There may have been years where bigger names broke the huddle and called the cadence in Arizona, but there is a sentiment brewing that this just might be the year of the quarterback.
On a weekly basis someone is doing something that shows why quarterback is arguably the most dynamic position in all of high school sports.
This is the final week of the regular season and all of the playoff scenarios will dominate this week's headlines, but it will not overshadow the accomplishment of
Tempe quarterback
Emanuel Gant, as he is in line to become the state's career passing yardage leader.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has started since he was a freshman and needs just 27 yards to surpass Luke Rubenzer's career mark of 9,645 yards he set before graduating last season.
Adam Abbatacola, Apache Junction
Photo by Darin Sicurello
"It will mean a lot because I will leave a mark on the state of Arizona," said Gant, who helped Tempe beat Moon Valley (8-1) last week.
The Buffaloes (9-0) should have an extended run into the Division III playoffs so he could push the record well past 10,000 yards.
While 10 grand is a pretty astounding number, it isn't so far out there that it isn't unfathomable that it might be broken someday. The numbers
Higley (Gilbert) sophomore
Mason Crossland put up in Week 7 are a different story.
The 5-7, 140-pound sophomore had an amazing night when he threw for 641 yards on 23 of 31 passing and nine touchdowns in a crazy 95-75 win over
Apache Junction.
It was an incredible line that saw the losing quarterback – AJ's
Adam Abbatacola – throw for 565 yards and five touchdowns but left the Arizona record book changed for passing yards and touchdowns thrown in a single game.
Not bad for a guy like Crossland, who is only starting because 6-5 junior Tyler Bloom sustained a knee injury in the first game of the season.
Bryce Perkins, Chandler
Photo by Ray Chen
"We knew he was a good quarterback," Higley coach Eddy Zubey said earlier this season. "But, I don't think you're ever going to expect somebody to throw nine touchdown passes and for 641 yards."
Then there are the three studs in Division I who just might be battling for State Player of the Year honors in
Bryce Perkins of
Chandler,
Brian Lewerke of
Pinnacle (Phoenix) and
Dalton Sneed of
Horizon (Scottsdale).
Perkins, an Arizona State recruit, has thrown 19 touchdowns and just 14 incompletions over the last five games to help the Wolves become the D-I favorite heading into the postseason, while Lewerke (Michigan State) and Sneed (UNLV) battled it out for possibly the last time last week.
Lewerke, who played a week after missing a game with a glove on his throwing hand along two of his fingers taped, won the battle one more time, but both quarterbacks will be considered among the best ever when it is all said and done.
"It's a great class and I'm very blessed to say I'm a part of this great class of QBs," Gant said.
Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothill News staff writer, is a 20-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.
