MADISON- Going into the 2022 high school football season Rayshawn Hardy was expected to put opposing defenses in difficult situations. Now, halfway through the current campaign, the Bob Jones senior quarterback has lived up to his pre-season billing and recently showcased his all-round talents in a victory over rival Sparkman.

For his best performance so far in the 2022 schedule, Hardy was chosen as the AHSAA Spotlight for the preceding week.

“It was a great game as it was one game we knew we needed in the region standings,” said Hardy of the Patriots’ 48-40 key Class 7A Region 8 victory over the Senators. “We expected to have a big night through the air.”

Indeed, the efforts with the team’s passing game was near flawless as the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Hardy accounted for 392 total yards and six touchdowns as Bob Jones improved to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in region play. He ran for 157 yards and five touchdowns on 22 carries and completed 18 of 21 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. His efforts came in what most believe the most exciting game of the series. The Patriots improved to 32-18 in the series as both teams combined for the most points (88) in the 50-game history between the two schools. Sparkman’s 40 points represent the most points scored by a losing team in the series.

“Rayshawn is a tremendous football player and for the past two seasons he’s really played at a high level,” said Kelvis White head coach of Bob Jones. “He also has some playmakers around him, and our offensive lines does a great job of protecting him.”

Hardy agreed with his head coach’s assessment of the team’s effort. He said, “My numbers I posted looked good, but my teammates made some great plays, and the offensive line did a super good job and all of their efforts make me look good.”

On the 2022 season after the Sparkman matchup, Hardy has 136 rushing attempts for 1,012 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has hit on 91 of his 153 passes for 1,042 yards and seven scores. To show his adversity as a talented player Hardy has also caught two passes for 18 yards and one touchdown. In addition, he has one interception while playing a limited number of snaps at defensive safety.

“Our record doesn’t show how good we really are as we lost two of our games by a total of 11 points including a blocked kick for a score and a goal line stand,” said Hardy.

Besides other wins over Athens, James Clemens and Grissom, the Patriots lost to Muscle Shoals 31-7 to open the season, a tough 28-24 loss to Huntsville and a hard-fought 38-35 fall to Florence. They have outscored their opponents 217-177.

“I feel like we can keep rolling,” added Hardy who has a 3.0 grade point average and has numerous colleges contacting him with Mississippi State, Indiana and UT-Martin the most prominent programs. He’s the oldest of four children to Gerian and Chanell Hardy.