The three area teams that made the state finals – Berkeley Prep, Jesuit and Tampa Bay Tech – all have quarterbacks who are first-year starters with their current team. All had to replace starters who are playing in college. The expectations – and the pressure that comes with it – was enormous. Still, this trio was able to thrive in the spotlight and they now have their teams on the brink of winning state titles.
Luke Knight, Jr., Jesuit
In the offseason, Knight had the unenviable task of taking over the starting spot from Joe Pesansky, the Florida Dairy Farmers’ Class 5A player of the year who set nearly every single season passing record while leading the Tigers to the state semifinals.
Knight has the luxury of playing behind a veteran offensive line and having a pair of Division I-A receiving targets in Jaydn Girard (Wake Forest) and Junior Vandeross (Toledo).
That supporting cast helped Knight thrive.
In 14 games, Knight has thrown for 2,164 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions while leading Jesuit to its first state championship game appearance since 1992.
Troy Reader, Jr., Berkeley Prep
Troy Reader’s top sport is baseball. After all, the Notre Dame commit is considered one of the top players in the Class of 2023.
Last year, Raeder did not attempt a pass on varsity. Still, he ended up having a prominent role in the offense as the replacement at quarterback for Gavin Rupp, who spent this past season as a walk-on at Rutgers.
Reader was not asked to sling the ball much during the season, especially with a running game that has a pair of 1,000-yard backs in Travis Bates and Xavier Townsend. Reader, though, made each of his passes count with 12 touchdowns and an average of more than 23 yards per completion.
Xavione Washington, Jr., Tampa Bay Tech
Tampa Bay Tech’s quarterbacks recently have produced big numbers. Mike Penix (Indiana) and David Wright (Allen) set nearly every passing record at the school before playing in college.
So the standard was already set when Xavione Washington transferred from Tampa Catholic in the offseason. He has continued the tradition of stellar play at the position, throwing for 2,238 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The dual threat is just as dangerous on the run. Washington ranks as the team’s third-leading rusher with 495 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
And Washington has done something no other quarterback at the school has been to do. He led the Titans to their first undefeated regular season and their first state championship game appearance.
