JAMES BONNER Thomson - Junior tailback - 5-5/175

LAST WEEK: Bonner carried the ball 19 times for 159 yards and two rushing touchdowns in a 41-21 win against Benedictine. He's carried the ball 81 times for 629 yards and 10 touchdowns this year. He separated himself from the other player of the week contenders with his 65-yard kickoff return for his third score of the night.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "He had an outstanding game. Most of his games have been pretty good. Other than that rainy night in Jefferson County. ... He has the speed. He has the strength. He's dedicated and works hard. So it shows in the games. You don't expect that kickoff return, though because he's the short man on the kicks. We usually have a deep man behind him. That's the first short kickoff he's gotten to short where he could take it back. I think he made about six people miss him on that kickoff. He was here. Then he was there. Then he was over there. Two or three men were close to him at the goal (line) but they all missed him."

- Thomson coach Luther Welsh

BONNER ON HIS GAME: "I played pretty good. I made mistakes but I think I did great running behind some great blocks by my offensive line. They did the things they are supposed to do we practice each week. ... I don't know what was going on with that kickoff return. My instincts told me to cut when I cut and run hard. I don't know how I did it. But it was sure fun, though."

- Jeff Sentell