Eye in the Sky: The Quarterbacks You Can’t Rattle

It feels like every Friday night, somewhere across the state, one of these guys is putting on a show. What's fun about this group is how different they all are. Some are field generals who control every snap like chess players, some are playmakers who thrive when the pocket collapses, and some are just pure gunslingers with the confidence to let it rip no matter the situation. Still, for all those differences, they've each found their own way to dominate.   What ties them together is the impact. Every one of these teams knows they're in good hands when their QB1 steps on the field. They set the tone, steady the huddle, and turn close games into wins. From experienced seniors leading deep playoff runs to underclassmen already making their mark, these quarterbacks have been the heartbeat of their programs.     For a sophomore, Jax plays like a varsity vet who's already seen every coverage in the book — the yardage and touchdowns are piling up, but it's the way he gets them that jumps off the screen. Through seven games he's completed 69% of his passes for 2,383 yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging roughly 340 yards a game — absurd production for anyone, let alone a 10th‑grader. Hamilton's offense is rolling because he's throwing with anticipation and pace, layering seams and slot fades like he's been doing it for years, then turning around and hitting tight windows on the quick-hitters. The chemistry with fellow sophomore standout [player_tooltip player_id='1218871' first='Roye' last='Oliver III'] is weekly fireworks: timed deep outs, in‑stride verticals, and red‑zone placement that lets his guy win without breaking stride. You can hang your hat on the efficiency — 18 completions a game at nearly 19 yards per attempt — and the explosives keep coming because he's decisive. It's video‑game volume with grown‑up timing, and the scoreboard reflects it in boatloads.      Gunner's game against Brophy is the kind you circle when you talk about having command when the lights get brightest. This season has been less about piling up totals and more about how and when he delivers. You can see the senior experience shine through every week. He played clean and poised through three quarters of that Brophy game, then tightened the screws in the fourth and overtime — working quick-game on time, trusting his eyes on out routes, using his legs to buy time when he needed to, and ripping a few money throws over the middle when the pocket squeezed and he couldn't escape. The ball comes out with some serious power behind it. He's got that natural strength that allows him to throw it to any part of the field. Add in the situational mastery — like his ability to find the mismatch the second a defense blinks — and you get a clutch closer who just delivered a comeback over a really good defense. The stat line pops because of the moment, but the tape says the same thing every week: calm feet, quick processing, and the confidence to make the right throw even when it's not the flashy one.      After splitting time last year, Mencl's been given the reins and boy, has it been impressive to watch. He's quietly putting together one of the cleanest years in the state — completing a whopping 73% of his passes for 2,267 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. That kind of efficiency, paired with an average of 324 yards a game and more than 20 completions a night, tells you all you need to know about how comfortable he's gotten in this offense. He's got a repeatable base and a compact release, but he certainly doesn't lack any arm talent. He can make throws from multiple different arm angles, is still able to put good juice on the ball even without his feet set, and does a really nice job of driving on the ball when he needs to fit it in a tight space. He's one of just four players statewide with multiple games topping 250 yards, two or more touchdowns, and a completion rate north of 70%. You see that same calm control in how he works the middle of the field — balanced, deliberate, never drifting. When he does pull it down, he's efficient — enough wheels to make a defense pay for playing man one too many times. In a season where the noise has been everywhere else around the state, he's been business as usual for Chandler: efficient drives, chain‑moving third downs, and enough explosives to flip games early.      