Veteran QB priceless

It's not only the most visible position on the football field, but particularly at the high school level an experienced quarterback also is the most significant factor for success.

Five of the seven southeastern Tennessee districts are headed by teams led by senior quarterbacks in at least their second year starting at the position.

Anthony Broome (Brainerd), Andy Christopher (Red Bank), Brady Reed (Ooltewah), Terrell Robinson (South Pittsburg) and Tay Vaughn Wynn (Lookout Valley) are senior quarterbacks who returned this year after starting every game as juniors. So are Dalton's Stryker Brown and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe's Cody Commons in Georgia and Will Richard at North Jackson in Alabama.

Those eight have combined for a 22-3 overall record in 2009.

Conversely, usual playoff teams Cleveland, Grace Academy, Howard, Silverdale Baptist and Tyner have struggled while breaking in new quarterbacks this year.

Brainerd's 3-0 start this season already equals last year's win total, and Broome's poise has been a key reason. He has thrown for 548 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions.

"There's just something about having a senior who has already gone through big games leading your team," Panthers coach Marvin Jones said. "Anthony really rededicated himself to the program. He's the first to line up to run, the first to lift. He's the leader, and that's made all the difference in the world."

Experience and moxie even can overcome a lack of physically imposing stature. For the first 20 years of the program's existence, North Jackson averaged 10 wins with an offense that pounded opponents with a bruising rushing attack. But last year the Chiefs joined the spread-offense craze and won their eighth region crown in nine years. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound Richard has become the area's top-rated passer in his second season as the starter.

"Everybody sees our scores and passing stats and they're surprised that our quarterback isn't very big or fast or doesn't have the strongest arm," Chiefs coach Shawn Peek said. "But he's a kid who knows exactly what to do with the ball on every play."

Richard has thrown for 2,025 yards with 28 touchdowns in 12 games as the starter. He already owns nine school passing records and leads an offense averaging 52 points through three games, throwing at least four touchdown passes in each and averaging 205 passing yards.

"The thing I noticed was how much more calm and confident I am," said Richard, whose dad, Ivan, is a Chiefs assistant coach. "As soon as Coach (Doug) Haynes calls a play, I know where everybody is supposed to be. The whole game seems like it's slowed down from last year. It's like I can make decisions faster because everything around me is in slow motion."

Conversely, the first two defenses Hixson faced this season seemed like blurs. As veteran quarterback Zach McCarter recovered from a kidney condition, the Wildcats struggled offensively -- getting shut out once and scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter of a lopsided loss at Signal Mountain. But when the senior returned, Hixson scored 35 points against Tyner.

"You can't fake experience," Hixson coach Houston White said. "That's what we were missing our first two games, and that's what we're counting on to turn things around for us now that Zach is back.

"There'll be talented first-year starters, but those reps of being in the Friday night fight will make everybody else believe and play at a different tempo."

Both quarterbacks in tonight's District 6-A leaders battle between Signal Mountain and South Pittsburg started every game for their teams last season. The passing ability of the Pirates' Robinson, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga commitment, was the main reason the team switched to the spread offense.

The top-ranked Pirates won their first two games on the strength of their defense and running game, but last week Robinson completed 9 of his first 10 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns.

"Having a senior who has been in your offense for a while, and especially one who played a lot as a junior, just creates so many more possibilities on a weekly basis," Pirates coach Vic Grider said. "There will be weeks when teams will stop your running game, but you know an experienced senior is going to do the little things well or even step up and take over if needed.

"When your quarterback is confident, that makes everybody else play at a higher level. There's no replacing that."