A brand new season is upon us and as such, what has happened the previous nine weeks matters very little.
Tonight, every play and every team will be looking to make a brand new impact. So, here are five guys to watch tonight in the win or go home world of Sectional high school football:
Grayson Esguerra, Leo at DeKalb
With a D1 prospects and a heavy run game, not enough light has been shed this season on the Leo junior quarterback, but he has been phenomenal through nine weeks, throwing for over 1,100 yards while connecting on 56 percent of his passes. Esguerra has 17 total touchdowns with only one score (and 9 total yards) coming on the ground. A true passer for the Lions, he cut up DeKalb for 197 yards on 9-of-13 passing with three touchdowns just last Friday and will look to replicate that in the Sectional opener.
Calder Hefty, Garrett vs. Lakeland
Talk about phenomenal leaders and you have to mention QB1 for the area’s only regular season undefeated squad. The first time the Railroaders and Hefty matched up with Lakeland, he didn’t throw the ball much but accounted for 120 yards on the ground, with 6 tackles and a pick on defense. Hefty’s presence is felt all over the field for this Garrett squad as he has thrown for just shy of 600 yards, while running for 732 with 21 total touchdowns offensively. On the other side of the ball, he has 42 total tackles this season.
Stratton Fuller, Columbia City at Bishop Dwenger
The Army commit can do it all and he really does every week while a Sectional opener at Bishop Dwenger gives us one of those sought after SAC/NE8 battles we rarely see. These teams haven’t met since 2012’s Sectional and the Eagles trail 10-1 in the series but if anyone can right that ship, it is Fuller. This season, he has scored on 7 of his 20 receptions, while piling up 755 total yards of offense including five more TDs rushing. On the defensive end, Fuller has 18 solo tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Brayden Holbrook, Lakeland at Garrett
Holkbrook came into the season expected to be one of the best passers in the area this season. With the Lakers losing three in a row before the postseason and a rematch with Garrett on the agenda, Lakeland will need peak Holbrook on Friday night. The last time Lakeland made the trip to Garrett in a loss, Holbrook really opened up in the second half and finished with 246 yards passing. He has thrown for over 1,500 yards this season on 58% passing with 17 touchdowns.
Derek McKean, South Adams vs. Union City
The South Adams passing game has been a high brightspot for this squad this season with a first time quarterback needing a reliable target. That target has been McKean for much of the season as he has racked up 748 yards over 48 receptions this season. His touchdown total (6) is more than any other receiver or rusher for the Starfires and their vastly split up 38 total scores offensively. McKean has also thrown a couple of passes, connecting for a score on one, and tallying a few tackles on the defensive end.
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