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‘Kitts & kaboodle': Tazewell QB shows versatility while claiming Player of Week honors Player: T.J. Kitts
Position:
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 193 lb
Academic: Junior
School: Tazewell

‘Kitts & kaboodle': Tazewell QB shows versatility while claiming Player of Week honors

Written: Nov 11, 2015
Article
By LARRY HYPES

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

TAZEWELL, Va. — Saving some of the best for last.

TJ Kitts, determined to give his 17 twelfth-grade teammates a good Senior Night memory against Lebanon, played as sometimes only a determined junior can.

For his efforts, the Tazewell High School quarterback earned the Pocahontas Coal Association/Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week honors for the final football week of the 2015 regular season.

“Getting this award means a lot to me,” said Kitts. “It is something I have always wanted. To be recognized along with the best players in the area is really special. One thing I have to say — without my teammates this could never happen. They made it possible and I really appreciate them. Last week was a good one for our team and for me.”

Kitts started quickly and kept his foot on the accelerator all evening as he paced the Bulldogs to a 45-20 season-ending victory over the Pioneers. By land and air, he kept up his relentless pace. The speedy signal-caller, whom Coach Shane Allen calls “our fastest runner on any given down” had his finest two hours in a display as good as the near-perfect weather for Tazewell to close out the season.

He carried the football 14 times for a whopping 202 yards, an average of 14.4 yards per carry. Kitts passed for 156 more yards averaging 31.2 yards on each of five completions. Altogether, No. 15 had a number-one performance with 358 yards of total offense as Tazewell won its fourth game of the season. He scored two touchdowns and threw for another.

“There were a lot of ‘read’ plays last week and the holes just opened up,” said Kitts. “Several times, our linemen had lines so wide that I got several yards into the secondary before anybody even touched me. It’s fun when that happens.”

Allen said, “That (Lebanon) was a great game for TJ. I thought he would be a good candidate for player of the week, but it could have been the second one for him, with just a little more luck. He was injured in the Marion game and did not get to finish but in about one half of play, he had gained 170 yards overall.

“If he had been completely healthy that night he was on pace to get somewhere between 250-300 yards on the ground. He is a good quarterback who often looks like a running back out there.”

Kitts opened the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown on his first carry. In the opening quarter alone, he had double-digit runs of 17, 17, 16 and 14 yards, picking up 61 total yards in the first period. Near the start of the second period, he fired a 46-yard completion to Dakota Griffith, who caught a 27-yard scoring pass the week before. Kitts later threw a 15-yard touchdown to Dakota Crouse.

Crouse said, “This was a learning year for both of us but we had a great year working together. I think TJ will have a great senior season. This was his first season as full-time quarterback and he grew up in a hurry out there as a leader. He is a great kid and I wish him the very best – he cares about his teammates.”

Kitts cares about studies, too, along with sports. He has a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average with an eye on a medical career. He says becoming a doctor is high on his priority list. With a sister who is a pharmacist and another who is a teacher, higher education is a given for him. For now, he will continue to hit the books along with the athletics where his friends are.

Kitts noted, “I wish I could say how much I thank the offensive line. They play hard on every down and work to get running lanes for all the backs. My guys are great linemen.”

Corey Honaker, another veteran lineman who effectively helped to guide the offense and block for Kitts along with the other backs, was also glad to hear about the selection.

“TJ is a great player and he has fine skills. What I like, though, he is not just out there for himself. He cares about his teammates. After every play, he congratulates his offensive linemen and lets us know we are doing a good job. That means a lot and tells you the kind of person he (Kitts) is,” concludes Honaker.

Center Kyle Lester, the other junior and lone returning lineman for the coming campaign, was very pleased for his friend’s award.

“I think TJ is one of the best juniors in the state. He is a good teammate, one of those guys who puts the team first ahead of his own statistics. I’m proud of him and glad he won this award. He deserves it. TJ will be a really good leader for us next year. I will do my best to ‘step up’ with him and work to get our team to the next level,” said Lester.

Veteran senior lineman Andrew Comer, who reveled in the joy of a big win the night of his final appearance on Witten Field, was pleased for his buddy to earn the honor.

