PREP PREVIEW: Sophomore Myers ready to lead Pike Road offense
Although just a sophomore, Cason Myers has the tools to lead Pike Road to a big season. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
From Quinshon Judkins to Anthony Rogers to Ja’Michael Jones, Pike Road has had the running backs to put pressure on opposing defenses.
This year, the Patriots may have the passing threat to make the offense even more explosive.
Cason Myers returns for his second season as the starting quarterback and the sophomore should be a lot more dangerous as an experienced passer.
“He developed a lot, maturity wise and skill wise,” said Pike Road junior Jordan Holmes, who plays both at receiver and at defensive back. “He’s put in a lot of work. I’ve seen the difference from last year. I feel like he’s going to produce a lot more this year.”
He was productive last year, completing 66 percent of his passes (199 of 301) for 2,389 yards and 17 touchdowns with just five interceptions. But a lot of those passes were conservative in nature as the coaching staff didn’t want to put too much on a freshman.
“He was voted onto our Leadership Council midway through the season last year and, to me, that kind of sums up how he’s progressed,” Pike Road coach Granger Shook said. “On paper, he’s a sophomore but after playing 14 games last year, he’s really more like a junior experience wise because there’s not a lot of juniors that have started 14 games. I’m really excited about his leadership.”
An added year of experience for the offensive line, for Jones at tailback and in particular for Myers at quarterback, should make the sophomore more effective this fall.
“I think so, for sure,” he said. “I’ll have more time back there and also be able to go through the reads myself and the progressions or choose a ‘man’ side versus a ‘zone’ side and choose the best options for each play.”
His arm was never in question, but how a quarterback is able to dissect an ever-changing defensive alignment is crucial to his effectiveness as a passer.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity I had last year and then being able to go so deep (in the playoffs) and get that experience,” Myers said. “I’ve put on 20-25 pounds this year. That was the big thing I was working on this offseason, trying to get bigger so I could take more hits and also get faster.”
That playoff run ended in the 6A semifinals with a loss to Saraland, snapping an 11-game winning streak after an 0-2 start to the season.
“Early in the season, it taught us a lesson,” Myers said. “We lost the first two (games). We could either fold right there and keep losing or turn it around after Week 2. In the Wetumpka game, we turned it around and got on a streak. Everything changed in practice. The whole practice environment changed. In the playoffs, we were still figuring it out but I think we’ve got it this year. I think we can go all the way and win it this year. We’ve got the experience and we know now what we have to do.”
That extra year of maturity at quarterback should serve the Patriots well. Shook believes his quarterback’s leadership is just as valuable as his athletic ability in helping Pike Road take the next step as a football program.
“He does a great job of keeping practice lighthearted,” Shook said. “He does a great job of making it fun. But God has blessed him with great athletic ability. He’s as smart of a sophomore quarterback that I’ve ever been around. He just grasps it. It comes to him naturally.”
Pike Road opens the 2024 season Thursday against Prattville at Wetumpka Municipal Stadium.