Late in the second half of Friday’s 46-3 blowout loss to Rhea County, Pioneer wide receiver Adrian Lusk snagged a screen pass and worked up field for a three-yard gain. It seemed like several other passes the senior had snared this season, but this would end up being a record breaker.
With his fifth catch against Rhea County, Lusk set the school record for receptions in a season with his 51st grab. It was part of a night where Lusk would catch six passes for 43 yards in his team’s third District 6-AAA loss this season.
The record hadn’t even stood for a year before Lusk etched his name in the record books. In last year’s season finale, D’Andre League would complete a 50-catch season with 11 grabs at Cumberland County. Before League broke the record, current Pioneer defensive coordinator Chris Madewell had held the mark with 43 catches in 1991.
Lusk has burst onto the scene in his senior year. Coming into the season without a catch in his career, Lusk became one of Christian Wilkinson’s favorite targets immediately.
Lusk caught a touchdown in the season-opening win over DeKalb County and followed it up with an 11-catch performance against Shelbyville in the Pioneers’ home opener.
Even with teams starting to key on the stellar senior receiver, Lusk has found ways to get open. Lusk had eight catches for 80 yards and a touchdown against White County and added eight catches for 90 yards against Stone Memorial. Those games, along with Friday’s six-catch performance, helped Lusk take the District 6-AAA lead in receptions with 25 catches in four district games.
Lusk can move into the top five in receiving yards in a season if he gains 10 yards on senior night Oct. 31. Five more catches would also push the senior into the top five in career receptions at Warren County High School.