There were some questions about Trey Bowers’ ability to replace Logan Phalin as the quarterback of the Independence Patriots.
Through eight games the junior seems to have made believers out of everybody who’s watched him play. With one game remaining in the regular season, Bowers has completed 71 percent of his passing attempts for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns. For good measure he’s also carried the ball 67 times for 598 yards and 10 more scores, accumulating more rushing yards than Phalin did during last year’s record-setting campaign to sit just 57 yards away from topping his predecessor’s passing yardage total (1,254).
The knock of course has been the quality of the teams the Patriots have faced. Hosting the No. 7 rated team in Class AA at the time in Nicholas County, Bowers balled out.
The converted wide receiver was 4 of 5 passing for 175 yards and three touchdowns. For good measure he rushed for 53 yards. For his efforts, Bowers has been named the Week 9 Lootpress Player of the Week by the Lootpress sportswriters. The award is sponsored by The Law Offices of Brandon Steele, Bodyworks and Mid-State Ford. Bowers won via the fan poll tiebreaker, accumulating over 30,000 votes.
Bowers has been steady in the pocket all season, complementing a lethal rushing attack. Anticipating the Grizzlies would sellout to stop running back Judah Price, Bowers and the coaching staff figured Friday would be a night he could shine.
“I think me and Coach (John. H) Lilly both thought I could have a big game,” Bowers said. “We gameplanned all week for them to key in on Judah and we put in some new plays to attack that. We thought the plays designed for me would work a little better.”
Averaging 43.7 yard per completion, Bowers excelled at getting the ball down the field. After a long touchdown run was called back in the first quarter, he hit receiver Cyrus Goodson for a long touchdown pass and later found running back Tyler Linksweiler streaking down the sideline, wide open on a busted coverage. As easy as Bowers made it look, he’s quick to credit his teammates for creating those opportunities.
“I just think we have so many weapons everywhere,” Bowers said. “Any team we play really the secondary’s a weak spot. We thought they’d stop the run game a little bit so we just practiced all week throwing the deep ball because we knew it’d be there.”
A former wide receiver, Bowers understands the intricacies of the position. He’s also equipped with gamebreaking speed that opens the playbook. Even when he’s not able to find an open man on dropbacks, he’s able to improvise and move the ball with his legs.
“I think the run game for me opens up because everyone keys in on Judah and we have so many weapons it’s hard to stop everyone,” Bowers said. “I think the offensive line gives me a lot of time back there but if I just see that teams are doubling my first read, I’ll look to the other side of the field and I’ll probably scramble out just to make it a little more flashy.”
Bowers continued to heap praise upon his teammates and how they’ve contributed to his success this season.
“I’m proud of how my guys played Friday,” He said. “We executed gameplan as perfect as we could’ve and played two of the best quarters of football as a team we’ve ever played together. They set me and Judah up for success every week. The best line in double-A by far. We’re excited for playoffs and I’m excited to go through four battles with my guys and let them go out as state champs. I’m confident in my team.”
Summers County’s Tyson Adkins won the fan vote with over 48 percent of the vote. In an effort to reward communities for their diligence in voting for their respective players, Lootpress will take the top vote getter each week that hasn’t already won the Community Choice poll and advance them to the pool of candidates for the newly created Community Choice Player of the Year. When the regular season concludes, the 11 players that led in total votes their respective weeks will be grouped into a poll where everyone can vote on one player to win the award as well as the $500 scholarship that comes with it.
2022 Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Kaiden Vance, Westside
Week 2: Darmonte Mitchell, Beckley
Week 3: Ian Cline, Greenbrier East
Week 4: Judah Price, Independence
Week 5: Ethan Holliday, Greenbrier West
Week 6: Ty Nickell, Greenbrier West
Week 7: Duke Dodson, Summers County
Week 8: Dominick Collins, Princeton
Week 9: Trey Bowers, Independence
2022 Community Choice Winners
Week 1: Cooper Ridgeway, James Monroe
Week 2: Layton Dowdy, James Monroe
Week 3: Khamrin Proffitt, Princeton
Week 4: Drake Cole, Summers County
Week 5: Jalon Bailey, Shady Spring
Week 6: Jackson Danielson, Wyoming East
Week 7: Duke Dodson, Summers County
Week 8: Malachi Lewis, Oak Hill
Week 9: Tyson Adkins, Summers County
Email: tylerjackson@lootpress.com and follow on Twitter @tjack94
