Spring football: St. Andrew's out to find new QB to link with explosive playmaker
BOCA RATON — The St. Andrew’s Scots football program is returning a lot of talented players, but former quarterback Jacob Cashion is not one of them.
With the senior having graduated, eighth-grade signal-caller Jack Williams is stepping in.
And if Thursday’s spring game against Boca Christian is to serve as a preview for what is to come — well, he’s pretty good.
“He sure didn’t play like an eighth-grader,” St. Andrew’s head coach Jimmy Robertson said. “Our receivers worked hard all spring, and they make it a little bit easier for the quarterback, but he did one heck of a job and I’m proud of Jack Williams and the rest of the offense.”
Every young gun needs a go-to receiver, and if another prediction is to be gleaned from Thursday’s spring action, it’s that Teddy Hoffman is quickly becoming that guy.
Williams found him across the field: short, long, to either side and twice in the end zone.
And while Williams' transition shouldn’t be expected to be seamless, having a receiver like Hoffman is going to go a long way in smoothing those edges.
“He’s an explosive player,” Robertson said. “Obviously, tonight, you saw he’s got great ball skills. He can high-point the ball. He’s a great route runner. He’s the total package.”
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While both St. Andrew’s and Boca Christian saw players make impressive plays, the top highlight of the night came when Hoffman raced to the corner of the end zone, leaped over his defender, and high-pointed the ball on Williams’ crystal-clean delivery.
It’s the type of play that showcased two things — Hoffman’s superior athletic ability, and, just as importantly, Williams’ trust in his playmaker.
They’re two things that appear primed to jump-start the young duo’s chemistry for the Scots.
In speaking on Thursday’s spring game, Hoffman deflected much of the team’s success, choosing humility while showering his quarterback with praise.
But when pressed for his biggest strengths on the field, Hoffman finally relented.
“I don’t think nobody can guard me,” he said.
It was a true enough statement on Thursday, and Robertson knows that the sophomore has a bright future ahead.
“He’s 6 feet, 175 pounds, and he’s going to be someone to watch the next few years in Palm Beach County, and he’s going to make some football program at the next level better,” he said.
But that’s for then. For now, both Robertson — and Williams — are glad to have him as a Scot.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: St. Andrew's football: Young quarterback taking reins in spring ball
