Zolnosky was the most impressive quarterback I saw live last season. First, it is obvious just watching him for a few minutes that – at least at the high school level – he has ‘it.’ He plays with cool confidence, not often seen at the high school level. He put up nearly 3000 yards passing for the Raptors. He has a cannon of a right arm, and he can use it just as effectively from the pocket as he can on the move. Arm strength doesn’t do much good if it is not paired with accuracy, and the Raptors’ quarterback has that – both on his deep ball and shorter throws. You just aren’t going to see his receivers having to make any wild adjustments to catch his ball. I wouldn’t say he is a running quarterback, but when he rolls out, he rolls out with purpose – he can move.

Zolnosky is the best quarterback I have seen this season. He is as comfortable throwing from the pocket as he is on the move. He hit two early throws into the flat while rolling out. He is not the fastest quarterback, but he had speed enough to get the corner to convert a fourth and two. On a busted play, Zolnosky stayed calm and found a receiver on a check down for a first down. On a third and long, he avoided the rush and completed a short pass. He threw a perfect pass on a crossing route. He picked up yardage on a quarterback draw with an excellent cut at the end of the run for five yards. He hit a crossing route in stride for a touchdown. One of the junior’s best plays was called back because of a penalty. The center snap went over his head. Zolnosky caught the snap off the hop, and instead of panicking, he completed a short pass for what would have been a seven yard gain. Later, he rolled to the right and threw back to the opposite sideline for a thirty yard gain. He threw into a tight window for a completion. Even more impressive than his high snap improvisation, his best throw was when he was under distress. Using only his arm strength because he was hit as he threw, he got the ball twenty yards down the field for a touchdown.

Tanner turned in another elite performance in East Ridge’s Friday night win over a tough Eagan squad. He finished the game with 304 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air while completing 18 of his 24 passing attempts. Zolnosky has truly solidified himself as one of the best QBs in the state regardless of class. The junior has already received a Division 1 offer from Bowling Green out of the Mid-American Conference. Tanner and the Raptors will face off with undefeated Woodbury on Friday.