ANALYSIS; QUARTERBACKS IN DEMAND; WHO'S NEXT? AREA COACHES ARE SCRAMBLING TO FILL THEIR QUARTERBACK VOIDS

Where have all the quarterbacks gone?

Poplar Bluff's Stan Revelle has graduated.

So has Chaffee's Travis Hanback, New Madrid's Byron Minner, Cape Central's T.J. Erlacker, Jackson's John Jackson and St. Vincent's Jonathan Paulus.

While the area figures to boast several top-notch running backs this year, all of last year's top quarterbacks have moved on.

Not that some of the new signal-callers won't be talented, but there doesn't appear to be any can't-miss QBs in the area. Some are bound to emerge, but with anything new there is uncertainty.

Poplar Bluff

Poplar Bluff has the biggest hole to fill with all-stater Revelle leaving his post. Revelle broke nearly every season and career school record during his fabulous tenure with the Mules. Senior Michael Crunk won't be another Stan Revelle, but he just might surprise some people.

In just one series of action last year, Crunk completed all six of his passes and ended the drive with a touchdown throw.

"He's pretty good," Poplar Bluff coach Mark Barousse. "We went to a 7-on-7 camp at SIU and he threw the ball really well. He's smart and throws a good ball."

Crunk is only 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds and is faster than Revelle. Barousse said Crunk runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds.

"I don't think anyone realistically expects a whole lot from him," Barousse said. "But the coaches expect a lot from him. He'll be a pleasant surprise for a lot of people."

Like Revelle, Crunk is a very good student. Revelle was valedictorian. Crunk is among the top 15 in his class and is the first quarterback to start in Poplar Bluff's pass-happy system as an eighth grader.

Cape Central

When the Tigers started to gel late last season en route to the Class 4A quarterfinals, it was T.J. Erlacker who got the team kick started. Erlacker's physical skills can be replaced -- he didn't have a great arm nor great speed. But the Tigers will be hard-pressed to find a better big-game performer.

"We're just looking for a kid who can handle the pressure," Central coach Lawrence Brookins said.

As this issue went to press, junior Jay Ruark (5-10, 160) and sophomore Mitch Craft (6-1, 185) were battling for the No. 1 position.

Chaffee

Another team in a quarterback predicament is Chaffee.

Hanback, next to Revelle, was the top passer in the region last year statistically. He threw for more than 1,300 yards.

"I tell you what, I had one of the best in Travis," Chaffee coach Allan Horrell said. "It'll probably be the toughest position to replace."

Derrick Uhrhan, who moved back into the school district this year, will have that tough task. But don't be surprised to see B.J. Spitzer take some snaps this year too.

New Madrid County Central

The Eagles weren't known for their passing in 2000, but many say quarterback Byron Minner was the heart and soul of the team.

Minner, who signed with Southeast Missouri State University on a football scholarship -- but not as a quarterback -- was more of a running threat.

But NMCC coach Steve Rogers believes former receiver Brian Murph can pick up where Minner left off.

"He's going to be real good," Rogers said. "He looked real good in camp. He was there every night. As good as he was as a receiver, I think he'll be that good or better as a quarterback. He's capable of running the option, capable of throwing the deep ball. But we need to keep him healthy because we don't have a lot of depth."

St. Vincent

The Indians, looking to finish among the state's top four Class 1A teams for the fourth straight year, will try to do so without its field general, Paulus.

Paulus mixed the run and pass well and had a settling influence on the team.

"Jonathan was a great athlete and a great leader," St. Vincent coach Keith Winkler said. "When things broke down, he could scramble out of the pocket and run with his athleticism."

Winkler said junior Tyler Paulus, who quarterbacked the junior varsity team last year, will start for the varsity team this season. He is the cousin of last year's starter,

Jonathan.

Jackson

John Jackson, the Indians' quarterback last year, had one of the highest yards-per-completion ratio in the region at 9.1.

Coach Carl Gross said Bryan Austin has looked impressive this offseason and will get the most time under center. Austin, though not big, is gritty. He gained some varsity experience as a sophomore and junior.

REPLACING QUALITY QBs

Name School 2000 Stats Replacement

Stan Revelle Poplar Bluff 164-for-301; 2,494 passing yds Michael Krunk

Travis Hanback Chaffee 100-213; 1316 TBD

T.J. Erlacker Cape Central 96-166; 1,187 Jay Ruark or Mitch Craft

John Jackson Jackson 47-108; 990 Bryan Austin

Jonathan Paulus St. Vincent 52-99, 854 passing, 356 rushing TBD

Byron Minner NMCC 528 rushing; 647 passing yds Brian Murph