Comer said, “TJ is another one of my teammates it has been great be on the field with. What a great atmosphere. Along with Josh Hayes and Nick Hale, he (Kitts) has really powered our running game. I know we are still in high school, but TJ reminds me of one of those big-bodied NFL quarterbacks, always fighting for the extra yard on every play.

“The way he played last week was great – all of the linemen are proud when our runners gain yardage, get through the holes and pick up first downs. TJ made us all feel good, the way he kept driving all game long. It makes us feel like we are doing our job when a player picks up yards like that. I am happy for him to win this award.”

For the season, Kitts had 613 yards passing, completing 51 percent for six touchdowns. On 125 carries, he gained 944 yards rushing and scored 11 times. He was consistent throughout the year, but Allen noted that his quarterback did not have advantage of a full season.

“TJ had some great numbers but you have to remember he only played in nine games. I am sure he would have been well over 1,000 yards rushing with an extra game. He sure did a fine job all season long.”

Kitts, an old-fashioned multi-sport player, is already busy at basketball practice. His parents are Tim and Sharon Kitts of Tazewell. Like his grandfather, Tazewell (Class of 1954) Hall of Fame star Terry Kitts, TJ loves all types of athletics. Depending upon his workload, he may even be on the spring track team.

Versatility — TJ brings the whole “Kitts and kaboodle” to his all-around game.

Player of Week Honorable Mention

Week 11

Bland County: Jake Watters, game-saving interception on 2-point conversion attempt by Fort Chiswell; Colton Slaughter, 1 td (8) game-winning score.

Bluefield: Carlos Reed, 5-131, 2 td (43, 53) rush; Mookie Collier, 6-71, 2 td (18, 39) rush, 1 td interception (76); Jason Edwards, 4-108, 1 td (90).

Giles: Brian Mann, 235 yards, 4 td rush; Trent Pennington, 1 td (21) interception return.

Graham: Roman Workman, 9-9, 218 yards 3 td (25, 14, 51) pass; Jamorya’ Cousin, 12-136, 2 td (3, 23) rush; Israel Harris, 3-67 1 td (2) rush; Ben Meade, 3-55 1 td (25) catch; Taymon Cooke, 3-66, 1 td (14) catch; Cameron Allen 1-51, 1 td (51) catch; Logan Surface 6-6 EP, 1 td interception (20).

Honaker: Hartley Hilton, 175 yards, 1 td (59) pass; Jordan Stout, 3-3 EP, 41-yard field goal.

Hurley: Brady Justice, 32-313, 6 td (4,8, 43, 64, 19, 12) rush.

James Monroe: Devon Johnson, 60 yards, 3 td (4, 15, 20) rush; Noah Testerman, 6-84, 2 td (38, 13) rush; Grant Mohler, 4-38, 2 td (27, 6) rush; Evan Beasley, 96 yard, 1 td (66) pass; Tyler Moore 2-96, 1 td (66) catch, 2 int-73 yards, 1 td (45) interception; Dakota Copenhaver, 2 interceptions.

Narrows: Cole Blaker, 71 yards, 1 td (41) passing, 31 yards rush; Blaize Hopkins 10-38 rush, 1-41 1 td (41) catch.

Princeton: Kevin Phillips 7-21 rush, 1-17 catch.

River View: Hunter Stone, 10-44 rush, 1-22 catch; Joshua McCoy, 117 yards pass; Joshua Bryant, 3-41 catch.

Tazewell: Zach Hurley, 2 td (5, 4) rush; Dakota Crouse, 2 td (15, 10) catch.

Twin Valley: Austin Shortridge, 30-216, 3 td (31, 14, 26) rush.

2015 Player of Week Winners

Week 1: Evan Beasley, James Monroe

Week 2: Brian Mann, Giles

Week 3: Mookie Collier, Bluefield

Week 4: Zach Standifur, Princeton

Week 5: Matt Ryan, Summers County

Week 6: John-Luke Asbury, Richlands

Week 7: Brady Justice, Hurley

Week 8: Brian Arnold, Bland County

Week 9: Nick Blankenship, Richlands

Week 10: Jamorya’ Cousin, Graham

Week 11: TJ Kitts, Tazewell

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