By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
Catawba quarterback Patrick Dennis may be short on size, speed and arm strength, but he’s long on accuracy, smarts and character.
He could write books on character.
“You want to build some character, then start yourself a high school football team,” Dennis said with a smile.
Dennis, a sophomore who threw for 357 yards in a 37-35 victory over Tusculum on Saturday, is the SAC Offensive Player of the Week.
Six years ago, Dennis was a freshman quarterback at Cedar Ridge, a brand new 2A school in Hillsborough.
Dennis’ sister had gone to Hillsborough’s 4A Orange High, but he was among the first to wear the red and silver of the Red Wolves.
Cedar Ridge coach Lou Geary saw something in the skinny 14-year-old and figured he’d grow up along with the school’s football program.
It was an uphill, uneven fight. Cedar Ridge had no senior class in 2002 and the first eight games were on the road because its own field wasn’t quite ready.
“We took our lumps,” said Dennis, wincing at the memory. “In middle school you don’t lift weights or study film like you do in high school, and here’s a bunch of 14-year-olds playing against 18-year-old men who have been doing those things four years.
“Our first game is at High Point Andrews. We walk out on the field in pads and they’re out there in shorts and T-shirts. And they’re bigger than we are.”
It was 55-0. Dennis isn’t sure, but future Catawba teammate Chris Noel may have picked off one of his passes.
In its ninth game and first home game, Cedar Ridge won, but the Red Wolves weren’t out of the woods.
They won twice Dennis’ sophomore year, three times his junior year. Because expectations were higher, those years were tougher than his freshman season.
But serious character was in place by 2005, and the freshmen had grown up.
As a senior, Dennis threw for 2,000-plus yards and 25 touchdowns to lead Cedar Ridge to 10 wins and the third round of the state playoffs.
“I had decent junior and senior years and went to combines, but I wasn’t highly recruited,” Dennis said. “I was always undersized, was never the fastest guy, never had the best arm.”
Dennis recruited Catawba more than it recruited him. There was no official visit. Dennis just liked the school, met with assistant coach D.J. Summers and was one of four QB longshots who became part of the recruiting class. Dennis is the only one still on the roster.
Dennis redshirted in 2006. All-everything QB Brad Roach was a junior. Ben Snyder was next in line. Howard Williamson was waiting for a chance.
“I guess everyone tells themselves they’re not going to be that that guy who redshirts because nobody wants to redshirt,” Dennis said. Nobody who’s used to competing wants to sit out and it’s hard when you’ve been the big dog in high school to come to college where everyone was the big dog.
“But realistically, redshirting and learning the offense without pressure and watching Brad was for the best. I’m 15 to 20 pounds heavier now, and I’ve got three years in this offense under my belt.”
Dennis’ redshirt freshman year in 2007 was quiet. He was 7-for-10, mostly in low-profile mopups against Chowan and Livingstone.
He and Williamson entered this season neck and neck, and Williamson was named the opening-day starter several weeks into the fall.
“There was never any animosity, just two guys competing who had the same goal ó giving us a chance to win ballgames,” Dennis said. “When (offensive coordinator) Coach (Matt) Barrett talked to me, he said Howard would start and my role was to be ready.”
Williamson, a quicker athlete who is also blessed with a stronger arm than Dennis, performed well early, but banged up his shoulder in the second game.
Dennis was shaky in relief efforts in both of Catawba’s first two games.
“Both times I went in the game in key situations,” Dennis said. “No excuses, but it’s not easy to do that coming in cold. Both times, the nerves got going a little bit.”
With Williamson out for the Livingstone game, Dennis had a different mindset, preparing to play as the starter the way he’d done for four years at Cedar Ridge.
Livingstone isn’t exactly Carson-Newman, but Dennis enjoyed the sort of day that rekindled confidence in Catawba fans. He tied a school record with five touchdown passes.
Williamson was back as the starter in a solid win at Mars Hill, and Dennis came in and threw a TD pass to Brandon Bunn.
“I stayed in it better mentally and was in the flow of the game,” Dennis said.
When Williamson was sidelined by a broken little finger on his left hand, Dennis played efficiently against Carson-Newman.
After Williamson underwent surgery, Dennis entered the Tusculum game knowing he’d be the starter. He produced two touchdown passes against a quality opponent in front of a large contingent of family.
“Patrick played outstanding,” Catawba head coach Chip Hester said. “A shootout with Tusculum is not what we wanted because they have Corey Russell, the preseason all-everything quarterback. But I thought Patrick looked him square in the eye and matched him step for step.”
Barrett was impressed.
“Every series Patrick’s been out there he’s shown an increased comfort level,” he said. “Saturday’s game was the result of confidence, both from doing things well and learning from past mistakes. He was loose, and he played.”
Barrett send the text message that let Dennis know he was Player of the Week.
“I know it sounds cliche, but I’ve always been a guy that would rather throw three picks and win than throw for 400 yards and lose,” Dennis said. “Still, on an individual level it was nice to be rewarded.”
Williamson’s surgery was successful. He participated in non-contact drills Monday, but he won’t be ready when Catawba travels to Wingate Saturday.
But Catawba fans are confident now in Dennis.
“Howard is still our starting quarterback, plain and simple,” Dennis said. “The coaches made a decision, they made that decision because Howard is good, and I’m fine with it.
“But I know what my role is. That’s to be ready to start on Saturday.”