SCOL Player Profile: Hughes wants to add to Miami Trace tradition
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The position of quarterback at Miami Trace High School is one that is rich in history. Names of past days are still talked about in Fayette County, but in 2010, the player under center is senior Tucker Hughes, who is entering his second year as QB at Miami Trace, as he's been a quarterback since he was in the fifth grade.
"I've always been a quarterback, but headed into my senior year, I want to get more passes and complete more this year too," Hughes said. "I just want to be a good leader."
Hughes prepares for the season in Peyton Manning-like fashion, as he studies film to prepare for the season.
"I watch film on the defense of our opponents. I like to see where the safety goes in formations that we run," he said. "I look to see where the linebackers are at and see which one blitzes. I also see where defensive backs are in a spy position.
"Sometimes I have to go by the size advantage and judge the size of the defensive backs."
Miami Trace head coach Mike Bernard spoke highly of his quarterback.
"Tucker works extremely hard, and he is one of the fewer QBs to return for a second season in our program recently," he said. "Besides his hard work, Tucker thinks about football a lot, and when he watches the game, he watches other quarterbacks to see if he can pick up something for his own game."
Hughes explained what being a quarterback means to him, especially at Miami Trace where, as mentioned before, quarterback is a special position to play.
"I like the part of being a leader and being the head man in the huddle, running everything," he said. "I take responsibility for the things that go wrong in the offense, and I will do what I can to make our team to keep working hard."
Playing the game of football is what Hughes has always wanted to do, starting in the fifth grade as a member of the Vipers in pony league football.
"I've always wanted to play football, and my dad (Jeff Hughes) played at Miami Trace, and he wanted me to play too," Hughes said. "I just started throwing the football all the time. No matter what season or the time of the year, I just threw the football."
Playing at Miami Trace goes back to tradition, as they have won the most South Central Ohio League championships, plus the Panthers have made many appearances in the playoffs.
"I love playing football with my teammates, classmates and coaches. We all work hard at winning, and we want to keep the tradition of Miami Trace football going. Winning is the tradition of Miami Trace football," Hughes said. "I want us to go to the playoffs, and that is one of our goals as a team."
When asked what is it like to be a quarterback on Friday nights as 11 defensive players want to keep him from achieving his goals, or want to stop him from gaining yardage on every play, Hughes thought about it and said he tries not to get nervous.
"I just go with the flow, relax and make the read or hand off the ball," he said. "I might talk to my running back, and I want to pick up the confidence of my team if and when I have to."
What does he say to his teammates when things might not be going as planned?
"I just talk to them. If something goes bad, I'll tell them what they did, but if we do something good, I'll praise them," Hughes said. "That is how I consider myself a leader."
Bernard said Hughes is without a doubt a leader on the Panthers.
"There is no substitute for experience, and Tucker is a team leader, and he leads by example," Bernard said. "He works extremely hard, and that rubs off on the rest of the team.
"He's a natural leader, and that helps when the quarterback on the team has that ability. You know you can count on him during the tough times."
In preparing for this season, Hughes has not only been studying film and reading defenses, he has worked on his skills with help from former Miami Trace quarterback Art Schlichter, who led the Panthers to the state playoffs and four SCOL titles in the late 70s.
"I've worked with Art since the ninth grade, and he's been great with me," Hughes said. "It's an honor to work with him. He's helped me with the basics and my arm slot. He's shown me how to adjust my motion and how to hold the football in different situations."
Hughes not only plays football, as he is a three-sport athlete, playing basketball and baseball for MT and in the summer plays baseball for Hillsboro Post 129, where he led them in wins, including gaining pitching victories in the district and state tournaments.
"I love playing baseball, and I like the season because it is one of the longer ones because I play it in the summer too," Hughes said. "I like pitching and I like being the leader when I am on the mound. I like controlling how the tempo of the game goes when I pitch.
"Getting to the state in legion baseball, hopefully I can use some of that in football this fall. I worked hard all summer and will work hard all this fall too. I just want everyone to be there for each other, and that is what it is all about."
But balancing three sports takes time and organization with not only the athletic side, but also on the academic side.
"Practices are usually after school, and after that I will do my schoolwork and then go out and play more ball. I have targets outside, and for baseball I have cages or I throw to my dad. I am usually always practicing," Hughes said.
Asked what he is looking forward to this season, Hughes mentioned his classmates.
"I'm excited to play with all my senior classmates because this is the first time we've all been together since the ninth grade," Hughes said. "I also want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way to get to my senior season.
