Junior quarterback Austin Stennett wanted to change some perceptions about Jacobs’ offense.
Stennett, who sprouted over four inches over the summer, worked with coach Brian Zimmerman to help make the Golden Eagles, primarily known for their ground game, a more balanced team.
Zimmerman, who is in his seventh year, felt the growth spurt would help his QB. However …
“He was pretty little last year,” Zimmerman said when assessing Stennett’s previous stature. “He walked in at 5-foot-6, 150 pounds. He played like he was 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.”
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That showed Friday night against Hampshire. Stennett threw for 226 yards and a touchdown — one of the most productive passing days in Zimmerman’s tenure — as Jacobs pulled out a 21-14 Fox Valley Conference win over Hampshire.
Make no mistake, the Golden Eagles (2-0, 2-0) are still a running team. Having the ability to mix in effective passing has sometimes been a challenge over the years, but Friday turned the tide.
“I’m really proud of how we handled everything with our receivers, how our offensive line blocked,” Stennett said. “The receivers ran their routes and were on time with me.
“It felt great to go out there and throw the ball. I think it really showcased what we really are as a team. It definitely built up some confidence. I think it was a great turning point for us.”
With a pair of starting offensive linemen out and Hampshire (0-2, 0-2) loading the box, Stennett put on display what he feels Jacobs can do the remainder of the season.
“They kind of dared us to throw the ball,” Zimmerman said. “I think that was a good opportunity for Austin to really show what he can do. Ultimately, we want to be more balanced.”
Zimmerman also had been waiting for that growth spurt to happen for Stennett. It came over the summer. In addition to the height, he also worked behind the scenes to maximize his athleticism.
Stennett credited Brandon Fox of FoxDen Athletics for helping him understand what he needed to do to unlock his potential.
“I just got bigger, faster and stronger,” Stennett said. “I ate this number of calories per day. I was eating these foods, this amount of protein. I was just really trying to work at it and do my best to prepare me for this season, and I feel like it’s paying off.”
That dedication didn’t go unnoticed by Zimmerman.
“We just felt like his preparation and his work ethic were really good,” Zimmerman said. “His leadership … he’s a captain for a reason. We’re super proud of him.
“He’s grown so much in the past year. He makes high-level throws. I think sometimes people don’t see what he’s capable of doing.”
Junior receiver Owen Crouch certainly knows what Stennett can do. They have been together since day one of freshman year, and now, Crouch is one of Stennett’s trusted targets.
“All offseason we just worked on our stuff,” Crouch said. “We knew we had it. Just to show it last Friday was really nice. It’s great to see it all come together.
“Every day he came in with the mindset of getting 1% better every day. He tries to make all the people around him better.”
There are still things to clean up, like the interception Stennett threw late in the first half that thwarted a potential scoring drive. The word is out, however.
Jacobs is more than just a running team now, and the rest of the Fox Valley will have to adjust.
“I don’t know from a defensive coordinator’s standpoint how teams prepare for us, but I definitely do think it’s going to be a lot more to prepare for,” Stennett said. “I feel like if we go out and play our game like we know we’re supposed to we can do everything in our offense.
“First two weeks, it was a good step in the right direction.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.