Rock Hill football coach Joe Montgomery is not one to change something that's tried and true.
With the 2010 season unfolding with Friday's first practice, the two-headed quarterback system is in place for the Bearcats. Montgomery feels good about the two juniors who will run the offense and start for the first time.
Montgomery's offense calls for a runner and a passer, which gives him the option of switching gears at any time during a game to show the opponents a different look. This year's runner is Kenterius Hinton. The passer is Corey Wessinger.
"They remind me of last year's quarterbacks, Randall (Dixon) and Ya (Jontavious Stewart),'' Montgomery said. "Corey is like Randall; a strong and accurate arm with the ability to get us down the field. Right now, I'd give him the edge because he has a complete understanding of our offense.
"Kenterius is a lot like Ya; can run the "Wildcat'' and can pass if he needs to. But he'll mainly be in to run, while Corey will be in to pass. Both are alike in that they can run the team. The one we have in the game as our starter will be the one that gets us in the end zone during our scrimmages and jamborees. If it's not going well, we have the option of changing the pace.''
Rock Hill was ranked No. 2 in the state most of last season and crept into the national rankings. The Bearcats were 11-0 heading into the playoffs, but the motor died in an upset loss to Spartanburg in the first round.
Gone from that team are 17 starters, 10 on offense. So a lot of what happens this season will depend on how the young guys step in. It starts under center.
"I told our guys there is no way we have the talent we had last year when we lost in the first round of the playoffs,'' Montgomery said. "But I told them that there was no way we were going to lose in the first round this year.
"Our situation presents a lot of opportunity for our kids. We have worked hard at our 7-on-7s and we came away pretty sharp from the competition. And these guys have been working hard, which is what you can expect with so many starting spots open.''
Going head-to-head is nothing new for Wessinger and Hinton. When they were freshmen, Hinton won the starting job and was under center for the Bearcats opening game at District Three Stadium. On his second snap, Hinton made an awkward twist and tore his ACL.
Wessinger moved into the starting role and led the Bearcats to a 9-1 record.
Both know the situation this year is different. Wessinger started for the JV team and dressed with the varsity on Fridays last season. He threw the first touchdown pass of his varsity career.
Hinton was a starting cornerback on the JV team, but was not fully recovered from his ACL surgery, Montgomery said.
"Coach Montgomery said the quarterback that plays best in our scrimmages will be the opening-night starter,'' Wessinger said. "But no matter who starts, both of us are going to get playing time. Coach told us when it got down to the end, the quarterback who is playing best will be in the game. I'm fine with that.''
Hinton is more like Stewart in that he is easily the fastest player on the roster. Mention his name and you here: "That kid can fly.'' And although both said it doesn't matter which of the two start, it's on their minds.
They have an idea of what has to happen to get ahead of the other. And like their styles, their assessments are nowhere alike.
"I have to work on my passing," said Hinton, 5-feet-10, 170 pounds. "At spring practice, my arm was terrible. I've improved since then. I'm a little faster than Corey, but he can run too. But I really do need to get better with my passing.''
For Wessinger, it comes down to a head game.
Montgomery is an expert at getting into a player's head, talking to him and pointing out mistakes to make him better. Wessinger said he knows that, but does not handle it well.
"It's something I have to work on,'' said Wessinger, 6-feet-2, 170 pounds. "I know when it's coming but there are times I let it get to me. I have to learn to forget a mistake and get ready for the next play. I'm making good progress in that area.
"Kenterius and I have played football and basketball on the same teams since we were in middle school. We know each other well. We like each other well. We are in a competition, but we keep in mind that it's a friendly one and neither of us cares who's in the game as long as we are putting the ball in the end zone.''
NOTES: Rock Hill has a new dark uniform this season. Montgomery said the Bearcats will wear a uniform very similar to the Cincinnati Bearcats.
"Our new dark one will look just like theirs,'' he said. "What didn't change is our logo. The RH in the diamond was brought here by (former coach) Jim Ringer. Because of my loyalty and love for him, the logo will stay the same unless somebody else changes it. I won't.''
COACHES: Montgomery has two new varsity coaches, both working with wide receivers.
They are Chris Bates, who came to Rock Hill last year to coach the Bearcats' baseball team, and James Strossman, who played at Irmo and then Newberry in college.
