Western Kentucky producing a strong crop of quarterbacks There is no shortage of talent at the quarterback position in western Kentucky this year. And every Friday night, these players draw comparisons to either local high school greats of the past or current quarterbacks who play on Saturday afternoons. And some of the comparisons go deeper than just what they do on the field. Elijah Sindelar (Caldwell County) – The most talked about player west of I-65 is the Caldwell County signal caller. Sindelar proves each week that he can beat you with his arm and with his legs. The junior has thrown for 1,224 yards in five games, with 18 touchdowns and just two picks. He has also rushed for a respectable 155 yards and three scores. But it is his ability to extend the play in the pocket and find an open receiver that impresses most onlookers. Because of this, he draws comparisons to Texas A & M’s Johnny Manziel, who also can beat teams with his arm and his legs. They also both wear jersey #2. Jake Guhy (Mayfield) – While Sindelar gets the publicity, it’s Guhy who flashes the championship rings. Steady in the pocket and a leader on the field, the Mayfield senior is closing in on several school passing records. His ability to run the offense and manage the game reminds you of Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, who also doesn’t get the most publicity in the quarterback-rich SEC. And like McCarron, Guhy is looking to lead his team to consecutive championships. Zyaire Hughes (McCracken County) – Perhaps the biggest dual threat quarterback in the region is McCracken County sophomore Zyaire Hughes. In four games, he has combined for 11 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards of offense. Defenses have to respect his arm and his ability to tuck and run. Hughes draws comparisons to Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, who also possesses a strong arm with the ability to extend the play with his feet. Hughes and Boyd are also helped by strong receiving corps. Peyton Puckett (Graves County) – The Graves County senior brings his hard hat and lunch pail to practice every day and that work ethic shows up Friday nights. He has thrown for 1,076 yards and 11 touchdowns on a team known in the past for a strong running game but has moved to the aerial attack. It’s a similar path taken by Georgia’s Aaron Murray, as Georgia has moved from a “three yards and a cloud of dust” program to one who utilizes the strength of its quarterback. And much like Murray, who is overshadowed by other quarterbacks in the SEC, Puckett gets overshadowed by the quarterback across town – Jake Guhy. Dylan Boone (Murray) – Boone has been a three-year starter for a Murray team that likes to grind it out on the ground. However, the senior has shown the ability to put the football on target through the air when defenses stack the line. And it’s his ability to run the offense and stay cool that makes Boone effective. BYU quarterback Taysom Hill, like Boone, is effective in running the offense, can throw when he needs to throw, and run when he needs to run. They don’t put up huge numbers but they usually get the one stat that matters – the ‘W’. Houston Hartz (Owensboro Catholic) – The Aces’ senior is often compared to other quarterbacks who have put up stellar numbers at Owensboro Catholic in the Tony Franklin offensive system. Hartz has continued that tradition despite not having the receivers around him that his predecessors have had. Hartz compares to another Tony Franklin success story – Corey Robinson at Troy. The former Lone Oak standout has set nearly every passing record at the school despite a mix of inexperienced receivers. However, both Robinson and Hartz are on track to have successful senior seasons. bluegrasspreps/ky-football-high/western-kentucky-producing-261893.html
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 19:10:56 +0000