Ben Roethlisberger and Tim Tebow are both known as big quarterbacks who throw well, run well and possess an ability to win the big game. Now meet Jason Peters, who brings those same strengths to a Coleville High School football team that is 7-0 and has its sights set on bringing home the school's first state football championship since 1971.
Coleville's 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior is a dual threat quarterback/tailback whose statistics ranks among Nevada's all-time prep passing leaders, and with his size, is always a threat to run in an offense coach Will Sandy describes as "more like a spread wing."
That offense has flown high this season, as the Wolves have outscored seven opponents 538-40 coming into what shapes up as a showdown for the Western 1A division championship at home against Mineral County on Saturday. And it all starts when No. 11 takes the snap from senior center Steven Koelling.
"He's like our Tim Tebow," Sandy said of Peters. "Back there in the shotgun formation, he's a pretty potent weapon. Not only can he throw the ball, as big and strong as he is, you always have to account for him as a runner. Even when he's throwing, he's kind of like Ben Roethlisberger because he has the ability to move around and keep the play alive."
Roethlisberger and Tebow are awfully big names for any high school football player to be compared with. Then again, consider the career numbers Peters has accumulated since stepping into Coleville's starting lineup as a freshman in 2006 - 7,673 yards and 137 touchdowns passing; 3,422 yards and 21 touchdowns rushing.
"He's the best I've ever seen at this level," Sandy said. "He runs better than (Chris) Perdue (who helped Coleville to the state finals in 1991) and I think he throws better than (Matt) Carter (1997-2000) at this stage."
Even though the numbers are down so far this season, Peters has still thrown for 1,046 yards and 25 TDs with a 70-percent completion rate and no interceptions. Keep in mind, he hasn't played offense after halftime since the second week of the season due to the lopsided nature of Coleville's games. He didn't play any offense last Saturday when the Wolves defeated a short-handed Pyramid Lake team, 66-0.
Those numbers only tell part of the value for Peters, a student who carries a 4.0-plus grade point average and is in line to finish as his class valedictorian at a school of 79 students.
"He's learned the game and learned our offense," Sandy said. "He's basically become an offensive coordinator on the field. He's gotten to where he's suggesting plays before I call them."
Coleville is 25-3 over the last three seasons, including trips to the state 1A semifinals in 2007 and in 2008, where the Wolves lost to Pahranagat Valley (Alamo) 128-74. The score is correct ... Peters threw 10 touchdown passes in a losing cause against Pahranagat Valley, which only slowed down the Wolves with a series of successful onside kicks.
In 2008, Peters threw for 3,477 yards and 59 touchdowns and gained 4,650 yards in total offense in 10 games - all listed as state single-season records.
His favorite target, junior wideout, Emmi Sandoval, set a state single-season record with 31 TD receptions, eight of which came in the state championship game.
The Wolves returned this season with a new emphasis on defense, which Peters anchors from his middle linebacker position.
"He's right in the middle of that thing," Sandy said. "You won't see him make that many tackles or things like that, but what he does is disrupt things and enables his teammates to make those plays. He truly is one of those players who makes everyone else around him look better."
Coleville has won its last three games by shutout and only allowed eight points against Owyhee in its last five games. Then again, those are just more statistics. In the end, Peters says the win that matters most is winning a championship game - just like Roethlisberger and Tebow have.
Coleville hasn't won a title since bringing home three in a row 1969-71.
Coleville also won Class B six-man titles in 1965 and 1967.
"I think stats are overrated, really," Peters said. "It's all about getting the 'W' at the end. It's all about the state win."
