Sitting in a restaurant, someone looked at Catawba Ridge senior Kayden Hager during a conversation and said, “so you are just the running quarterback.”
Hager, 17, didn’t get upset because to him it isn’t something new that he has heard. But he did what he normally does – went out and proved the naysayer wrong.
The 5’9” dual threat has been proving people wrong the majority of his life. Looked at as a one-dimensional quarterback, Hager has led Catawba Ridge to the 4A Upper State title game at AC Flora Friday night by proving people wrong. In fact, the entire Catawba Ridge football program has proved people wrong this year relishing the underdog role.
“We feed off that mentality,” Hager said.
Hager has been playing football since he was 6-years-old and always at the quarterback position on offense and linebacker on defense.
“I have always wanted to play quarterback, but I will do what it takes to win,” he said. “I like playing them both. It’s fun to me.”
The Copperheads take on an AC Flora team that is No. 1 in 4A and 9-0. AC Flora has been averaging 53 points a game and only giving up about eight. However, Catawba Ridge’s defense this season has been stellar and helped to power them to this point. Something will give Friday night and Hager is prepared to play on both sides of the ball.
Last season, Hager was in a similar position at quarterback sharing time under center. This year, he played more of a role on defense as freshman Jaydn Davis took over at quarterback. However, Davis went down with an injury, putting Hager under center and allowing him to pick up where he left off.
“Last year prepared me for this season,” he said. “My teammates prepared me, had faith in me and we have just kept winning. “
Being under center, defenses expected Hager to just get the ball and take off running. Again, he proved them wrong.
“They always think I’m just a running back,” he said. “It adds fuel to my fire. I feel like I can light teams up in the air if I have to.”
This year Hager has accounted for 17 touchdowns on both the ground and through the air. He has passed for more than 800 yards completing 69 percent of his passes and ran for more than 500 yards, proving he is more than the one-dimensional quarterback people think he is.
“He can do both,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak. “That is tough on defenses. He can get it done. The best thing is, he is smart with the ball. He doesn’t feel the pressure that he has to force something.”
Hager’s work ethic and skill set are getting him noticed by college teams. While he may be considered undersized for a quarterback, Hager plans on doing what he and the Copperheads have always done – keep proving people wrong.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
