By SAMUEL HOOD – Sports Editor
Senior quarterback Aakeem Wise led the Clarke Central High School varsity football team to an 18-0 win over Jonesboro High School in a preseason game on Friday, Aug. 15 at Billy Henderson Stadium.
For the first time in three years, Clarke Central High School football fans have a new starting quarterback.
Senior quarterback Aakeem Wise will have to replace former quarterback Cameron Johnson, a three-year starter who signed with College of Charleston on a basketball scholarship.
“I learned a lot from (Johnson) my first three years up here. I just waited patiently until my name was called. I made the most of it tonight,” Wise said.
Wise accounted for the two touchdowns of the game — one a 20-yard pass to senior Kennon Morrison; the other a screen pass to junior JaQua Daniels for a 40-yard score — as the Gladiators defeated Jonesboro High School 18-0 in their preseason scrimmage.
“He showed us he can scramble, move around, be poised in the pocket and he can create plays,” Head Coach Ahren Self said. “He’s starting to become a leader and he’s only going to get better with the more snaps he takes.”
Wise also showed the ability to scramble and run the football, an attribute that he feels is an important aspect of his game.
“Being a mobile quarterback is an advantage because the defense doesn’t know how to guard you. If I run, they can’t stop it,” Wise said.
Self noticed Wise’s improvement and believes his quarterback has taken command of the offense.
“He showed us he can scramble, move around, be poised in the pocket and he can create plays,” Self said. “He’s starting to become a leader and he’s only going to get better with the more snaps he takes.”
Johnson was in attendance at the scrimmage before he heads off to Charleston. He echoed Self’s sentiments that Wise will only improve as the season progresses.
“(Wise) moved well, threw some good passes and didn’t turn the ball over as much,” Johnson said. “Again, it’s the first game. He has a lot to improve on, but I think he’s getting the feel of the game for himself because he’s actually out there now.”
Wise is not the only inexperienced player on the team. Self dressed out 15 freshman against Jonesboro game and allowed most of them to play. Despite the youth movement, Johnson believes the team will perform well.
“As (the underclassmen) get older, more mature and stay in the system longer, I think they will become one hell of a team,” Johnson said. “Clarke Central doesn’t rebuild, they reload.”
Self felt that Wise did not disappoint as a first-time starter despite the limited time he has received in the past.
“With (Johnson) being a three-year starter, (Wise) has been very inexperienced and had limited reps, but I still thought he did some really good things tonight,” Self said.
This story will continue to be updated.
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