In an area high school football scene in which quarterbacks are usually called on to make clean handoffs and pitches, or keep on the option and make plays with their feet, nobody delivers through the air like Northern Heights’ Kenneth Bronson.
The Wildcats’ installation of a spread offense last season was a success largely because of Bronson, who took to the wide-open scheme by throwing for 2,144 yards and earning a selection to The Gazette’s All-Area team as a junior. This year, with the graduation of two fellow All-Area selections, tight end Haydon Parks and receiver Tyler McClellan, and All-Flint Hills League running back Michael Glass, the Wildcats had to find some new playmakers. Other than Bronson, only senior receiver Roman Murray was a returning starter at a skill position.
But with the aid of an experienced, senior-heavy offensive line, Bronson has gradually meshed well with the new targets. He threw for 297 yards in the 2-2 Wildcats’ 31-16 win over Chase County last week on 20-of-28 throws, and now has 990 yards passing for the season, well ahead of the pace for last year’s 10-game performance. He’s already thrown for 12 TDs, too.
“Last year was a learning year for me, putting in the new spread offense,” Bronson said. “And this year, it’s just how well I can execute it. I know it pretty well.”
Heights co-head coach Greg French said Bronson’s accuracy and ability to read coverages are part of what set him apart.
“The other thing that really, I think, makes him special, compared to other high school athletes,” French said, “is when he does get flushed from the pocket, he does a really good job of keeping his eyes downfield and finding the open receiver.”
Bronson admits he doesn’t necessarily like to run, but French said the main difference between last year and this year is his confidence when he does take off, adding a dimension that balances Heights’ offensive attack. That was best exemplified in the Wildcats’ Week 3 loss to Osage City, when Bronson ran for 167 yards to go with 227 yards passing.
When he stays in the pocket, Bronson has spread the ball around. Murray has caught 27 passes for 391 yards, and the underclassman starters have shown they can be a big part of the Wildcats’ passing attack. Sophomore running back Cody Britton led Heights in its Week 1 loss to Olpe with eight catches for 89 yards, and sophomore receiver Nick Mendez caught seven balls for 131 yards last week. Bronson said it had been difficult to develop chemistry with the new guys as they learned the offense.
“This summer, we worked hard at it, going to a lot of 7-on-7 camps and had a lot of 7-on-7 practice, trying to get ’em accustomed to it,” Bronson said. “And I think they’re coming along pretty well. They’re making sophomore mistakes, which you have to anticipate that, but we’re coming on pretty well.”
Bronson has aspirations of playing at the next level, and French said “a few” schools have inquired about him, including a couple of Division II schools and jucos. Bronson said he himself hasn’t been contacted yet, “but it’s still early.”
“I want to try to help pay for college and get my education, which is the most important thing,” he said. “But yeah, if (French) thinks I’m capable, and I work at it, yeah, I think I wanna try to.”
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