Before the game, fans were saying it was Presbyterian quarterback Todd Cunningham.

When the game was over, however, they realized they were touting the wrong guy. The best quarterback in the league may well have played for the home team.

And there are seven Catawba Indian receivers who will gladly tell you who that new No. 1 quarterback is.

Mitch Ellis.

The former North Rowan star completed 21-of-31 passes for a career high 264 yards in a 24-10 pasting of the Blue Hose Saturday at Shuford Field. It was the first time since 1995 that Presbyterian hadn’t ruined Catawba’s chances at the Division II playoffs in the sixth week of the season.

Ellis scrambled and hit his targets. He dropped back and hit his targets. He threw accurate tosses short and accurate tosses long.

He was the best quarterback on the field.

Those seven receivers who hauled in 21 passes were giddy afterward. Make no mistake about it. They love Mitch, their main man.

“Everybody always gives that Presbyterian quarterback all the (press) but I feel we have the best quarterback in the South Atlantic Conference,” said freshman Nick Means.

“That’s a good defense,” whewed Cunningham, a talented, 6-foot-3, 215-pound soph. “They really got after me.”

Who impressed Cunningham the most? Pick a name. Any name.

Shaun Sanders, DeVonte Peterson, David Huey and Shawn McBride chased Cunningham with abandon. Jason Cross stopped Presbyterian’s first drive with an interception inside the 10 and knocked Travis Smith to the ground so hard on a punt return that it made the earth move.

It was contagious. True freshmen Todd McComb and Danny McLeod were all over Cunningham. Darris Morris, a sophomore, made sure people would remember his No. 9 from now on. He caused one fumble that McBride pounced on. Freshman Ryan Norman made a critical break-up of a pass in the end zone with the Blue Hose within seven points. And when Derrick Montgomery couldn’t play due to a bum ankle, redshirt freshman James McDowell got a chance, pummeling the offensive lineman across from him.

Even though he matched Ellis with 21 completions, the beleaguered Cunningham averaged just nine yards per.

“They really got after me,” he said, shaking his head. “They brought the house.”

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On the other side of the ball, Catawba offensive coordinator Jamie Snider and receivers coach Chip Hester obviously did their homework, focusing on the Blue Hose secondary.

“They played off the ball a lot,” explained Snider, “so our passing game was based on throwing underneath. We wanted to take our chances with the short routes.”

Which, of course, left Ellis smiling. It made his high school coach, Roger Secreast, who was in attendance, smile even more. They both knew what was about to happen. Ellis was going to pick the Blue Hose apart.

Cedric Squirewell for six yards. Damien Bennett for nine. Means for 12 and Derek Spencer for 11. Arnold Gaither for 10 and O.J. Lennon for 12. And when Presbyterian inched closer, he provided a look at his strong arm, tossing a 46-yard scoring pass to Ryan Millwood.

When Presbyterian got within 17-10 in the fourth period, everyone was holding their breath. Were the Indians going to blow another lead?

Not this time. Ellis allowed Means, a true freshman from Thomasville, to score his first collegiate touchdown on a perfect catch-and-run that totaled 57 yards, finishing off a day like he used to have on a regular basis for Secreast.

“It’s a Rowan County thing,” Ellis chuckled of his 31 attempts. In high school, all we did was pass.”

Ellis then showcased the smile of his high school days, something that was seldom seen last season when he battled injuries and a new offense.

“ Now, I really feel confident in what we’ve got going,” the junior said. “I feel I’m 100 percent and I’m ready to take on whatever they want to throw at me.”

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Catawba, at 5-1, is eyeing the Division II playoffs and the team knows the only way to make it in is to win out. The Indians were ranked 21st in the USA Football Magazine’s Top 30 coming into Saturday.

“Mitch has brought the team a long way,” Millwood said. “We’ve got a long way to go too but I think he’s the guy to lead us us there.”

Millwood may have been buttering Ellis up. If the quarterback has a problem, it’s trying to satisfy his bountiful supply of pass-catchers.

Hester understands. “Before the game, all of the atteniton was on PC’s quarterback and their receivers,” he said. “Our guys got a little mad, to be honest with you. We feel we’re the deepest corps of receivers in the league.”

Doesn’t Ellis know it.

“They all come back saying, ‘I’m open, I’m open,’” he smiled. “It’s hard to keep them all happy, ya know?”

Ellis need not worry after making his own statement Saturday afternoon. His receivers are definitely happy.

And wouldn’t you be if you were running patterns for the best quarterback in the South Atlantic Conference?

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