Chris Hays:
Area high school football teams break in new QBs.
Several area high school football teams have been breaking in new quarterbacks this spring with the departures of key seniors across Central Florida, but it looks like most of those schools will be moving along just fine.
After working the kinks out in the early part of the spring, new quarterbacks at schools like Dr. Phillips and Lake Nona and Daytona Beach Mainland have stepped in nicely to fill the void.
Dr. Phillips welcomed East Ridge transfer BeSean
McCray to help replace departing senior Marvin
Washington, while QB-inwaiting Michael Kern was eagerly anticipating his turn behind senior Mike McFarlane at Lake Nona and Ocoee transfer Jake Novello is helping Mainland fill the big void left by graduating QB Denzel Houston. Also, Sanford Seminole is looking to youngster Bryce
Washington and Bishop Moore hands over the keys to Keanu Kong, who split time at the position last season.
Kern, whose predecessor McFarlane is headed to Coastal Carolina as a tight end, was first out of the blocks in Lake Nona’s spring game and he did not disappoint. He tossed three touchdown passes during the Lions’ 35-20 victory over Orlando Timber Creek and was 19-of-35 passing for 295 yards.
This past Wednesday night, McCray made his debut for Dr. Phillips, leading the Panthers with three touchdown passes, one a 70-yarder to Michael Fox, as DP rolled past Winter Park 28-14.
McCray has stepped in nicely at DP. From his first practice forward he impresesed coachesnot only with his accuracy, but also his command of the huddle and his poise in the pocket. Against Winter Park he was 9 of 14 passing for 160 yards and also ran for 35 yards.
“The guy is super intelligent on and off the field. He doesn’t say a lot, but obviously he’s been a leader for a long time,” Dr. Phillips head coach Rodney Wells said. “He’s always out after practice throwing balls, before practice throwing. … He just has something about him.”
McCray entered a situation where he was taking over the lead position for a team that had reached the Class 8A state championship game.
“It’s very difficult because the stakes are high and not just because we got to the state championship last year. The stakes are always high here. They always have been,” said Wells. “But still, anytime you come in behind a guy like Marvin and come in after the success we had last year, it’s tough and I think he’s shown that he can handle it and he hasn’t shown any signs that he can’t.”
Wednesday was McCray’s first test. He only missed badly on one pass and seemed quite comfortable with receivers Fox, Davarius Bargnare, Devon Buckhanon and Stephen Schyck.
Novello has emerged from what looked like a three-man competition in the early part of the spring at Mainland. Novello, who starterd every game for district champion Ocoee last season, threw for 241 yards and four touchdowns in engineering the Bucs offense against Spruce Creek. Mankato (Minn.) transfer Richard Kamara and last season’s junior varsity QB Cameron McClaine were also expected to vie for the position, but Novello has taken command, doing exactly what Bucs coach Scott Wilson wanted.
No one is expected to replace Houston, who accounted for 124 touchdowns over three seasons, but Wilson needs a guy who can act as field general, which Novello did Friday.
“It’s definitely going to be different, but we have the surrounding cast and coaches and we’ll do our best,” Wilson said. “We’ve got that huge offensive line coming back and four receivers who started or got plenty of playing time, so we just need someone to come in and be a good signalcaller and manage the offense.”
Novello (6-0, 175), who has been at West Orange and at Ocoee over the past two seasons, may have found his place at Mainland.
“I’m just here to work and grind and get better. They’ve done a good job of just making me comfortable here,” said Novello. “I saw [Houston] play and he’s a great athlete. I just gotta go out there and play my own game.”
Class 8A semifinalist Sanford Seminole will replace Kaylan Wiggins , an FIU signee, with rising junior Washington, who keyed the spring victory over Winter Springs. Washington completed 9-of-15 passes for 156 yards and a 45-yard touchdown.
Bishop Moore struggled early in a spring loss to Class 8A power Kissimmee Osceola on Friday, but Kong, who transferred from Dr. Phillips before his junior season, settled down after an early interception and was 14 of 25 for 137 yard and two touchdowns.
Having a year to familiarize himself with the offense should help Kong, a big quarterback at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds.
“Keanu is definitely the guy and he knows what we’re doing offensively and understands us as coaches now and understands his teammates,” Bishop Moore coach Matt Hedrick said. “He has a really good relationship with all of his teammates because he’s such a good kid and everybody likes him and everybody respects him.
“He played a ton last year, so that obviously helps.”