Announcement
Band of brothers: Jacob latest to ply
trade at quarterback for Buckeye
11/1/2018 - By BRAD BOURNIVAL The Gazette
Throw in a Doerge at quarterback and big things happen for the Buckeye football program.
From Bill in 2011 to Michael in 2016 to Jacob this season, the Bucks and Doerges have been perfect complements.
As each understudy takes the role from the other, there are lessons learned before he takes the field.
For Jacob, time spent as a freshman with Michael taking snaps has made him the quarterback he is as the third-seeded Bucks (9-1) entertain sixth-seeded Alliance (7-3) tonight at 7 in a Division III, Region 9 first-round game at Edwin Steingass Field.
“It definitely helped me understand that I’m going to make mistakes,” Jacob said. “That’s something he really instilled in me when I was preparing for the season. He wasn’t necessarily prepared for the quarterback role, but he did his best to fill it. He said, ‘You have to do your best and hope that it’s enough.’
“I’ve been trying my best to keep the same mindset and work the best I can with everybody else. Luckily, we did, and now we have to try to keep it rolling.”
Bill ran for 593 yards and six touchdowns on 140 carries. He was 56-for-143 for 439 yards and six TDs.
Michael rolled to a senior season that included 212 carries, 1,174 yards and 24 TDs. He was 39-for-70 passing for 515 yards with two TDs.
Jacob has amassed 935 yards and 10 TDs on 144 carries. He’s 35-for-61 for 516 yards and two TDs.
Like Michael, Jacob was moved to the starting role in Week 2 against Rocky River.
Like Michael, he takes a nine-game winning streak into the playoffs.
Not that Jacob cares about any of that. In fact, he’s playing not only for his team but for his brothers and teams of the past.
The game tonight will be the 10th playoff game in team history. The Bucks have lost the previous nine.
“(A 17-14 loss to New Philadelphia in 2016) ate away at Michael for a long time,” Jacob said. “That was a very emotional game. I feel like, for him watching me going into this, it means a lot to him as well. My brother and my family have been through three boys going through football and having rough ends to the seasons.
This is our last shot. Since (last) Friday, I’ve had a lot of excitement, a lot of butterflies, but I’m feeling better. I’m genuinely excited. I can not wait.”
His team-first attitude has made the 6-foot, 204-pound junior a fan and team favorite. Jacob will bow to the defense, offensive line, running backs Dom Monaco and Armando Nigh or wide receiver Anthony Watkins before he points a finger at himself.
“I’ve always tried to be very clear that it’s a team effort,” he said. “I’ve never throughout the season put anything solely on me. I’ve tried my best to include everyone else and make sure they know what they’re doing is impacting everything as a team.”
Jacob’s words aren’t for a sound bite or to deflect praise, nor are they to make him look good in the public eye.
“That’s real,” coach Greg Dennison said. “He’s not saying it just to say it. You can tell by the way he carries himself, things like that are important to him. It’s good to have a guy like that touching the ball every play.”
Jacob’s ability to beat opponents with his legs and arm has paid dividends. That takes pressure off Monaco (110 carries, 668 yards, 18 TDs), Nigh (84, 609, 7) and Watkins (31, 365, 5; 14 receptions, 209 yards).
“All the Doerges are running quarterbacks, and they’re good,” Monaco said. “They can break free for 80-yard runs anytime they get the chance, but they can throw the ball if they have to. It makes my life easier. It takes pressure off the other playmakers when our own quarterback can do that.”
It’s not about completions and yards, either, as Jacob has stepped in and taken the team to its sixth straight postseason appearance.
“I have a lot of confidence in Doerge,” Watkins said. “He’s experienced a lot. I think he can control things. He’ll be able to perform for us and do what he can do. It’s good to know we have someone that can do that.
“We can’t take breaks, but at the same time we know if we’re not going to get something, there’s someone else that can do it. He’s someone that really cares about things and has a lot of passion in what he does. Nothing bad will come from him. He’s going to give everything 100 percent.”
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