The Logan High School football team may have some question marks here and there as they head into the 2012 prep gridiron season.
But one of those question marks won’t be at the quarterback position.
With a trio of quarterbacks returning and two other newcomers entering the program, Logan is rock-solid at QB.
Back for Logan is presumptive senior starter Chris Marcum, a good passer, who was lost last year in the 25-0 Week 2 road win at Nicholas County with a knee injury. He returned to the lineup late in the season after rehabbing his knee.
When Marcum went down, wide receiver Khaleel Reynolds stepped in at quarterback and Logan didn’t seem to miss a beat.
More of an athlete and a running/option kind of quarterback, Reynolds was able to surprise some with his throwing arm. In Logan’s 36-6 loss at home to Johnson Central (Ky.) last year, Reynolds fired a 95-yard bomb for a touchdown to Brant Williams which put the Wildcats ahead 6-0.
Reynolds later hooked up with halfback David Toney on a 90-yard catch-and-run in Logan’s memorable 27-23 upset home win over Hurricane at a muddy Logan Stadium. The victory over the Redskins was one of the biggest in recent Logan football history. Hurricane had beaten the Wildcats 55-0 and 62-29 the previous two seasons.
But it’s not just Marcum and Reynolds.
Logan also has a budding quarterback prospect in sophomore Ryan Miller.
Logan coach Gary Mullins said he feels good about his quarterbacking trio heading into the Aug. 24 season opener at home against county rival Man.
“We never wanted Chris to get hurt last year,” Mullins said. “But if you can find a positive in it it was how much time Khaleel was able to get in at quarterback. Last Thursday at practice was Khaleel’s first snaps at quarterback since we began practicing. He looked just like he did last season. He’s an amazing athlete. With Chris and Khaleel especially, that gives us two great threats.”
Marcum tore ligaments in his knee last season, which sidelined for much of the football campaign. He’s also a starter in Logan’s secondary.
“Chris is almost to the point that you wouldn’t have to show up — that he can run the practices without you,” Mullins said. “He’s just so smart. He’s got just so much control over the offense and has got so well a command of what is going on. It makes it very easy to be the coach.”
Marcum is more of a traditional drop-back passer.
“Chris is more of your pure quarterback,” Mullins said. “He can do everything and he’s going to be our quarterback that will be able to run our system.”
Logan may also use Reynolds at quarterback this season depending on the situation, maybe in a short-yards or goal line set.
“Khaleel will be brought in and used in certain situations,” Mullins said. “The thing that Khaleel will tell you is that he’s not a great quarterback. But what Khaleel is is that he’s a winner. When it got into the fourth quarter last year of the Chapmanville game and the Huntington game he played very well. He did not play that well in the first three quarters of those games but when it got to the fourth quarter he was the best on the field. He led us to victory in both of those games. He’s a winner and handing him the ball in the fourth quarter is never a bad thing.”
Miller saw limited snaps last year as a freshman but was able to learn the system. In case Marcum or Reynolds goes down, Logan will have a solid back-up with Miller, Mullins said.
“He’s learned the system and that was a big thing for him last year,” Mullins said.
Logan also has a pair of freshmen quarterbacks waiting in the wings in Chase Burdette and Tyler Meade.
“They are very good athletes,” Mullins said of the frosh duo. “They have looked really good. We’re going to try to have a freshman team, so they will be the quarterbacks there and that will really help us.”
The Wildcats are scheduled to have their first preseason scrimmage on Saturday night at Class A Tug Valley. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Tug Valley High School football field at Naugatuck. Logan then is slated to play at Herbert Hoover on Aug. 17 in the preseason closer as the Cats take on the host Huskies and Warren Local (Ohio) beginning at 6 p.m.
Logan County’s other two varsity football teams are also scheduled to see preseason action.
Chapmanville Regional plays a scrimmage game at Sherman on Saturday at 10 a.m., then hosts Class AAA Lincoln County on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. at Tiger Stadium.
Man plays at 3A George Washington on Saturday at 10 a.m. before going to Midland Trail on Aug. 17.
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