"It's all an honor, and I love to win. I love to play in the SCOL, and I love when we win SCOL games. What I like about our league is any team can win on Friday night, and I hope I can help lead my team to victory."[[In-content Ad]]
"I've always been a quarterback, but headed into my senior year, I want to get more passes and complete more this year too," Hughes said. "I just want to be a good leader."
Hughes prepares for the season in Peyton Manning-like fashion, as he studies film to prepare for the season.
"I watch film on the defense of our opponents. I like to see where the safety goes in formations that we run," he said. "I look to see where the linebackers are at and see which one blitzes. I also see where defensive backs are in a spy position.
"Sometimes I have to go by the size advantage and judge the size of the defensive backs."
Miami Trace head coach Mike Bernard spoke highly of his quarterback.
"Tucker works extremely hard, and he is one of the fewer QBs to return for a second season in our program recently," he said. "Besides his hard work, Tucker thinks about football a lot, and when he watches the game, he watches other quarterbacks to see if he can pick up something for his own game."
Hughes explained what being a quarterback means to him, especially at Miami Trace where, as mentioned before, quarterback is a special position to play.
"I like the part of being a leader and being the head man in the huddle, running everything," he said. "I take responsibility for the things that go wrong in the offense, and I will do what I can to make our team to keep working hard."
Playing the game of football is what Hughes has always wanted to do, starting in the fifth grade as a member of the Vipers in pony league football.
"I've always wanted to play football, and my dad (Jeff Hughes) played at Miami Trace, and he wanted me to play too," Hughes said. "I just started throwing the football all the time. No matter what season or the time of the year, I just threw the football."
Playing at Miami Trace goes back to tradition, as they have won the most South Central Ohio League championships, plus the Panthers have made many appearances in the playoffs.
"I love playing football with my teammates, classmates and coaches. We all work hard at winning, and we want to keep the tradition of Miami Trace football going. Winning is the tradition of Miami Trace football," Hughes said. "I want us to go to the playoffs, and that is one of our goals as a team."
When asked what is it like to be a quarterback on Friday nights as 11 defensive players want to keep him from achieving his goals, or want to stop him from gaining yardage on every play, Hughes thought about it and said he tries not to get nervous.
"I just go with the flow, relax and make the read or hand off the ball," he said. "I might talk to my running back, and I want to pick up the confidence of my team if and when I have to."
What does he say to his teammates when things might not be going as planned?
"I just talk to them. If something goes bad, I'll tell them what they did, but if we do something good, I'll praise them," Hughes said. "That is how I consider myself a leader."
Bernard said Hughes is without a doubt a leader on the Panthers.
"There is no substitute for experience, and Tucker is a team leader, and he leads by example," Bernard said. "He works extremely hard, and that rubs off on the rest of the team.
"He's a natural leader, and that helps when the quarterback on the team has that ability. You know you can count on him during the tough times."
In preparing for this season, Hughes has not only been studying film and reading defenses, he has worked on his skills with help from former Miami Trace quarterback Art Schlichter, who led the Panthers to the state playoffs and four SCOL titles in the late 70s.
"I've worked with Art since the ninth grade, and he's been great with me," Hughes said. "It's an honor to work with him. He's helped me with the basics and my arm slot. He's shown me how to adjust my motion and how to hold the football in different situations."
Hughes not only plays football, as he is a three-sport athlete, playing basketball and baseball for MT and in the summer plays baseball for Hillsboro Post 129, where he led them in wins, including gaining pitching victories in the district and state tournaments.
"I love playing baseball, and I like the season because it is one of the longer ones because I play it in the summer too," Hughes said. "I like pitching and I like being the leader when I am on the mound. I like controlling how the tempo of the game goes when I pitch.
"Getting to the state in legion baseball, hopefully I can use some of that in football this fall. I worked hard all summer and will work hard all this fall too. I just want everyone to be there for each other, and that is what it is all about."
But balancing three sports takes time and organization with not only the athletic side, but also on the academic side.
"Practices are usually after school, and after that I will do my schoolwork and then go out and play more ball. I have targets outside, and for baseball I have cages or I throw to my dad. I am usually always practicing," Hughes said.
Asked what he is looking forward to this season, Hughes mentioned his classmates.
"I'm excited to play with all my senior classmates because this is the first time we've all been together since the ninth grade," Hughes said. "I also want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way to get to my senior season.
"It's all an honor, and I love to win. I love to play in the SCOL, and I love when we win SCOL games. What I like about our league is any team can win on Friday night, and I hope I can help lead my team to victory."[[In-content Ad]]