Top Passing Game Performers in Week 7
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As one of the more visible positions on most teams, quarterbacks certainly need to produce in order to achieve the goals of the game, but the best ones also inspire and unify their teammates, keeping morale high in the face…
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Continue ReadingAs one of the more visible positions on most teams, quarterbacks certainly need to produce in order to achieve the goals of the game, but the best ones also inspire and unify their teammates, keeping morale high in the face of adversity and ensuring a sense of unity within the squad. With their performances in Week 7, all of these signal callers proved exceptionally proficient in the air game and simultaneously fostered a shared sense of purpose within their offensive units that will provide invaluable momentum as they prepare for the playoffs:
Elijah Creech
Elijah Creech
A large-framed, athletic passer with a tight and efficient release, Creech was masterful in his Crimsons’ recent 37-36 district win over St. Xavier, completing 24 of his 35 pass attempts for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns. Also rushing for a touchdown in the upset, he has now completed 95 of 144 throws this season for 1,328 yards and 15 touchdowns, placing him 7th among all passers in Class AAAAAA and elevating Manual’s offensive unit to #5 in team scoring (32.0 points per game). Equally accurate in both play-action and drop-back packages, his polished footwork and consistent throwing posture enable him to quickly deliver the ball to all portions of the field and place it strategically to avoid interceptions. With their big win over the Tigers, Creech and his Crimsons now control their own destiny in the quest for a district title, and his continuing technical development bodes well for their prospects.
Easily one of the most talented and prolific dual-threat quarterbacks in the state, Gregg turned in another impressive night both throwing and running the football in his Colonel’s recent 42-15 district win at Conner. Completing 12 of 22 pass attempts for 192 yards and 1 touchdown in the victory, he demonstrates the ability to target the ball accurately on the move and reposition his launch point without sacrificing throw mechanics. And of course, the speed and athleticism to produce with his legs is self-evident in all of his appearances–most recently rushing for 120 yards and 4 touchdowns on 12 carries. Currently averaging 251.6 yards of total offense per game, Gregg ranks 8th among all Class AAAAA passers (163.3 yards per game) and 15th among all Class AAAAA rushers (88.3 yards per game). With touchdown totals of 13 (passing) and 12 (rushing), he now averages 10.6 points per game (10th in Class AAAAA). A dynamic and multi-talented competitor with the ability to elevate the play of those around him, his development and recruitment will warrant our attentions going forward.
Brady Lee
Brady Lee
When the Pioneers’ starting quarterback went down just before halftime of their season-opener, Lee took over the reins of an offensive unit that had committed 5 turnovers in its first two quarters, and he shouldered the fortunes of a team staring at a 19-7 deficit on the scoreboard. Since that inauspicious start (ending in a 29-19 comeback victory), he has had himself quite an initial season. In Simon Kenton’s most recent outing, a 50-36 shootout win over Great Crossing, he went 15 for 25 passing for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns. Impressive, you say? But wait…don’t overlook also his 11 rushes for 63 yards and another score. Want to keep the backside run pursuit of opposing defenses honest? Average more than 5 yards per carry with your quarterback–and voila! After playing not a single varsity snap behind center last season, Lee has emerged to complete 77 of his 110 pass attempts for 1,235 yards and 10 touchdowns. With an average of 205.8 passing yards per game, he currently ranks 5th among all Class AAAAAA passers and comes in at a very-respectable-for-a-quarterback rating of 42nd in rushing yards per game (39.7). Now averaging 7.3 points per contest, he ranks 17th in scoring, as well. In short, Lee’s emergence as QB1 for his 4-2 Pioneers (also the #1 rushing team in Class AAAAAA) is one of the more intriguing stories to emerge from this season, and his developmental trajectory will warrant following hereafter.
After surpassing 2,200 yards and connecting on 27 touchdown passes through the air last year, no one is particularly shocked to see Newcom putting together an equally impressive senior season, but it is nevertheless impressive to watch competitors like him continue to develop and refine their skill set. For instance, in his Rockets’ recent 40-6 win at Ohio County, his numbers (19 of 26 attempts for 176 yards and 4 touchdowns) clearly attest to his arm talent/accuracy, but also consider that he achieved those 19 completions by distributing the football so fully that SEVEN different receivers finished the contest with TWO OR MORE receptions. So yes, Newcom’s passing accuracy, his mechanics, his vision and ability to deliver the ball to the open receiver–all of those traits continue to develop and impress. He has thus far completed 100 of his 158 pass attempts this fall for 1,157 yards and 14 touchdowns while also sharply reducing his interceptions total (3). Currently averaging 185 yards of total offense per game, he ranks 10th among all Class AA passers and appears tailor-made for a spread, pass-dominant offensive system at the small-college level.
Duri Trahan
Duri Trahan
After serving primarily in the backup role at Frederick Douglass last year, Trahan transferred to Franklin County for his senior season and earned the starting quarterback position in in the preseason. However, after going down with a first-half injury, he found himself sidelined both for that game and the following week. Since that rocky start, though, this athletic and technically proficient lefty has begun to find his passing groove, hitting on 40 of 60 attempts 591 yards and 7 touchdowns in his first four full games. And then last week–in his Flyers’ thrilling, come-from-behind road win at Southwestern–he put together his most impressive single-game performance to date, completing 23 of 37 passes for 331 yards and 2 touchdowns. Now averaging 153.7 yards passing per game, his 7-0 Flyers are 10th among all Class AAAA programs in team scoring (33.3 points per game) and 7th in team scoring margin (21.1 points). Given his limited body of work, Trahan might not attract next-level attention at first glance, but his skill set and polished mechanics will only continue to impress as Franklin County gears up for a deep post-season run.