Published: August 27, 2008 11:37 pm            

Future stars at Purcell?

Purcell coach Mike Wilson remembers a few years ago when his team faced Millwood, which featured a young Gerald Jones at quarterback. Jones was just a freshman leading the Falcons’ attack and Wilson remembers the young player being good but not spectacular.

“He wasn’t asked to win games,” Wilson said. “They just wanted him to manage the game, hand the ball off to the running backs and throw a few passes. Basically, they wanted the experienced guys around him to win the game.”

Three years later, Jones would be a blue chip recruit, sought after by Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and various major powers around the country. He signed with Tennessee.

“Of course by the time he was a senior, he was one of the best players in the state,” Wilson said. “He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Purcell may be in the same situation. The Dragons currently have two quarterback candidates, one a sophomore and one a freshman. And the way Wilson talks, the freshman, Cole Swayze, has a real chance to start.

At 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, Wilson calls the freshman a prototypical quarterback. He has a strong arm and is quick on his feet.

“I think he has a better than a legitimate chance to be the starter,” Wilson said. “He’s big and tall, has a good arm and good legs. He’s the fastest kid on the freshman team.”

If he does get the nod over Marcum, it would be the first time Wilson has ever had a freshman starter at quarterback. Wilson has started a freshman in emergency situations only, but never to start the season.

Like Jones at Millwood, Swayze wouldn’t be asked to do too much.

“If he starts, we’ll have to organize a gameplan where he doesn’t have to win a game for us,” Wilson said. “He just has to manage a game and not make every play.”

The last freshman to start for Purcell was actually Marcum, who started a couple of games last season when Seth Barrett was suspended.

So Marcum might actually be leading by a nose in this race, although it’s still too early to tell. The 6-0, 165-pound Marcum is a better runner than Swayze, but not as good a passer.

Still, both are capable and Wilson is still entertaining the possibility of playing both quarterbacks.

There’s a precedent for that approach. Two years ago, Wilson had two talented quarterbacks in Chase Page and Adam Schneberger. Both played throughout the season.

“Each one of those guys was injured at some point in the season,” Wilson said. “But we had two talented guys, so we never felt like we were at a disadvantage.”

Whether Wilson uses one or two quarterbacks, the Dragons still have two quality running backs to fall back on. J. R. Madden (5-11, 180) gained about 900 yards last year, while Stanley Brown (5-7, 160) rushed for about 800.

With a new quarterback, the Dragons might rely on their running backs a little more this season.

“As good as they are, I think we can rely on them a little more,” Wilson said.

They’ll be running behind a line that returns Dustin Reid, Cody Moring and Orlando Hudson.

Outside of quarterback, the other big question mark is the defense, where just four starters are back. Still, High School Sports The Magazine has the Dragons second in 3A-2 behind Marlow.

“That might be a little optimistic,” Wilson said. “But I think if we can continue to develop the way we should, then we can be a team to contend with by the end of the year.”

        

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