Luke to Take Passing Game to Cornell
Kentucky Utilities Scholar Athlete of the Month: Luke Duby
School: Tates Creek High
Grade: 12
Sport: Football
Academics: Luke has a 4.6 weighted GPA, scored 27 on the ACT, and is a two-time Academic All-State selection
Parents: Cherie & Daren
When Tates Creek Coach Jon Smith installed a new offense after the 2018 season, he knew the complicated passing game would be in good hands with quarterback Luke Duby at the controls.
Luke had just completed his junior season and owned the highest GPA on the team, so he had the smarts to master the new scheme.
He also had everything else. That’s why everything fell into place for Tates Creek in 2019.
After a losing season in 2018, the Commodores won nine of 14 games in 2019 behind one of the state’s best offenses. The Commodores advanced to the playoff semifinals for the first time in 20 years.
Luke led the offense with 47 touchdown passes and a school-record 4,685 yards.
That led the state and is the second highest total in Kentucky history.
For good measure, Luke also led the team in rushing with 448 yards and was the only player in the state with more than 5,000 yards of total offense.
With the 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior under center, Tates Creek was explosive with high games of 50, 48, 47 and 46 points.
Interestingly, the team’s 50 points came in a 54-50 loss to Lexington Catholic when Luke traded TD passes with quarterback Beau Allen, who has signed to play at Kentucky.
Luke threw for 535 yards and seven TD passes against Lexington Catholic.
Other big games included 537 yards and five TDs against Pulaski County and 333 yards and five TDs in a rout of Simon Kenton in the Regional final.
Luke’s yardage totals against Pulaski and Catholic rank 12th and 13th all time in Kentucky.
Even with a strong, accurate arm, his best asset might be his mind.
“He can hear a play one time and he will know what everyone’s job is,” said Luke’s father Daren, who played college football at Central Michigan. “His grasp of the game is what separates him.”
It also attracted college recruiters. Again, intelligence played a central role in his choice – Cornell.
The Ivy League school in upstate New York has a beautiful, rustic campus – important to Luke who is an outdoorsman.
He enjoys hunting and fishing, and plans to major in agriculture science with a business management focus.
“It is a good fit for me,” Luke said. “I love the campus, and with an Ivy League education, I know I can be successful after I graduate.”
Luke has a 4.6 weighted GPA and scored 27 on the ACT. He’s been chosen student of the month and is a two-time Academic All-State selection.
“He’s always had good grades,” his mother Cherie said. “He’s self-motivated and a very good time manager.”