Madox Wilkey said Red Bank offensive coordinator Drew Akins approached him after last football season and told the freshman that there was a chance he could be the starting varsity quarterback in 2017, provided he made some certain improvements in his game.
Coach Chad Grabowski and his offensive staff knew the team was set at running back with senior Zay Brown returning. Calvin Jackson, currently a junior, quarterbacked last year's team to the second round of the TSSAA Class 3A playoffs, but the coaches thought his multiple talents could best be used elsewhere, if only Wilkey could emerge as the signal-caller.
As fate would have it, 2,124 passing yards by Wilkey later, the Lions are two rounds deeper in the playoffs than last year and tonight at 7 play at Alcoa (11-2) with a berth in the state-championship game on the line.
Wilkey, now a 6-footer who weighs 185 pounds, was the starting quarterback on Red Bank's junior varsity last season. But he said those experiences weren't a great deal of help in preparation for his current job, pointing out that the speed of the game is tremendously greater at the varsity level.
Red Bank's Madox Wilkey (7) throws under pressure from Sequatchie County's Dylan Shaw (53) at Red Bank Community Field on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Red Bank Lions hosted the Sequatchie County Indians in the first round of the TSSAA Class 3A playoffs.
Red Bank's Madox Wilkey (7) watches film from the bench using a television and a tablet during their game against Signal Mountain at Red Bank Community Stadium on Friday, Sept. 1, in Chattanooga, Tenn."Obviously he's a good thrower, and he's distributed the ball well," Grabowski said. "He's also just had a good grasp of the offense. He's a student of the game. He's worked on the reads he needs to go through. He's become a good manager of the game."
The Lions' year started with a loss to Class 5A Soddy-Daisy. But even so, they scored 32 points that night.
The coaches stuck with Wilkey and Red Bank has won 11 of 12 since, scoring 40 or more points eight times.
"As the season has gone by, I've gotten more comfortable," Wilkey said.
Wilkey acknowledges the talent around him, starting with an offensive line that has helped pave the way for Brown to top the 2,000-yard mark rushing. Jackson's new role is as a combined rusher and receiver and he's totaled more than 1,800 yards from scrimmage. The two have teamed to score more than 300 points.
"Having Zay and Calvin able to run the ball helps open up the passing game and it helps keep him off the ground," Grabowski said of Wilkey, who has completed 151 of 230 passes with 18 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Wilkey likes being able to throw a quick hitch pass to Jackson and watch him do the rest. But it was watching Jackson play quarterback last year while Wilkey was on the sideline where he learned something in particular that's helped him.
"One thing I picked up from him was how calm and collected of a guy he was on the field," Wilkey said. "He showed no emotion. He didn't let anything get to him. I know if I throw a pick, the next drive I've got to come out and forget about it - just keep playing."
Wilkey has an older brother, Hagen, who played quarterback at Red Bank. The younger Wilkey said that has helped when he's had questions at home about playing the position.
Hagen also played baseball at Red Bank and signed with Walters State before eventually transferring to Cleveland State. Madox plays baseball, too, and Grabowski believes the fact that he was in the starting rotation as a freshman has helped him with self-assurance, as well as learning to put any negative play behind him quickly.
Red Bank played at Alcoa last season and, although it lost, held the Tornadoes to a regular-season low of 28 points. Wilkey got into the game late and saw for himself what their defense was all about.
"I expect them to crowd the box," Wilkey said.
If so, Alcoa won't be the first team to take the approach of challenging the young quarterback to perform well in order for Red Bank to win.
"I have to complete passes," Wilkey said. "We have to have no bad plays, no negative plays. We've just got to go up there and compete, don't give up and try to take a lead. We've got to go up there and play as well as we can."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.