When it comes to football, Red Bank sophomore Calvin Jackson has proven to have more functions than a Swiss Army knife.
But in 2016, the Lions have needed Jackson to perform one main function - playing the position that's widely considered the most important on the field.
Jackson, who began playing football when he was 7, has played safety, cornerback, wide receiver and running back along the way in his career, with a little bit of quarterback sprinkled in. As a full-time quarterback, he has helped Red Bank get to the brink of winning the 2016 Region 3-3A championship.
"He never played quarterback before with us," Red Bank third-year coach Chad Grabowski said. "He's always been football smart. He's picked up a lot, just absorbing everything."
Red Bank hosts Notre Dame tonight at 7:30. Both have 6-3 overall records against rugged schedules and 4-0 region records.
The Lions gained one forfeit win with the reversal of a 28-13 loss at Howard on Sept. 2 because the Hustlin' Tigers played an ineligible player. But they would be playing for the region title tonight regardless.
Red Bank began planning for Jackson to make the move to quarterback during the spring. Grabowski brought in former Ooltewah assistant Drew Akins as offensive coordinator this year.
"He put in stuff that schemed around Calvin at quarterback, throwing and running and doing the things he does," Grabowski said. "That's been huge."
As a result, Jackson has thrown for 778 yards and seven touchdowns and has rushed for 736 yards and nine TDs.
More importantly, the Lions have scored 22 points or more in five games this season with a high of 47. Last year the only time they scored more than 20 points was a game with 28.
"I think we have a better offensive group this year," Jackson said. "We've got a great offensive line. We can move the ball well. We've got great receivers. Coach Akins has us set up in the right position. It just feels right."
The coaches had to feel they had Jackson in the right position when they saw him run for 32- and 64-yard touchdowns in the city jamboree, even if it was against Walker Valley's second-unit defense.
Still, the momentum they gained carried over into the first game - a 22-14 victory over Class 5A Soddy-Daisy. Jackson threw for 117 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 98 in that one.
"The jamboree was my first time starting as a high school quarterback," Jackson said. "It was crazy. I didn't think I was going to do that well. I'm nervous every game. Then after that first snap it all goes away."
Red Bank's offensive game plans include some read-option plays, which Jackson said he's comfortable with, and some designed quarterback runs. Grabowski said Jackson can work on improving his passing (51.8 percent) but his strength is his athletic ability, which has a lot to do with why the coach wants the ball in his hands every play.
"We're going to have make some plays and be consistent on offense," Grabowski said of tonight's game. "We've got to execute our plays and be where we're supposed to be."
Jackson said it's been a process learning how to study video from a quarterback's perspective. He also gets tested mentally when a play breaks down, having to decide between dumping the ball off to a running back or looking for a running lane for himself.
Grabowski said the Lions have a freshman in Madox Wilkey, brother of former Red Bank quarterback Hagen Wilkey, who could be their quarterback of the future. If Jackson has to move to another position, he'll adapt. He just wants to play.
And he also just wants a region championship now.
"It's a big game for us, for the seniors and everybody," Jackson said. "I think we can win. I'm going to have to be able to read their defense. We have to control the ball. We've got to play well. We can't have mistakes."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.