Shoemaker, Revere share Lone Star state connection
“The guys see it. These games mean something, but they are not the end-all; and I think people are encouraged and we’ll do well in the conference.” —Lafayette wide receiver Quinn Revere
McKinney Christian High School and Prosper High are located about 15 miles apart and are rivals in Texas 6A football. So, when Prosper senior quarterback Keegan Shoemaker took an official recruiting visit to Lafayette College, it was a no-brainer that he would be shown around campus by McKinney grad and Lafayette wide receiver Quinn Revere.
Though they did not play against one another in high school, Revere said Tuesday, “I heard some good things about him” from friends back home, and they became quick friends.
Shoemaker was a pivotal member of coach John Garrett’s third recruiting class, and when Revere went home for spring break early this year, “I threw with him a little bit,” Revere said. They got together more during June, “and I could see immediately that he was a natural talent.”
Revere, a junior who had a breakout season in 2018 with 38 catches, also knew Shoemaker was going to have plenty of competition at Lafayette from two-year starter Sean O’Malley, returning backup Cole Northrup, Troy Fisher and three other quarterbacks on the roster.
Meanwhile, Revere had his own battle with a handful of promising wide receivers headed by seniors Nick Pearson, the 2018 leader with 41 catches, Julian Spigner and Jake Liedtka and including several other returnees and five freshmen.
Revere caught four passes in the season opener at William & Mary, three from Shoemaker, but in the fourth period, he came down hard on his shoulder while trying to make a leaping catch.
Nothing was broken, but he sat out two games, during which freshman Joe Gillette used his “next in” opportunity to make nine catches. It was both a physical and spiritual trial for Revere, who called it a “super humbling time,” and came back even more focused.
Gillette had another big game last Saturday at Albany, making seven catches for 105 yards; but Revere was right there, too, adding another seven catches for 58 yards in a successful return.
While he said he spends the most time with the other wide receivers “because those are my guys,” Revere said Shoemaker is one of the other players he’s closest to. “We always lift together, practice together, talk about how we can have a better connection. He’s a great kid and a humble kid; he has a bright, bright future.”
As for the wide receivers, Revere says, “Personally, I think this is one of the strongest groups on the team. The freshmen have so much raw talent and now it’s a matter of getting them disciplined in the playbook, the weight room.
“Nick, Sprigs and Liedtka graduate [next year], but I don’t think we lose too much where we can’t provide. Guys are stepping up already. I’ll be a senior, and I’ll put an arm around them and keep it going. I think we’ll have an explosive offense if we have the time to get [the ball] there and into our hands.”
While Shoemaker has now grabbed hold of the reins, Revere said, “All the quarterbacks prepare. By no means have any of them checked out mentally or physically; they compete every practice, and that keeps Keegan performing.”
Revere was joined at Tuesday’s luncheon by freshmen defensive lineman Damon Washington and defensive back Otis Thrasher. Washington was named Patriot League rookie of the week after making 14 tackles on Saturday, and Gillette was named offensive player of the week.
Lafayette takes an 0-4 record this season and a two-year seven-game losing streak into Saturday’s home game against Penn (3:30 p.m.), but Revere said, “I think we’ve kind of understood that we’re not going to mope and lie down, but we’re going to do something and get better.”
This will be Garrett’s first meeting with Quakers coach Ray Priore. The last time Lafayette and Penn played was in 2013 at Franklin Field. Penn won 27-21. Lafayette, after losing all its nonleague games that year, went on to win the Patriot League championship.
Revere thinks the adversity the Leopards are experiencing during this season’s nonleague schedule will pay dividends, too.
“Everything … the championship, playing in the playoffs, beating every conference team, they’re all still in front of us,” Revere said. “The guys see it. These games mean something, but they are not the end-all; and I think people are encouraged and we’ll do well in the conference.”
Retired sports columnist Paul Reinhard is a freelance writer for The Morning Call.