Hot Hands: Top Week 10 Quarterbacking Performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the "win-or-go-home" setting of the high school post-season, the necessity of good quarterback play almost can't be overstated. A talented and composed quarterback can be the difference between a team's early playoff exit and a memorable, deep run or even a state championship. Their leadership, athletic prowess, adaptability, and ability to manage the game are all essential qualities that can mean the difference between victory and defeat. As Kentucky's high school football teams have now concluded their regular seasons and enter the post-season, exceptional performances from quarterbacks like these have fans and followers dreaming of championship glory:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["324225"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Custard capped off the final regular season game of his prep career with yet another double-take performance in his Thorobreds' 46-31 win over Garrard County, completing 9 of 15 pass attempts for 239 yards and 3 touchdowns and adding another 218 yards rushing, 3 touchdowns and a two-point conversion on 22 carries. Defensively, he also contributed 8 solo tackles, 1 assist and 1 interception from his safety position. Currently the #2 passer in Class AAAA, the #9 rusher and the #4 scorer, he has averaged over 354 yards of total offense and 13.4 points per game this fall while leading his Harrison County program to a 6-4 record, their highest win total since 2018. The 4th-leading tackler on his program's defensive unit as well with 65 total stops, 1 tackle for loss and 3 interceptions, Custard's speed, athleticism and exceptional versatility make him a desirable prospect as either a dual-threat quarterback or a drop-down safety/rover defender at the next level. He currently has the eyes/interest of numerous programs at the NAIA, Division III and Division II levels.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1577014' first='Kyle' last='Lee']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Newport","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Between passing and rushing, Lee accounted for 1 rushing touchdown, 5 touchdown passes and 375 yards through the air on 30 of 42 attempts (71.4%) in his Wildcats' exciting 44-42 win over Covington Holy Cross. Finishing the regular season as the #2 passer in Class A (16th statewide), he has now completed 154 of 270 passes for 2,178 yards and 22 touchdowns, along with 8 rushing touchdowns on the year and an average of 5.6 points per game (38th in Class A). After passing for 1,728 yards and 15 touchdowns last season in his first year as Newport's quarterback, his 7-3 Wildcats' offensive unit now enters the playoffs #8 in team scoring (32.4 points per game) and #2 in team passing (218 yards per game). Lee and his teammates will host the same opponent as last week (Covington Holy Cross) when they take the field Saturday at 1:oo p.m. for the first round of the Class A playoffs.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1008381"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"A technically proficient and accurate passer with the ability to reposition his launch point and fit balls into very tight windows, Newcom was again very impressive in his Rockets' 34-13 win at Calloway County. Completing 80 percent (28 of 35) of his attempts for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns, he also added 11 yards rushing and two more touchdowns on the ground on 10 carries. A patient and poised presence in the pocket with disciplined eyes and the ability to easily progress to second-and-third option reads, he has now completed 164 of 248 pass attempts for 1,759 yards and 20 touchdowns. Averaging 176 yards passing per game (8th in Class AA), Newcom consistently makes good decisions and finds the open receiver in an offensive system tailored to what he does well, and he does an excellent job of getting the ball to the right spots. He and his Rockets (6-4) will host Todd County Central in the first round of the playoffs.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Evan Pitzer","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Covington Catholic","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Tall, mobile and mechanically polished, Pitzer delivered a standout performance in his regular season finale, completing 15 of 19 pass attempts for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns passes and leading his team to a decisive 35-7 win over Campbell County. Currently the #6 passer in Class AAAA (21st statewide), he has now completed 125 of 171 pass attempts for 2,062 yards and 24 touchdowns, in addition to collecting 444 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns on 71 carries. Now entering the post-season 10-0 and undefeated for the first time since 2019, Pitzer and his offensive unit are among the top in Class AAAA (#4 in team scoring, #4 in team scoring margin and #8 in team passing) and will begin their quest for their program's seventh state title by hosting Greenup County in the first round of the playoffs.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["417269"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"In his Raiders' 53-21 road win at rival Dixie Heights, Verax continued the impressive heater he has been on by completing 20 of 33 pass attempts for 355 yards and 5 touchdownsu002du002dmarking his fifth consecutive game of 335 yards or more and establishing his five-game average of 360 yards per contest. Having now completed 226 of his 333 pass attempts this fall, he has thrown for 2,613 yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for 276 yards and 6 touchdowns on 100 carries. Currently the #1 passer in Class AAAAAA (9th statewide) with an average of 261.3 yards per game, his poise in the pocket, disciplined eyes and quick release in the passing game have helped elevate his offensive unit to Class AAAAAA's #2 spot in team passing (8th statewide) and #10 in team scoring. Now riding a four-game winning steak entering the post-season, Verax and his program will host Southern in round 1 of the Class AAAAAA playoffs.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65400e930c0a0"} /-->