When
L.T. Pfaff was a freshman quarterback, the
Atoka (Okla.) varsity football team was winless in 10 games under first-year coach Forrest Mazey.
"We used to have students come around and say, 'You guys suck,'" Pfaff recalled.
The next year, however, Mazey discarded the school's old I-formation attack, which had produced a lot of 2-8 and 1-9 records over the years, in favor of the popular no-huddle, spread formation. It was like catching lightning in a bottle.
Atoka High's L.T. Pfaff.
Photo courtesy of Regina Carr
The Wampus Cats improved to 5-5, went 6-4 last year and stand 3-1 this year following last week's tough 45-39 loss to Eufaula in four overtimes.
"We've really turned things around and made things fun," Mazey said. "We're putting people in the stands. We've at least tripled the attendance (since he came to Atoka, a Class 3A school with 395 students in grades 9-12). It's something to be proud of."
The 5-foot-10, 154-pound Pfaff has led Atoka's rebirth so magnificently that on Friday night he can potentially become Oklahoma's career passing leader when the Wampus Cats travel to Hugo. Pfaff needs just 118 yards to surpass the record of 9,574 yards by Owasso's Paul Smith, who ranks No. 30 on the national charts.
"I knew he was going to be our go-to guy, but I never saw this in his future," Mazey said of the impending record. "He's the best player I ever have coached. He goes on both sides of the ball (also starts at free safety). If he comes out, it's for a quick cramp stretch.
"He's gotten a lot stronger over the years, but what sets him apart is his accuracy. I expect him to complete (at least) 65 percent of his passes. Left to right, he's very, very quick. His toughness is second to none in my eyes."
Pfaff showed great potential in his first varsity appearance by taking a quarterback counter run 45 yards to get the Wampus Cats out of a big hole. Despite being only 5-7 and 130 pounds, he was the starting quarterback by the fourth game of his freshman year.
During his rookie year, he completed 95 of 214 passes for 1,179 yards and seven touchdowns, but also threw 13 interceptions.
Mazey learned a lot about his budding star during his sophomore year. First, Pfaff passed for a state-record 575 yards against Kingston. Late in the year he set state records with 42 completions, 629 yards and eight touchdown passes against Marietta. He had no interceptions in the latter contest.\
"That helped me out a lot," Pfaff said of his spectacular performance against Marietta. "It got me to where I was confident in myself and could throw deep. I also threw a lot of screens because they blitzed on every down."
Despite all the records, Pfaff ranks a 50-0 blowout against arch rival Colgate during his sophomore year as his best game. Colgate had beaten Atoka six consecutive times.
Another sophomore performance, this time against Tishomingo, enhanced Mazey's confidence in his young signal caller. Pfaff suffered a separated shoulder and was sidelined in favor of a freshman. When the freshman also was injured, Pfaff came back and led the Wampus Cats on a furious rally which almost pulled out a victory. He played at least three games with the injury.
Running a new offense, Pfaff's numbers jumped considerably as a sophomore. He completed 227 of 330 passes for 3,349 yards and 38 touchdowns. His interceptions dropped to 10. As a junior he completed 239 of 383 passes for 3,649 yards and 36 touchdowns, with 14 interceptions. He also made 79 tackles and three interceptions.
In his first four games as a senior, Pfaff has drilled 86 of 150 passes for 1,280 yards and 12 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He also leads the Wampus Cats with 49 rushes for 193 yards and has scored three touchdowns. Defensively, he has 19 tackles and one interception.
Last week's four-overtime loss to Eufaula produced good numbers (375 yards and three touchdowns), but Paff and Mazey both call it a sub-par effort.
"It just came down to mistakes and turnovers (four interceptions)," Pfaff explained. He said the worst game of his career was a five-interception sophomore outing against Sulphur.
Pfaff, who also is the starting point guard in basketball, carries a 3.0 GPA and wants to become a high school coach some day. His idol is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
Mazey predicts that his protégé "will be a real good coach. He's a good student of the game."
Despite his impressive career, Pfaff still has no solid college scholarship offers. Mazey says his young star just needs a chance.
"He gets tagged as a 'system' player," Mazey conceded. "We go four-wide, but that doesn't take away the fact that he makes all the reads and hits the receivers. He's an extension of me. I'm very, very hard on him. He's going to be the guy that everybody wants to coach. (After he gets his chance), the sky's the limit for him."
Pfaff, who can throw 50 yards with accuracy, believes his biggest requirement to reach the next level is to put more velocity on the ball.
"It doesn't make me nervous," Pfaff insists. "There's a spot out there for me. I'm just going to wait for it."
Looking at Friday night's big game, Pfaff says, "I don't feel pressure. I'm not worried about the record. As long as we get the 'W' that's all I care about. I never knew I was going to be in this situation. I'll sure be ready for this one. It's going to be pretty exciting."
Could a record-setting Friday launch some firm college offers?
"It could. It probably will," the Atoka star said hopefully.
