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COACH BENJI SONNICHSEN
COACHING QB's
PLAYER:
I played QB from 6th grade through 12th grade for the Prosser Mustangs. We were ranked 17th in the Nation during my HS years.
QB Stats:
Our QB play has produced some of the best (SINGLE GAME) stat lines in the state of WA. Here are my (5) top statistical games during my Head Coaching tenure.
YEAR / QB / OPPONENT / YARDS / TDs:
1.) (2016) / Payton Loucks (Mead) / WALLA WALLA / 575 yds / 7 TDs
*** as a team we threw for 665 yds / 9 TDs
2.) (2019) / Ryan Blair (Mead) / MARINA CA. / 513 yds / 8 TDs
3.) (2016) / Payton Loucks (Mead) / FERRIS / 433 yds / 7 TDs
4.) (2019) / Ryan Blair (Mead) / UNIVERSITY / 431 yds / 6 TDs
5.) (2013) / Mason Schutt (Prosser) / TUMWATER / 406 yds / 5 TDs
*** Kellen Moore (2006) WA Gatorade P.O.Y., Heisman Finalist for Boise State, NFL QB is the bench mark for HS QB performance. Kellen was a 6' athlete with average arm strength and average HS speed. I played for his dad in HS and was an assistant coach during Kellen's HS career at Prosser.
Below are the regarded top (3) ALL TIME QB's in the State of WA as far as passing records. Our QB Payton Loucks ranked right up their with the top passers. Here are their top (SINGLE GAME) performances ....
(2013) / Brett Rypien (Shadle Park) / MT. SPOKANE / 613 yds / 8 TDs
(2016) / Payton Loucks (Mead) / WALLA WALLA / 575 yds / 7 TDs
(2018) / Sam Huard (Kennedy Catholic) / C. SEALTH / 552 yds / 10 TDs
(2006) / Kellen Moore (Prosser) / WAPATO / 431 yds / 8 TDs
Our QB's have also produced some of the best (REGULAR SEASON) stat lines in the state of WA. Here are my (5) top stat lines for 10 regular season games.
YEAR / QB / COMP - ATT. / YARDS / TDs:
1.) (2016) / Payton Loucks (Mead) / 245 - 385 / 3,525 yds / 48 TD's
2.) (2019) / Ryan Blair (Mead) / 170 - 257 / 2,565 yds / 32 TD's
3.) (2013) / Mason Schutt (Prosser) / 158 - 297 / 2,346 yds / 29 TD's
4.) (2012) / Ryan Fassler (Prosser) / 196 - 288 / 2,235 yds / 30 TD's
5.) (2014) / Jones - Blair - Bolt (Prosser) / 172 - 309 / 2,213 yds / 42 TD's
*** In my opinion, Kellen is the bench mark for HS QB play. Unlike Brett and Sam, Kellen didn't have the physical talent they had. However, Kellen was gifted mentally and was in a great HS system for QB play. Payton Loucks also was in our system and didn't have the physical talent like Brett or Sam, but put up numbers very similar to them due to our system of QB development. Payton didn't have any scholarship WR's either.
Top (REGULAR SEASON) performances ....
(2014) / Brett Rypien (Shadle Park) / 280 - 430 / 3,753 yds / 43
(2006) / Kellen Moore (Prosser) / 239 - 310 / 3,606 yds / 58
(2016) / Payton Loucks (Mead) / 245 - 385 / 3,525 yds / 48
(2019) / Sam Huard (Kennedy Catholic) / 220 - 345 / 3,480 yds / 49
COACHING:
After my college career at PLU, I came back to Prosser in (2002) to coach HS football and that's where my work with coaching QB's began. Working with QB's I emphasize these 5 qualities of QB play.
1.) QB Mechanics
2.) Footwork
3.) Accuracy with Teammates and within OUR system
4.) Decision Making within OUR system
5.) Leadership within OUR system.
We have always believed that 7on7 teams are a waste of time. (1st), it's fake football that teaches bad habits if you aren't working directly with your play caller in a drill setting. (2nd), 7on7 teams get you playing with different players that you don't play with in a real game, so you are tearing down your team, not building / investing in your team. There are so many negative elements to 7on7 that the few positive elements don't make it worthwhile.
Compare our stats with your stats. Did your 7on7 teams help you when it mattered?
In 15 years of Head Coaching and working directly with QB's I have coached 10 different varsity QB's. 9 of the 15 years our QB's were All League Players. 3 of the 15 years it was a rebuilding year going to a new school. 1 of the 15 years was COVID and my son Jo was the starting varsity QB as a freshman.
7 of the 10 QB's went on to play collegiate Football. None of the QB's I coached played higher than D2 collegiate football. We still produced BIG TIME numbers without the D1 talent.
Our QB's are NOT in a pass heavy offense as well. We look for balance. 50/50 pass / run ratio. Here are my OFFENSIVE STAT LINES from 2009 - 2021. We averaged over 100 yds per game rushing other than one season in 2015.
© B. Sonnichsen
1996 Benji Sonnichsen
(fall) 2021 Jo Sonnichsen
(spring) 2021 Jo Sonnichsen
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