By David Shaw
dshaw@salisburypost.com
MOCKSVILLE ó You’d think two seasons in the waiting room would have felt like an eternity to Zach Illing ó but you’d be wrong.
In fact, the Davie County senior says the time he spent carrying clipboards for all-CPC quarterback Garrett Benge was worth the wait.
“My first year on varsity was just learning the system,” said Illing, forced to play Salieri to Benge’s Mozart in 2006 and 2007. “It was things you have to know. Last year was spent watching (Benge), waiting for my chance to get in. It was hard at times, but it seemed to pass pretty quick. I always knew when my chance came I’d be prepared.”
Opportunity hasn’t just knocked for Illing and the 2-0 War Eagles this season. It’s huffed and puffed and blown the door down.
“You could see this coming,” said teammate Josh Burcham, a senior left tackle. “Every time he went in last year he did a great job. I’ve been playing with him and blocking for him since we were in fifth grade, and I’ve always believed he’s been a great quarterback.”
That may be a well-intended stretch by a close friend, but Illing’s first two games have certainly pleased Davie fans and coaches. In an opening-week rout of Watauga he completed 10 of 14 passes for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He scrambled for another 13 yards.
“What I liked was how he stood in the pocket and took hits,” said Davie coach Doug Illing, Zach’s father. “There were two passes that Joe Watson caught, and Zach hung in there, made the play and got hit real hard afterward.
“Most guys would have been tempted to just tuck it and run.”
Not Illing, who’s 5-foot-11, 175 pounds. Watching him direct Davie’s offense in last Friday’s 35-21 victory over West Rowan was like watching Picasso paint ó all the pieces didn’t necessarily go together, but he produced something extraordinary.
“I don’t know how he does it sometimes,” Burcham said. “He trusts us, I guess. He knows we’re going to block for him on every play.”
Illing was spectacular against the visiting Falcons, completing 16 of 27 passes for 281 yards and two more TDs. His effort proved all the more valuable after Davie running back James Mayfield ó a 1,400-yard rusher in 2007 ó went down with a shoulder injury in the first quarter.
“We didn’t have a running game,” Illing said. “And at first they were blitzing me, probably because I’m so small. But once we started beating them deep in man (coverage), they dropped back in a zone. That made a difference.”
Illing’s first touchdown pass came on a 5-yard toss to Darius Wilson and provided a 14-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.
“We ran the same play twice in a row,” Illing said with a sheepish grin. “On the first one we got a pass interference call. We came right back with the same call and (Wilson) was wide open.”
The game’s biggest play came with 5:10 remaining in the third quarter, when Watson turned a short sideline completion into a 66-yard touchdown.
“It was an ‘A’ route,” said Watson, a first-year sophomore with three TD grabs. “I just caught it and accelerated out of my cut. It was an accurate throw. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
There’s been plenty to enjoy for Davie and its new QB. He’s been called the team’s secret weapon ó and likes the way it sounds.
“Yeah,” he said, “and hopefully I’m still a secret.”
Not likely. Illing’s out of the waiting room and producing loud numbers.