Cade Klubnik may be the most recognizable name among the quarterbacks that ply their trade in the Austin area, but there are plenty of other talented gunslingers who have shined through the first three weeks of the Texas high school football season.
Here is a look at the top 5 Austin area passers so far in 2021.
5. Fred Dale: Anderson (737 passing yards, 7 TDS, and 2 INTs)
Fred Dale and the Anderson offense have grown up before our very eyes this season. Dale experienced some growing pains his sophomore year, throwing for just 1,138 yards and 12 touchdowns as Anderson finished 1-7 in 2020. He is on pace to shatter those marks this year.
Dale looks much more comfortable in the pocket and has been able to spray passes accurately all over the field. Last week, he threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans obliterated Westwood 45-14, sending a message that Anderson will be a team to watch in district play this year.
4. Dylan Sanchez: Lampasas (836 passing yards, 13 passing TDs, and 2 INTs)
Stepping in to fill the shoes of Ace Whitehead is not an enviable task, but junior quarterback Dylan Sanchez has handled it well. Although the Badgers currently sit at 1-2, their offense is currently averaging 44 points per game with Sanchez at the helm.
He had a bit of a rough outing this past week throwing his first two interceptions of the season in a 45-21 loss to a very good Wimberley team but look for him to bounce back when Lampasas hosts China Spring this Friday.
3. Austin Novosad: Dripping Springs (871 passing yards, 11 passing TDs, and 2 INTs)
Novosad has been putting up big numbers for the Dripping Springs Tigers and college coaches have taken notice. The junior quarterback currently has nine Division I offers, including one from Colorado that he received last Thursday.
Dripping Springs currently sits at 3-0 and is averaging 54.3 points per game, thanks in large part to Novosad’s impressive play commanding the offense. Last week, he threw for 291 yards and six touchdowns in a blowout 49-15 victory over Lockhart. If you like offensive fireworks, keep an eye on Novosad and his Dripping Springs Tigers as they look to stay undefeated this Friday against Canyon.
2. Cade Klubnik: Austin Westlake (923 passing yards, 10 passing TDs, and 1 INT)
Klubnik delivered his biggest game of the year in week three, throwing for 375 yards and six touchdowns as Westlake used a 28-point fourth quarter to pull away from Mansfield Summit for a 59-21 victory.
The Clemson commit has been as good as advertised so far, leading Westlake to three dominating victories in its opening three games. Klubnik and his big-bodied receiver Jaden Greathouse are becoming a dangerous tandem with the two combining for three touchdowns last Friday.
Westlake has a bye this week before Klubnik and company will face Del Valle to begin District 26-6A play on Friday, Sep. 24.
1. Mason Shorb Leander Rouse (1,070 passing yards, 12 passing TDs, 1 INT)
Shorb threw for 3,100 yards a season ago, and through the first three games, he is picking up right where he left off. The junior has gotten Rouse off to a 2-1 start as the Raiders dominated Burnet and Anderson before suffering a setback in a 54-20 defeat to Pflugerville Weiss this past week.
Despite the lopsided defeat, Shorb still threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns. After Rouse lit up the scoreboard in its first two games, including a 423-yard, five-touchdown performance by Shorb in a 57-54 win over Anderson in week two, expect Shorb and the Raiders to bounce back when they travel to Bastrop to open district play in two weeks’ time.
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