Lakota West junior Tyler Jones catches a pass from junior Malik Grove during summer practice July 30, 2012. Jones is competing with Grove for the starting quarterback job this summer. Whoever doesn’t end up at quarterback could see time at wide receiver. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.
Senior left tackle Kyle Meadows believes this could be the year that Lakota West returns to the postseason after it has suffered back-to-back losing seasons.
“Right now, we are at the bottom of the totem pole and we want to go to the playoffs. Ever since Jordan Hicks signed (with Texas after 2009 season), we wanted to get back there,” Meadows said recently after a summer practice session.
“Expectations are very high. We are going to work more than 100 percent … we will not stop at all. It is unbelievable the talent we have. We just have to put it to good use.”
As evident by the numerous college scholarship offers, Meadows is among the most talented players on the roster. The senior anchors an offensive line, which still doesn’t know who will be under center to start the season.
“The best thing I got right now is that I got two real good quarterbacks,” Lakota West head coach Larry Cox said of his two junior QBs Malik Grove and Tyler Jones. “I have a luxury and I am going to use that luxury.
“To be honest that is something that won’t play out until the end.”
Last summer, Cox made the decision just days from the season opener to start Jones over Grove and then junior Dustin Parker.
Despite losing six of his seven starts, Jones finished fifth in passing yards in the Greater Miami Conference, threw nine touchdowns and rushed for three more in 2011.
In Week 7, Grove replaced Jones and nearly led the Firebirds to an upset victory over Colerain. In that game, Grove completed 14-of-23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
After the heartbreaking defeat, Grove would start the remaining three games for Lakota West and helped lead the team to wins against Hamilton and Lakota East.
“It is kind of like the Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez situation,” Grove joked about the current quarterback controversy at West. “We are both getting work at wide receiver too … it will be alright.” (more…)
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