Blake Busson has not been surprised by the success quarterback Jack Gohmann and offensive lineman Jake Nash have had at Centre College because they all played football together at Lexington Catholic.


Busson, a receiver, was the first one of the trio to commit to Centre College. He didn't push the other two to join him but did tell them how much fun it could be.

"I thought if we stayed together since we had been so close that it might work out great," Busson said. "Jack committed next and then finally Jake did. It just aligned perfectly."

Busson does not remember not knowing Gohmann, who has thrown 53 touchdown passes at Centre.

"We started playing football together when we were 8 years old when we played for the Lexington Bulldogs. We played football, basketball and baseball growing up together," Busson said. "Jake, we met freshman year of high school and instantly connected. Me, Jake and Jack have had this deep connection ever since.

"It was really easy for us to really mesh together, and you can kind of see it on the football field. We have fun playing with each other, and it's easy to see."

Busson and Gohmann didn't play middle school football together but Busson's main reason for going to Lexington Catholic was to play with Gohmann again.

"I knew he was a great quarterback obviously but he's also been my best friend," Busson said. "He does a great job throwing the ball but I also had an older brother who went to Catholic and (current UK quarterback) Beau Allen was another reason because he was the quarterback my sophomore year. I've been blessed to play with some great quarterbacks."

Busson has a chance to become Centre's all-time leading receiver. He has 2,004 receiving yards with five games remaining. The all-time record is 2,403 yards. He had six catches for 101 yards in last week's loss at Maryville.

"Jack's knowledge of the game and the way he throws the football. It's like we know what each other is thinking. I know where he wants me to run my routes. At times we can line up and can just look at each other and smile because we know a big play is going to happen," Busson said. "We are just on the same wavelength and that makes it easy to go play football.

"And Jake he's been a starter for us here since he was a sophomore. The way he plays, the energy he brings is unreal. He hits hard and always plays aggressively. He's everything you want in an offensive lineman."

It's no surprise that three are roommates along with Gavin Klein, a former Lexington Catholic teammate who is a volunteer assistant on the football staff at Centre.

"We have a lot of Catholic pride together for sure," Busson said.

Centre coach Andy Frye helped show Busson and his friends the "family atmosphere" at Centre . The veteran coach also makes football fun.

"Coach Frye puts a big emphasis on celebrating the plays you make but also making sure when it is fourth down you look at the guys you are playing for. We are all ecstatic for each other. We play for each other and that's a fun way to play," Busson said.

Frye has been Centre's head coach since 1998 but players respect him and the way he always keeps team morale up.

"He puts a big emphasis on team morale and we respect what he does," Busson said. "He's been doing this for a long time and he's really good at it. He's the O-line coach and does a lot with special teams. He makes sure everybody is playing hard and doing what is needed."

Busson has certainly done his part for the Colonels this season. He is the team's leading receiver with 31 catches for 453 yards — about 15 yards per catch, and three touchdowns. He admits becoming the all-time leading receiver at Centre has been a major goal.

"You can't focus on records but I like setting goals," Busson, an economics/finance/business major, said. "My grandmother was always big on numbers and stressed the importance of math. I have always been able to connect with numbers really quickly and pick up patterns and numbers. That got me into accounting and I'm going to Vanderbilt because I got into the Masters of accounting program there."

Busson joked that he might have to take his Centre teammates/roommates with him to Nashville.

"I have been going through a lot of life with them. They'll definitely come up and visit me, but I have some other friends here that are also going down to that program (at Vanderbilt) as well, so I'll be able to adjust I think," Busson said.

"I will definitely miss them after having them around  the last eight years playing together, especially Jack. exactly.  I've known him the last 14 years of my life, and he's been my best friend. Both of them are my brothers at this point and it's going to be weird without them but thankfully we still  have more games and time here at Centre College together."
 
Centre football will host Southwestern Saturday night at 7 at Andy Frye Stadium.