Vote: Who is the best quarterback in the Battle Creek area?
BATTLE CREEK - The B.O.B. is back and better than ever.
The Best of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is back for another year and again will include all the teams in the area.
Each week throughout the fall, we are going to ask, "Who is the Best of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in football among the city/area high school teams.
Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. It will be a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field, but once we do, then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.?
Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Monday.
First up is the quarterbacks on the city/area football teams.
VOTE HERE: Who is the top high school quarterback in the Battle Creek area?
Or, scroll down to the bottom of the story for online poll
Here are the nominations:
Maverick Downs
School: Colon
Class: Senior
Why he is on the list: A dual-threat quarterback and the best athlete on the Colon team, Downs is especially dangerous with his feet. In Week 3, Downs rushed for 324 yards on 31 carries and had four touchdowns in an 8-player division win over St. Philip. A two-way player, Downs is also a key performer on the Magi defense.
Jake Kucharczyk
School: Lakeview
Class: Senior
Why he is on the list: A returning starter at quarterback for the Spartans, Jacob Kucharczyk had a big junior season as he became the key running threat for the Spartans and earned All-City honors. His role has been expanded this season as Lakeview has become a passing team and Kucharczyk has become a dual-threat quarterback.
MORE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS:
Who are the newest members of the Lakeview Hall of Fame?
Who are the newest members of the Harper Creek Hall of Fame?
Devoine Newton
School: Battle Creek Central
Class: Senior
Why he is on the list: The unquestioned leader and four-year starter at quarterback, Devoine Newton helped Battle Creek Central to a 7-3 overall record last year and a spot in the playoffs. Newton set the school record for passing yards in a season with 2,465 last year. He passed for 26 touchdowns and added 551 yards rushing to earn all-league honors.
Logan Gilbert
School: Climax-Scotts
Class: Junior
Why he is on the list: The quarterback of the undefeated and state-ranked Climax-Scotts offense, Gilbert is a dual-threat quarterback who does a good job of running the Panthers' hybrid wing-T offense for 8-player football. After starting Game 1 for C-S, Gilbert has been banged up, but is the No. 1 option for the team when healthy and a big part of the future of the program.
MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL:
Enquirer High School Football Predictions for Friday Night
Enquirer Scouting Reports for Friday Night
Jesus Macedo
School: Harper Creek
Class: Junior
Why he is on the list: In his second year as the starter, Macedo has grown into the role of the leader of the Harper Creek offense and has the Beavers undefeated and ranked in the state in the early going. Macedo showed his talents as a quarterback in the season opener when he led Harper Creek to a game-winning drive over Lakeview in the final minute.
Austin Miller
School: Marshall
Class: Junior
Why he is on the list: Earning the starting spot at quarterback as a sophomore and being picked Second-Team All-League, Miller has come into this season as the leader of the Redhawk offense. Miller threw for 244 yards and two scores in a win against Coldwater in Week 3.
Colt Myers
School: St. Philip
Class: Junior
Why he is on the list: A returning starter and All-City pick a year ago, Colt Myers has had a fast start to his junior season for the Tigers. A leader on and off the field, Myers is a true dual-threat quarterback in the 8-player football system with 230 yards and five touchdowns rushing through three games and 389 yards and nine touchdowns passing.
Elijah Payne
School: Union City
Class: Junior
Why he is on the list: Payne helped Union City to a Big Eight title a year ago, with over 1,100 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. As a senior, Payne has the Chargers at 3-0 in the early going and in first place once again in the league.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
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This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Vote: Who is the best quarterback in the Battle Creek area?
