Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

KHQA AWARDS WEEK

2012 KHQA Missouri/Iowa Offensive Player of the Year

AUSTIN EGLEY, QB, Clark County

Past Winners:

2011: Scott Kroeger, Clopton/Elsberry

2010: Mark Nemes, Hannibal

2009: Justin Alderton, Clark County

2008: Shawn Maloney, Monroe City

2007: James Hurt, Keokuk

2006: James Vandenberg, Keokuk

2005: Josh Roberts, Clark County

2004: Jared Bichsel, Monroe City

2003: Aaron Bergeson, Hannibal

2002: Clint Carroz, Mark Twain

2001: Wentric Williams, Hannibal

2000: Will Clayton, Hannibal

1999: Matt Paris, Monroe City

1998: Craig Lewis, Keokuk

1997: Ryan Watson, Monroe City

It wasn't exactly an orthodox football approach, but Clark County Offensive Coordinator Scott Murdoch isn't one to get too terribly caught up in convention. Or labels.

His bottom line: making the Indian Attack as productive and explosive as it could possibly be.

In so doing, Clark County would turn the definition of the term "feature back" on its ear; a phenomenon that perfectly underscores the uniqueness and impact of Austin Egley in the Fall of 2012.

Though he was technically the Indians "quarterback" this season, that label seems limiting and somewhat misleading as to the role Austin would fulfill for his team. Consider it telling that Clark County Coach Quentin Hamner referred to Egley as Running Back plus on more than a few occasions. To wit, your typical high school signal caller merits somewhere between 20-40 designed run plays a season, depending upon their athleticism. The Indians called Egley's number just shy of 200 times this season. Why the atypical rushing workload for a quarterback, you ask? Because Austin was such an atypical talent. Blessed with blazing speed, a remarkably sturdy frame, and one of the highest IQ's, football or otherwise, in the region, Egley emerged as the most lethal ground weapon, per rep, in Tri State Football. He averaged north of nine yards per carry, scored 19 rushing touchdowns, and amassed 1855 ground yards alone. That was All State level Tailback production from a kid who would have been entirely limited by lining up in the actually tailback position.

There might have been no more daunting truth in Northeast Missouri Football this season than this: every Clark County Offensive play would start with the ball in Austin Egley's hands first...ith a running start at the line of scrimmage, a clear view of the field, a chance to read a defense....

But also the proposition that the kid might well burn you by getting rid of the football as well. He threw for better than 11 hundred yards this season and 14 touchdowns, just enough conventional quarterback punch to keep opponents honest. That mix of attributes would net Clark County 12 straight victories to open the year, 424 total points, and a Clarence Cannon Conference Title victory in Centralia that ended the Panthers seven year league stranglehold. And it would net Austin Egley himself a pair of All State Nods and honors as your Clarence Cannon Conference Offensive Player of the Year...as well as a well earned nod here as the most dangerous football weapon in our area West of the Mississippi in 2012.