DeQuasie goes against his family’s tradition
Carl Albert QB has Midwest City roots
MIDWEST CITY — Dorothea DeQuasie didn’t want to sit in Carl Albert’s section of the stadium during the Titans’ season opener last week at Midwest City.
Even though her grandson Reed was starting at quarterback for Carl Albert, it just didn’t feel right.
The mother of four former Midwest City stars, Dorothea is a Bomber fan for life and couldn’t stand the idea of hanging with the program’s main rival.
But eventually, the family convinced her to come over to the other side for a change.
“We got her to sit on our side, and it was just a good time being in the moment,” Reed said. “The next generation going against the Bombers.”
It is indeed a new era for the family. Before Friday, it had been nearly three decades since a DeQuasie played on Rose Field. Reed broke that streak but did it as a member of the opposing team.
Reed is in his first year as the starting quarterback at Carl Albert. A Choctaw transfer, this is the junior’s debut season with the Titans. His task is simple but certainly not easy — lead Carl Albert to its sixth consecutive Class 5A state ti
tle. Although the Titans dropped their season opener, they can get on track with a home win against school district rival Del City on Friday.
Carl Albert first-year coach Mike Dunn thinks Reed is the perfect guy to help his program stay on top.
“By the time it’s all said and done, he’s going to be a really good one for us,” Dunn said.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Reed has the kind of athleticism that helped his dad, Richard, and three uncles become standouts at Midwest City in the 1980s and 90s.
Buck DeQuasie was the first to star for the Bombers, playing in the early 1980s. Next up was Greg, who was Midwest City’s starting quarterback between Mike and Cale Gundy in 1986. Greg went on to play at OU, as did his younger brother Brent.
“Growing up in Midwest City, you know the DeQuasie name, you know the DeQuasie family,” said Dunn, a Carl Albert alum. “I remember watching — I guess it was Brent — playing at OU when I first started watching ball.”
Richard, Reed’s dad, is the youngest and played at East Central University in Ada. A proud Midwest City graduate, Friday’s game was a little strange for him.
“A lot of emotion,” Richard said. “Still breathe black and gold, but you got to support your kid.”
Reed has felt tons of support since transferring to Carl Albert.
He didn’t know many people when he arrived. Despite that, he instantly felt like he was welcome.
“It’s great,” Reed said. “I like how they hold you to a standard, and they don’t falter at it. And there’s a certain level of respect that everyone has for each other, and they always make you work hard. The coaches always have your back.”
Reed played solely on offense during the season opener, but Dunn plans to put him at safety throughout the year, too. With good size and speed, Reed has the tools to shine on that side of the ball.
“When it comes time, he’ll be on the field for us out on defense, too,” Dunn said. “He’s too good of an athlete to have over there on the sideline. Eventually, he’ll do a little bit of both for us.”
Reed has a lot to live up to in taking over as Carl Albert’s starting quarterback.
Ben Harris left big shoes to fill after leading the Titans to their fifth straight state title last December. Harris, now at OU, was one of the most successful quarterbacks in state history and went 52-2 as a starter.
Harris’ leadership was one of the things that made him special. DeQuasie has similar qualities when it comes to that.
“Above all, he’s just a phenomenal person,” Dunn said. “He’s a great kid. There’s not a lot of guys that are going to outwork him. He’s one of those guys, he’s a competitor. He wants to be first at everything he does. Doesn’t matter what it is. If it’s sprints, drill work, it doesn’t matter. He wants to be first.” That sort of thing runs in the family. “His dad and his uncles, they were all that way,” Dunn said. “Everybody when they talked about the DeQuasies, you know how tough they are.
“But you also know that they’ll fight to win. That’s a quality you want in a quarterback.”