It’s not often two high school football teams with winning records enter the playoffs uncertain about their starting quarterbacks, but that will be the case Friday when Manual and Ballard meet in a Class 6-A first-round matchup.
Needed on defense because of a slew of injuries, senior T.J. Comstock has been replaced by junior William Britt as Manual’s starting quarterback, although coach Oliver Lucas said both could play Friday.
And don’t bother asking Ballard coach Mike Jackson who he’ll pick between junior Kyle Wolfe and sophomore Terrance May to be his starting quarterback. He said he won’t know until the 7 p.m. kickoff at Ballard.
“Against Seneca (on Oct. 1), we changed our starting quarterback during warmups,” Jackson said. “One didn’t seem ready to play, so we went with the other one. It’s not gamesmanship, I promise. We literally don’t know week to week who we’re going to start.”
Manual defeated Ballard 24-19 on Sept. 18, but much has changed for both teams since then.
Comstock started at quarterback in Manual’s first nine games, but Britt began to take more and more snaps as the season progressed and Comstock was needed to play safety on defense.
“We’ve just been decimated by injuries,” Lucas said. “We had to make some changes and move some guys around. We just don’t have that luxury of having a lot of depth right now.”
Britt saw his first extensive time at quarterback last week, completing 12 of 21 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown in a 35-16 victory at Eastern.
Comstock also played some at quarterback, but Lucas said Britt will be the starter against Ballard.
“I call him a ‘Lighter,’ because when the lights go on he shows up and plays,” Lucas said of Britt. “He’s the same kind of athlete (Comstock) is. He has that same speed, same burst. … Britt will start, and (Comstock) will be there as the emergency backup if we need him.”
The other big question for Manual will be how the team responds to Lucas’ announcement this week that he’s stepping down as head coach when the playoffs end.
In his sixth season at Manual, Lucas said he plans to pursue other jobs in Kentucky.
“There are two ways it can go,” Lucas said. “Our kids can respond or go in the tank. I think our kids have practiced hard this week. We’ll see how it goes.”
Wolfe began the season as Ballard’s starting quarterback but recently has platooned with May.
“Neither one took hold of the job,” Jackson said. “Both do some things really well. But both are at the beginning of being a varsity quarterback, so they make some major mistakes. And they’re both good enough that if one makes too many mental mistakes, we’re going to try the other one.”
Jackson said the situation has been tough on senior running back David Daniels, who has enjoyed success against lesser opponents but has been slowed by good defenses that can afford to stack the box and dare Ballard to pass.
“When we’re able to mix it up some, he’s all right,” Jackson said.
Manual has won the past four meetings with Ballard, but only one was decided by more than seven points. Jackson is hopeful his team can get over the hump Friday.
“I know our kids believe they can beat Manual,” Jackson said. “It’s just a matter of finishing the job.”
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
GAME OF THE WEEK
* Who: Manual (8-2) at Ballard (6-4).
* When: 7 p.m.
* Jason’s pick: Manual 28-14.