Seven days.
That's all that separates the Dodge City Community College Conquistadors football team from its 2009 season opener against Trinity Valley Aug. 29 at Memorial Stadium.
And as head coach Bob Majeski and his coaching staff continue to shape their 55-man roster, one question still looms — Who will be the Conqs' starting quarterback?
With the race now down to two — first-year quarterbacks Lane Kendall and Justin Heard, Majeski and Dodge offensive coordinator Michael Garrison have a lot of particulars to evaluate before the start of the new season.
"Right now Justin Heard is ahead of Lane by a little bit, so essentially both of them will play," Garrison said. "Justin probably brings a little bit more athleticism to the table. Lane has been trained as a quarterback so he has a presence, a poise under pressure."
As a high school quarterback in LaGrange, Ga., Heard worked primarily in the shotgun formation where he was able to utilize his athleticism and make plays on the run. Though he will still be able to rely on his ability in Dodge, Garrison said Heard will work a lot under center.
Kendall, a product of Haviland High School, is used to depending less on his legs and more on his arm strength and accuracy, but coming from a much smaller eight-man football program to DCCC has proven to be a tough adjustment for the Kansas native.
"It is a little transition problem for him right now because he was an eight-man player, so there's six extra guys out there that he's wondering what the heck they're doing," Garrison said.
Garrison, who has worked closely with both Kendall and Heard since the start of training camp Aug. 6, said Kendall has improved drastically since arriving on campus.
"He's gotten so much better from day one to now that he will play, both of them will play," he said.
Heard and Kendall are looking to replace Colby Mcgill who led the Conqs in passing attempts, completions, touchdowns and average passing yards per game last season.
"Last summer, we had a young man who was basically a two-year starter going into the season," Garrison said. "It was a lot different transition because he knew the speed of the game. These guys, we have to practice fast to get them used to it, but you can never simulate the game speed. So the first snap will be an interesting snap. It could be interesting."
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Seven days.
That's all that separates the Dodge City Community College Conquistadors football team from its 2009 season opener against Trinity Valley Aug. 29 at Memorial Stadium.
And as head coach Bob Majeski and his coaching staff continue to shape their 55-man roster, one question still looms — Who will be the Conqs' starting quarterback?
With the race now down to two — first-year quarterbacks Lane Kendall and Justin Heard, Majeski and Dodge offensive coordinator Michael Garrison have a lot of particulars to evaluate before the start of the new season.
"Right now Justin Heard is ahead of Lane by a little bit, so essentially both of them will play," Garrison said. "Justin probably brings a little bit more athleticism to the table. Lane has been trained as a quarterback so he has a presence, a poise under pressure."
As a high school quarterback in LaGrange, Ga., Heard worked primarily in the shotgun formation where he was able to utilize his athleticism and make plays on the run. Though he will still be able to rely on his ability in Dodge, Garrison said Heard will work a lot under center.
Kendall, a product of Haviland High School, is used to depending less on his legs and more on his arm strength and accuracy, but coming from a much smaller eight-man football program to DCCC has proven to be a tough adjustment for the Kansas native.
"It is a little transition problem for him right now because he was an eight-man player, so there's six extra guys out there that he's wondering what the heck they're doing," Garrison said.
Garrison, who has worked closely with both Kendall and Heard since the start of training camp Aug. 6, said Kendall has improved drastically since arriving on campus.
"He's gotten so much better from day one to now that he will play, both of them will play," he said.
Heard and Kendall are looking to replace Colby Mcgill who led the Conqs in passing attempts, completions, touchdowns and average passing yards per game last season.
"Last summer, we had a young man who was basically a two-year starter going into the season," Garrison said. "It was a lot different transition because he knew the speed of the game. These guys, we have to practice fast to get them used to it, but you can never simulate the game speed. So the first snap will be an interesting snap. It could be interesting."
