Brentaro Yamane

WPIAL & City League Football Player Preview: Kiski Area's Kenneth Blake IV Turned Into a Star

Kiski Area's Kenneth Blake IV rushed for 980 yards in 2019.

One in a series on motivated high school football players in the WPIAL and City League.

Kenneth Blake IV started his high school football career at Central Catholic in 2017 and spent two years at the private all-boys college preparatory school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Blake IV recorded four receptions for 24 yards, while rushing for 313 yards and scoring two touchdowns during his sophomore season at Central Catholic in 2018. Blake IV then transferred to Kiski Area to become the team's football star.

Just this past football season in 2019, Blake IV led the Cavaliers in rushing yards (980), receiving yards (144), receptions (14), and touchdowns scored (11). For Blake IV, he would love to rush for over 1,000 yards and is excited for his senior year of high school as he has goals in mind.

"I’m very excited. I’ve never wanted to be on the field more," said Blake IV, who also plays basketball at Kiski Area. "Being more of a leader and just killing on both sides of the ball are some of my goals. I want to have more interceptions and touchdowns."

Blake IV, who started playing football at the age of six, went from playing at one of the most popular high schools in Western Pennsylvania in Central Catholic to playing at another big school in Kiski Area and does not regret his decision of transferring.

"I’d say the biggest difference from transferring schools is just the atmosphere of the games and a lot of bigger crowds. Transferring was a good move for me," said Blake IV.

Blake IV's Kiski Area football team had an overall record of 5-6 while losing to Bethel Park in the first round of the WPIAL 5A football playoffs by a score of 45-16. Blake IV's Kiski Area graduating class, Class of 2021, has never experienced a football postseason win and is hoping that his class can experience some playoff wins and earn some hardware before he graduates in 2021.

Blake IV has offers from two Division I schools in University at Albany and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was excited and humbled to receive those offers as he will possibly have more offers coming on the way.

Blake IV, who happens to be a good dancer, is the fourth in his family to be named Kenneth as his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather are also named Kenneth. So, if Blake IV happens to have a son, what would he name his son you might wonder?

"My first son will be named after me," said Blake IV.

As Blake IV will continue to develop a football legacy at Kiski Area and in college, you might see another football player named Kenneth Blake V playing football and dominating at another high school in the future.

Brentaro Yamane: bkyamane@gmail.com and Twitter/Instagram @BYHilton13