QB shuffle serves WGH well

Mike Kokal and Mike Phillips have led the Raiders to 12 consecutive victories.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- Although scripture says no man can serve two masters, the Warren Harding High football team has found success operating with two quarterbacks, alternating with each possession.
In seniors Mike Kokal and Mike Phillips, the Raiders have won 12 straight games, is ranked first in the state and appears in the national top 25 of many polls.
Warren Harding (12-0) will meet Mentor (11-1) in the Division I, Region 1 final at Fawcett Stadium in Canton Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
"It's the exception rather than the rule," said Warren Harding coach Thom McDaniels of the unusual QB shuffle.
Usually a team settles on one signal-caller, but Kokal and Phillips are in their second season of alternating.
"In this case both deserve to play," said McDaniels. "They are intelligent kids. They've sacrificed numbers for the betterment of our team."
Big numbers
The two-quarterback system has been putting up pretty impressive offensive numbers for the Raiders.
Harding scored 71 points against Toledo Whitmer, 53 against Cleveland South, 43 against Ursuline and 42 against Cardinal Mooney.
Through 12 games, including last week's win over Lakewood St. Edward, Kokal (6-foot-2, 183 pounds) has completed 69-of-112 passes for 951 yards, seven touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Phillips (5-11, 180) is 48-of-77 for 566 yards with five touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Phillips has run 69 times for 427 yards, while Kokal has 200 yards on 59 carries.
"Kokal runs better than he's credited for and Phillips passes better than he's credited for," said McDaniels.
Coach's history
McDaniels has a career coaching record of 164-47 at Canton McKinley (1982-97) and Harding (since 2000).
He's been a quarterback coach all 29 seasons, including the last 20 as head coach. In that span of almost three decades, McDaniels estimates he's had to use two quarterbacks just four or five seasons.
"We have a game plan," said McDaniels, who stressed the two are alternated on possessions, not on individual plays. "Plays are based on down and distance, not on the kid who's in there."
Many major colleges have begun recruiting Phillips as a defensive back, including Iowa and Georgia Tech.
Several Mid-American Conference teams have been recruiting Kokal.
"They've accepted it," McDaniels said of the unique rotation system. "Their families have accepted it and the kids in the locker room have accepted it."