Boyle County tight end Seneca Driver, a five-star recruit committed to Oklahoma, drew a personal foul penalty Friday night after body-slamming a Ballard defender to the turf during a game the Rebels went on to win 38-3.
The play happened midway through the game when a pass intended for Driver drifted off target and was intercepted by Ballard cornerback Andy Shepherd. Driver, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 240 pounds, closed in on Shepherd immediately, lifted him off the ground and drove him into the turf.
The crowd reacted with a mix of shock and noise as Driver shrugged off the moment. Shepherd got back to his feet and appeared ready to confront Driver, but teammates stepped in to hold him back.
Officials flagged Driver for a personal foul on the play, though the penalty had no bearing on the outcome. Boyle County cruised to the 38-3 win, improving its record to 4-1 on the season.
Driver, a senior who plays both offense and defense for the Rebels, was named Kentucky’s 4A Player of the Year in 2025 after a season in which he recorded 875 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns, 67 tackles and five interceptions. He was also named to USA Today’s All-American Preseason Third Team.
Friday’s incident was not Driver’s first run-in with officials this season. He was ejected during Boyle County’s Week 3 matchup against Lexington Catholic after picking up two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. That ejection led to a one-game suspension, which coincided with the Rebels’ only loss of the season.
Recruiting Path to Oklahoma
Driver committed to Oklahoma in March after being heavily recruited by the University of Kentucky. He told On3’s KSR+ that Kentucky’s coaching change played a role in his decision.
