The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
LEC coach mum on starting QB
The Reilly Murphy era at Lake Erie College officially begins Sept. 5 with a game under the lights in Pennsylvania, and the big question for the Storm is who will play quarterback.
The first-year coach isn’t budging with a reveal of results from a QB battle in August between Perry graduate Kolston Brewster and senior Javarian Smith. One thing seems certain: Chances appear good both play when LEC opens the 2019 season at Mercyhurst. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Who will trot onto the field for the Storm’s first offensive snap of the season is something Murphy isn’t ready to announce. Sept. 3 was LEC’s last practice until the opener. The team went from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Jack Britt Stadium in Painesville.
“Today was a big day,” said Murphy.
“They’ve both done a really good job all camp just competing and being leaders. We voted for team captains, and they were both right up there for the top votes. It just shows how much the team cares for both those guys.”
Brewster is a transfer from the University at Buffalo, where he spent one semester in the fall of 2018 before coming back home to LEC in the spring of 2019. Smith is a returning two-year starter.
“I feel confident with both,” said Murphy. “There’s a strong chance we’ll see both.”
Whoever plays QB for LEC in 2019 will look to improve on a forgettable 2018 season in which the team went 0-11 and struggled to put up points. The Storm averaged just 10.2 points and 202.7 yards last season. The defense had its share of struggles as well, allowing 47.7 points.
Now is the time for LEC to wipe that slate clean, and it starts Sept. 5 at Mercyhurst.
“I would love to see competitive nature and composure,” said Murphy about the Mercyhurst game. “The guys are hungry. I’m not begging them for stuff. They’re coming ready to go.”
A position on offense that is settled is running back, where Eric Zokouri (5-foot-10, 220 pounds) will be the featured back. Zokouri is a transfer from FCS Monmouth. As a true freshman in 2017, Zokouri started five games before suffering a season-ending injury. He finished that season with 497 yards on 73 attempts (6.8-yard average) and six touchdowns, so there’s potential there.
Now it’s time to see if the pieces Murphy and his staff have assembled are ready for their opener under the lights. He admitted his team is “young” and “has to blend fast.”
“I think this whole team will be a work in progress,” said Murphy. “But the reason why we work so hard all year round putting in these hours is for these 11 games. You better be excited for them.”
LEC originally had a 10-game schedule with an open date Sept. 19, but recently filled that spot with a game at Taylor (Ind.), an NAIA school.
“It was a shot i n the dark,” said Murphy about landing an 11th game this late. “Just having 11 games for those seniors, another opportunity. For us, every game is a big game.”