By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE — In the end, there just wasn’t enough data to separate a pair of quarterbacks for The Tribune’s first Player of the Week award, so Moody’s Cole McCarty and Center Point’s Jabari Collier share the honor.
Center Point’s Jabari Collier (left) and Moody’s Cole McCarty (right).
What counts more? McCarty’s 16-for-21 passing for 363 yards and four touchdowns, with 18 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown to boot? Or is it Collier’s 206 yards on the ground, four rushing touchdowns, 8-for-11 passing for 173 yards and a touchdown?
Both quarterbacks accounted for five touchdowns. Both of their teams won. Both QBs put up 55 points on the scoreboard. McCarty had 381 total yards. Collier had 379 total yards. McCarty hit 76.19 percent of his throws. Collier hit 72.73 percent of his. Both guys led their teams to road victories to open the season.
So maybe McCarty has the slight numerical edge. But is it enough?
Both quarterbacks benefitted from stellar performances around them. Moody’s Davion Dozier caught eight balls for 235 yards and three touchdowns. Center Point’s Troy Bruce rushed for 240 yards on 18 carries for three touchdowns.
Here’s the thing: McCarty is everything coaches said about him coming into the season. He’s extremely accurate, with a strong arm. There’s not a throw he can’t make. Great kid, too. The intangibles are there for him: leadership, football intelligence, the ability to make something happen where it doesn’t look like it can.
But the same thing can be said of Collier. While he doesn’t have McCarty’s arm, Collier is blazingly fast — in the 100 meters, he’s faster than his running back — and he’s got the athletic ability to get into the open field and make people miss. He’s another great kid who has all of the intangibles that a coach would want in a young man who leads his offense. Collier is judicious with his throws, as he doesn’t have to make them with the same frequency as McCarty.
Nobody likes a tie. That’s natural. But in this case, it couldn’t be avoided. The numbers are too tight. The intangibles are too close. Both guys deserve to be recognized after the week they had. McCarty and Collier. Collier and McCarty. This is Collier’s third time being named Player of the Week after winning the award twice in 2021. This is McCarty’s first time earning the recognition.
Collier will lead Center Point in the Eagles’ home opener against Aliceville on Friday, August 26, while McCarty leads Moody in its home opener on the same night against Sylacauga.
Also considered for Player of the Week: Davion Dozier (Moody), Troy Bruce (Center Point), Keywone Posey (Pinson Valley), Zac McCray (Clay-Chalkville).
