By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com
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Cody Schecter realizes he isn’t Travis Hawkins, the blue-chip prospect he has had to replace over the past couple of games.
Schecter’s now a quarterback whose last experience was freshman year on junior varsity. He’s a defensive back, but unlike Hawkins doesn’t have the University of Maryland calling for his services.
Schecter does share one key thing with Hawkins, however. It doesn’t matter where you put him on the field, he’ll do well.
In his second game starting at quarterback, Schecter rushed for one touchdown and scored another on a 43-yard interception return, leading Quince Orchard to a 28-14 win over Northwest Friday night in Gaithersburg.
“The thing about Cody Schecter is he’s one of those old-school throwback football players,†Quince Orchard Coach Dave Mencarini said. “The kid has played football his whole life. He’s one of the few kids in high school that can play multiple positions and play them well.â€
Hawkins returned to the Cougars’ defensive unit Friday night, donning eye black with the words “I’m back.†But Hawkins only played defense. As Mencarini said afterwards, he has complete trust in Schecter to handle the offense and he doesn’t want to rush Hawkins.
Schecter’s offensive numbers aren’t eye-popping. He was 3-of-8 for 18 yards passing. But put into a tough situation when starting quarterback Kevin Adams and backup Hawkins went down against Sherwood (Adams is done for the season with a broken collarbone) Schecter simply says he tries his best.
“It was pretty unexpected,†Schecter said. “I knew if Travis and Kevin both went down I guess I was the guy to go to because I did play quarterback my JV years. … After this past week I feel really comfortable with it.â€
But Schecter’s true love is defense, he says. With Quince Orchard (8-1) still tied with Northwest (5-4) after a defensively dominated and turnover-laden first quarter, Schecter intercepted the first pass of the second quarter and returned it 43 yards for the game’s first score. He sniffed-out a Northwest play that Quince Orchard had specifically practiced during the week.
“I saw the screen coming, so I just jumped it real quick,†Schecter said. “I saw green grass to the sidelines so I took it home.â€
Jumpstarted by Schecter’s touchdown, Quince Orchard held Northwest to a three-and-out on its next drive and scored on the following possession.
Schecter ran for seven yards and passed for nine more on the drive and Dawuan Genies ran the ball three times for 38 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown scamper down the left sideline. Genies finished with 95 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 18 carries to pace the offense.
“I knew I’ve got to step up more because I knew coaches would expect more out of me,†Genies said. “I know I can’t pop it every run but every chance I get I take it.â€
Northwest scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter on Hassan Dixon runs of four and nine yards, respectively but couldn’t climb all the way back. The loss drops Northwest to 5-4.
For Quince Orchard, it was a statement that while things have changed with Adams’ and Hawkins’ injuries, the Cougars are still very capable of defending their 4A state title.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in Cody Schecter too,†Genies said.
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