LEXINGTON, Ky. – Male High School’s “Superman” can hang up his cape. The state championship has been delivered.

Capping a remarkable senior season that his coach said should land him Kentucky’s Mr. Football award, Bulldogs quarterback Garrett Dennis rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-20 victory over Scott County in Saturday’s Class 6A football championship game.

Dennis went out of the game for one play midway through the fourth quarter but then returned to cap the victory.

“I guess they had some kryptonite or something for him,” Male coach Chris Wolfe said of Dennis’ brief absence from the game. “He’s Superman, I’m telling you. He’s tough as nails.”

A crowd of 6,820 at Kroger Field saw Male (14-1) win its eighth Kentucky High School Athletic Association state title and first since 2015.

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Dennis averaged 6.3 yards on his 30 carries and also completed 10 of 13 passes for 113 yards. As he has all season, Dennis gave the credit to his teammates.

“I definitely was not carrying this team,” Dennis said. “It’s freakin’ 11 on offense and 11 on defense. I couldn’t do anything without my blockers, my receivers, my defense having my back game in and game out.”

Bronson Brown carried 24 times for 72 yards and three touchdowns to lead Scott County (11-4). Cardinals coach Jim McKee extolled his team’s effort – and that of Dennis.

“We knocked the ever-living you know what out of him at times, and he didn’t slam the ball,” McKee said. “He got up, got in the huddle and came back.”

Male dominated the first half, jumping to a 23-7 lead via a safety and touchdown runs of 1, 6 and 9 yards by Dennis.

The three TDs gave Dennis 51 for the year (37 rushing, 14 passing), surpassing the goal of 50 he set in the preseason.

“We set three goals for me before the season – win a state championship, become a leader on this team and get 50 touchdowns,” Dennis said. “I accomplished all that this year to my full potential.”

Western Hills running back/defensive back Wandale Robinson, a University of Kentucky signee, is considered the front-runner for Kentucky’s Mr. Football award, but Wolfe said Dennis should be in the running.

At 5 feet 11 and 160 pounds, Dennis does not have a Division I scholarship offer. Murray State, Georgetown, Lindsey Wilson and Pikeville have expressed interest.

“Measurables? Whatever,” Wolfe said. “Measure that heart, man. Anybody who watches him play just walks away and says, ‘Man, that guy is just a flat out football player.’ There’s nobody tougher than that kid. …

“If he was a little faster and a little taller, man, everybody would want him. But, I’ll tell you what, somebody is going to be happy with him because he can flat out play the game.”

Scott County twice pulled within 10 points in the second half, the last time coming on Brown’s 3-yard touchdown run with 7:50 remaining.

But Male freshman Vinny Anthony sealed it with his second touchdown run of the night, a 4-yarder that made it 37-20 with 1:27 remaining.

Anthony was playing in place of senior Michael Warner, who suffered a broken arm in last week’s semifinal victory over Trinity. Anthony finished with 75 yards on 11 carries, primarily on jet sweeps.

“Last night I was imagining making plays and stuff like this today,” Anthony said. “I’m just really excited I had the opportunity to do it. It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

Originally scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m., the game didn’t start until 9:09 p.m. because of heavy rain and lightning that moved through the area.

That just delayed the Garrett Dennis Show, one Wolfe said may not be matched by another Male player any time soon.

“He took it on himself to become a better passer, and he has an unbelievable heart,” Wolfe said. “He has the it factor. It doesn’t come along every year and sometimes not even a decade. …

“He’s a once-in-a-generation type of quarterback.”

* Frederick Douglass swept the Kentucky Football Coaches Association’s Class 6A awards presented at halftime, with Demarco Fishback named Player of the Year and Brian Landis getting Coach of the Year. Fishback is now a finalist for the inaugural KFCA Mr. Football award that will be presented Sunday.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/jasonf

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MALE 9 14 0 14 – 37

SCOTT COUNTY 0 7 6 7 - 20

First quarter

M – Safety, Bronson Brown tackled in end zone

M – Garrett Dennis 1 run (Micah Lackey kick)

Second quarter

SC – Brown 5 run (Josh Giese kick)

M – Dennis 6 run (Lackey kick)

M – Dennis 9 run (Lackey kick)

Third quarter

SC – Brown 3 run (run failed)

Fourth quarter

M – Vinny Anthony 3 run (Lackey kick)

SC – Brown 3 run (Giese kick)

M – Anthony 4 run (Lackey kick)

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This story will be updated.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/jasonf.