After breaking onto the scene as a sophomore and putting up big numbers, Blake has somehow gotten better in every single statistical category — and even the one area that did dip, yards per completion, feels more like a sign of maturity than anything declining. He's been so consistent while also figuring out how to remain dangerous. He has more games with over 200 yards, a score, and a completion rate over 65% than anyone in the state. (5) The efficiency is matched by the command; you can see how the experience from last year shaped his patience and decision‑making. He's got the prototype frame and such a smooth throwing motion. He may not have the highest completion percentage in the state, but I'd put his accuracy up there with anyone. We're talking down the field dropping it in the bucket, hitches being on the right shoulder, leading slant routes with his speedster wideouts, you name it. You'll see him change pace on layered routes, throw away from leverage in the red zone, and keep the operation on schedule with smart, low‑risk decisions. Then, when defenses creep, he'll hit the shot he's been setting up. Roskopf is a guy who already looks ready to be taking snaps at the next level, and he's still got another year of high school ball left.      He had a truly standout receiver last year who's already producing on national TV on Saturdays, so after losing him I was curious to see what Colten would look like running the show this fall. Somehow, he's on pace for even more touchdown passes than last season, and at some point, the production just can't be ignored. Colten's tape plays like a point guard running a fast break for four quarters — tempo, rhythm, and constant pressure on the defense to tackle in space. The numbers back it up with multiple 300‑yard nights, including a 411-yard, five-touchdown performance where he completed 80% of his passes. Through eight games, he's completed nearly 71% of his throws for over 2,300 yards and 25 touchdowns. When teams start jumping bubbles and quick outs, he's comfortable layering corners and seams behind flat defenders, and he'll hang in to take a shot if that's what the concept needs. There's toughness here too: he'll reset in the pocket under heat and still deliver something on‑target. It's sustainable production because it's built on rhythm and preparation, not sandlot plays to bail him out.      I'm not sure there's a player across the state doing more for his team than Dawson Judd. He's throwing it, running it, and making plays on defense — literally everywhere on the field. As a passer, he's thrown for 1,985 yards and 22 touchdowns while still keeping a strong 67.6% completion rate. Add in 374 rushing yards and six scores on the ground, and you've got a quarterback who's not just moving the offense but carrying it. Then on defense, he's racked up 49 tackles, a sack, and an eye‑popping five interceptions to go with a forced fumble — the kind of two‑way production you just don't see at this level at all, never mind from a quarterback. He's a quick‑trigger distributor who can win from the gun or on the move,  and he throws a catchable ball to the perimeter that lets his guys rack up yards after the catch. The film shows a quarterback who understands leverage like a defensive back, because he is one: he anticipates windows, won't put it in harm's way, and trusts the concept to beat the coverage. The efficiency, the toughness, the consistency — it's steady, it's complete, and it's the heartbeat of Benson football.   <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://imagekit.io/player/embed/thehonestupdate/ucl4a4965ed4c1761250480155_clipsEditor.mp4?controls=true&autoplay=false&loop=false&background=%23000000&updatedAt=1761785055597&thumbnail=https%3A%2F%2Fik.imagekit.io%2Fthehonestupdate%2Fucl4a4965ed4c1761250480155_clipsEditor.mp4%2Fik-thumbnail.jpg%3FupdatedAt%3D1761785055597&updatedAt=1761785055597" frameBorder="0"> </iframe>     Luke's year is a masterclass in doing the simple things at a ridiculously high level — completing 75% of his passes with 25 touchdowns to just two picks through nine games. He's not putting up massive yardage totals, but that's not the point; he's been so incredibly efficient and takes care of the football, two of the most important traits for keeping drives alive. For a sophomore, the timing is really advanced. Eyes to move a safety, feet to match the progression, and throws on digs and seams that hit the upfield shoulder like clockwork. He'll take the free access all night, then punish you when you try to squeeze it — he trusts that arm and isn't the slightest bit afraid to test tight windows. The offense hums because he doesn't overcomplicate it — he hunts matchups, trusts his guys, and plays with a calm that radiates to the rest of the unit.

It feels like every Friday night, somewhere across the state, one of these guys is putting on a show. What's fun about this group is how different they all are. Some are field generals who control every snap like chess players, some are playmakers who thrive when the pocket collapses, and some are just pure gunslingers with the confidence to let it rip no matter the situation. Still, for all those differences, they've each found their own way to dominate.