven or eight guys who are dangerous with the ball.”
While Burnett would probably have a chance to throw the ball more in some other programs, Burnett isn’t concerned about any numbers, except the one on the scoreboard.
“I just want to get the best out of my abilities and be a winner,” Burnett said. “I want to be win every game. It’s not all about me, and it’s not about statistics. It’s about winning.”
Burnett was a key players in 2023 when Bell finished 13-2 and lost to Christian Academy of Louisville in the 3A state finals.
Daniel Thomas led the Bell offense two years ago on the way to winning Mr. Football honors. Following in the line of great Bell running backs under Hilton, Kaleb Miller stepped into the position last year and responded with a monster season that included 2,105 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns.
“Miller worked so hard in the weight room and was dominant, as his stats show,” Burnett said. “He deserves everything he gets. We all love him as a teammate. I expect him to have another big year and be a big part of what we do.”
While he is probably best known for his play at the glamour position of quarterback, Burnett is equally as good on defense. Also a standout safety, Burnett had nine interceptions two years ago and six last season. He could probably play either offense or defense if he chooses football in college
“I could tell they weren’t throwing as much at me last year,” Burnett said. “I would probably go (to college) in an athlete role, but whatever they wanted me to do. I’m used to doing a lot of different things.”
In the days of specialization in high school sports, Burnett is a throwback to a different time as a three-sport standout who is also a leader for the Bobcats in basketball and baseball.
The basketball Bobcats and Burnett each will be ranked second in the 13th Region this season as team and player after last year’s 26-7 campaign that included a second straight runner-up finish to Harlan County in the 52nd District Tournament. Much like in football, Burnett is dreaming of finishing his high school in the Sweet Sixteen in Rupp Arena.
“For me, it’s no more talk about next year or being young. We know what kind of team we have. We beat some good teams. We just fell short when we got to The Arena (in the regional tournament),” Burnett said. “We’re going to bring a different mindset this year. We have to go take it from people. We have to be the most physical team. We’re not young anymore, and we’ve hit the weights. It’s now or never. We want to end up at Rupp Arena and win the whole thing.”
Burnett is also a standout pitcher and shortstop in the spring as Bell has gone from one of the region’s weakest teams to one of the best over the past two seasons with a regional tournament win last spring and a second straight district runner-up finish to Harlan.
“Even when probably no one else saw it, I knew the guys we have and if we could just turn that corner and get respect we could do some things. We won our first regional tournament game last year in something like 16 years,” Burnett said. “We want to win our district and be competitive in the regional tournament. If we get some pitching and make the plays on defense, I don’t see why we can’t be competitive in the region.”
While playing three sports is not as common as it once was, Burnett enjoys staying busy and competing year round. He isn’t certain what sport will survive when he reaches the next level.
“It’s hard physically. You deal with a lot, but I love all three sports I play,” he said. “I like the mix of it all. It keeps me fresh going from season to season. I haven’t decided (on college). Whatever the best opportunity is.”
But before he makes it to college, Burnett wants to be a part of the third Bell County team to win a state championship.
“It’s pretty surreal thinking that after all these years it comes down to my senior year. We have 14 guys I’ve played with since I was 5 years old chasing our dream of a state championship,” he said. “I’ve been part of this starting as the water boy when I was younger. It’s bittersweet.”