Shawn Cooley, the offensive coordinator for Hixson High School’s football team, has never seen a position switch like this one for a varsity prep player.
He doesn’t expect to see anything quite like it again.
Hixson senior Jake Pollock has accounted for all eight of the Wildcats’ offensive touchdowns (four rushing, four passing) through their first four games this season, doing so a year after he was the team’s starting center.
Now the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Pollock — 20 pounds heavier than last season — is taking the snaps rather than making them, and the left-handed, dual-threat quarterback has impressed by averaging 40-plus rushing yards per game and throwing for a season-high 240 yards against Chattanooga Prep.
He has been especially effective with his legs in short-yardage situations and near the goal line, as Hixson has converted every “tush-push” play they have called this season, including a pivotal sneak early in last week’s 20-19 home win over Loudon. It ended a three-game losing streak to begin the season for the Wildcats and came in their TSSAA Region 3-4A opener.