An area to watch during the preseason for the Lake Highlands football team is the competition at quarterback between sophomores Trent Jones and Michael Ketchmark. Whatever happens leading up to the Aug. 27 season opener at Mesquite, head coach Scott Smith said there will not be a platoon situation at quarterback.
“Our plan is to have that decision made by the time we step on the field against Mesquite,” Smith said.
Two-a-days, which began Monday, are the first time Jones and Ketchmark have been on the field together since last fall. Ketchmark played baseball in the spring while Jones was sidelined with an injury. Brian Dupree, who took most of the snaps in the spring and in 7-on-7 games, is likely to see action at another position.
That means whoever wins the job, Jones or Ketchmark, will just be a sophomore. Smith said that’s not as much of a concern because the two rotated last season as the varsity backup and the JV starter.
“We don’t feel like they’re sophomores,” Smith said. “We feel like they’re a little bit ahead of the game.”
Smith said production and leadership will be the determining factors in choosing a starter.
“When you get right down to it, we want a guy that can put the ball in the end zone, whether he’s running it or throwing it,” Smith said. “He’s got to be able to lead the offense.”
