EagleTalon

Finished year with 20 INTs and 20 TDs. Even the best have a hard time without a running game, look at Peyton Manning, his INTs to TDs is about even right now. With a underclassman line and 1st year running back linebackers are not kept from blitzing or out of passing lanes. He finished at top of passing leader list in state with 2417 yards and 169 completions as a junior. That is tenth on state record single season passing which includes playoff games without playing a playoff game. 4732 career passing yards. That has been done with underclassmen receivers.

Did not make the playoffs. A young defense could not hold up. Daniel Pugh ended up with 2417 yards passing and 20 TDS on 169 completions to lead the midstate per Tennessean after regular season. Led all west Tennessee passers in completions and yardage per Memphis Commercial Appeal. Led all east Tennessee passers in yardage per Knoxville News Sentinal. Pretty good season with underclassman line, receivers and QB. Zion is going Division II next year with a strong experinced senior class. Look out next year.

Daniel Pugh-QB(6-1 180) Zion Christian Academy has 169 completions and 2417 yards passing with 20 passing TDs and 5 rushing TDS after the regular season. He has 4732 career passing yards after his junior year. Ben Wahlman-WR(6-0, 170) Zion Christian Academy has 56 receptions for 932 yards and 9 TDs. Bryant Belew-WR(6-4, 190) Columbia Central with 4.5-40 yard speed.

There is a lot of screens but there is a lot of every kind of pass running a spread offense. Receivers are one senior, one junior, one 1st year junior and a sophomore with a 1st year senior back out of the backfield. OL is a senior, 2 juniors, a sophmore and a freshman so talent and experience compared to most other schools is lacking. The passing TDs if 13 that you quote is actually 16. Against Huntland yesterday he sliced them up with 3 more TDs and 258 yards and 1 int and 34 points with just 10 completions on 14 attempts. I will just quote in The Columbia Daily Herald Moore County coach Steve Matthews former collegate and NFL quarterack after he racked up 436 yards passing, 3 passing TDs and 3 rushing TDS against his team: " He was on fire. We had some pretty good coverage on him but he made some very nice passes. He is one of the best (QBs)I have ever seen". Considering Coach Matthews experience and knowledge as a quarterback at a very high level I put a lot of weight on his eyewitness evaluation.

A little further digging on those interceptions will find more half of were due to balls passing through receivers hands, off their head or chest and into the hands of the defense due to no fault of the QB. Besides if you pass the ball almost 300 times, 5 % of the time getting an interception can be expected.

Flying under the radar is Daniel Pugh at Zion Christian Academy. 136 pass completions, 16 passing TDs, 1884 yds passing, 4 rushing TDs, averages 35 to 40 yards per punt with two games to go. With limit time on defense has made 2 interceptions. He passed for 436 yds against Moore County with 3 passing TDs and 3 running TDs. Half of his passing yardage has been against Moore County, Collinwood, Wayne County and Mt Pleasant.

Those stats for Daniel Pugh are only partially complete. He has 136 competions, 1884yds passing, 16 TD passes, 4 rushing TDs for a total of 20 TDs. The passing yardage and TDs would be alot higher if not for an average of 7.5 receiver drops per game. He also is the punter averaging 35 to 40 yards per punt and is the holder for extra point and field goals. He plays a limited time on defense but has made 2 interceptions. Against the top 4 teams in the region, Mt Pleasant, Wayne County, Collinwood and Moore County he has 967 yards passing which is over half of 8 game total. So considering the rest of the story on a very small (55 boys in the highschool) football team I think wholder's assessment is correct that he should get 1A Mr Football consideration and certianly all region consideration.