Long Reach football coach Jamie Willis approached senior Reece Thimote in the spring about transitioning from running back to quarterback. Thimote didn’t know what to think at the time but trusted the coach who has known him since he was 3 years old and wholeheartedly embraced the challenge.
The senior put on a show in his first career start at quarterback in Week 1 with 250 total yards and five total touchdowns.
Monday night hosting Kenwood in a game pushed from Friday due to a lack of officials, Thimote orchestrated a dazzling four-touchdown performance in a commanding 37-14 win.
“I had a great offseason,” Thimote said. “I was lifting, working out and training hard. I ran track this summer and I ran 10.7 in the 100. I feel like that 10.7 really shows out here, my speed, how fast I can move and how shifty I am.”
While Thimote dissected the Bluebirds’ defense, he also showcased the resolve and resilience that a team needs from its signal caller. He fumbled twice in the first half and was visibly frustrated with himself, taking some time alone on the bench to regroup.
However, at halftime, Thimote told the coaches, “Give me the ball, let me run a little bit and do my thing.”
“I knew it was my fault,” Thimote said. “It was a big momentum switch and I know the type of player I am. I’m the playmaker. I can make plays. I knew that once I get the ball in my hand, I’m going to bounce back and I’m going to put the ball in the end zone. That’s what I did.”
Thimote was at his best while operating the zone read and it showed at a critical time in the second half. With Long Reach (2-0) leading 23-14 midway through the fourth quarter and facing a third-and-16, Thimote delivered the highlight-reel play of the night.
Despite the formation of the play being messed up from the start, Thimote relied on his football instincts and substantial experience as a running back. He watched the defensive end and outside linebacker on the backside crash, which was his signal to pull the ball.
In those moments, Thimote reverts to his time as a running back, specifically the field vision and burst that brought him so much success at that position.
Behind strong blocking, Thimote reached the second level. He made one cut and left several Kenwood defenders in the dust for a 64-yard touchdown and a fatal blow in Kenwood’s comeback hopes.
“It’s everything and he’s been playing football his whole life,” Willis said of Thimote’s ability to read the edge. “It’s amazing, the command he has of the football, the plays, the team. They play hard for him. It’s invaluable what we can do right now because we’re basically the same team we were last year, but with him at quarterback and the confidence he plays with, it’s just crazy.”
Outside of Thimote’s brilliance, Long Reach’s defense also stepped up with a key stand to close the first half. Kenwood methodically moved down the field and appeared destined to even the game at 13 before halftime.
However, the Lightning’s interior defensive line stonewalled Kenwood quarterback Malachi Johnson on a pair of quarterback sneaks from the 1-yard line to preserve the one-score lead at the break. Junior defensive tackle Aiden Sewell provided the key penetration on the interior that prevented Johnson from scoring on the fourth-down play.
Riding the momentum from that stop, Long Reach recovered a fumble on Kenwood’s second play of the second half. On the ensuing drive, Thimote showcased his tremendous field vision as he reversed field and cut back for a 10-yard score.
However, he was far from done as the first-year quarterback routinely proved that he’ll be a daunting challenge for Howard County defenses to slow down as county play begins on Friday.
“He’s special, he’s been a special kid for a long time,” Willis said. “He’s going to continue to be special. He’s going to be a dude; he was a dude last year. I think he gets 1,000 yards rushing if he doesn’t break his wrist early last year.”
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