Wednesday, December 23, 1998
Lorenzen is Mr. Football
Highlands QB edges teammate Smith
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ballots left room for only one name, so one couldn't vote for a tie. Still, it became clear Tuesday that Jared Lorenzen and Derek Smith would be linked in history.
The Highlands teammates swept Kentucky's Mr. Football voting — Lorenzen winning, Smith placing second — to add a fitting finish to an extraordinary season.
“I just think that's neat, that we're teammates and such great friends and are voted the two best players,” Lorenzen said. “Not only that, but Derek's the front-runner for Mr. Basketball.
“I hope to God he wins that. That would be unreal.”
Should Smith do so, the super duo would surely square off again in voting for Kentucky's Male Athlete of the Year.
“This is all just great for Highlands High School,” Smith said.
Smith, an All-America tight end, was picked the favorite in a preseason poll. Lorenzen was just 10th on that list, but the senior quarterback authored a brilliant season.
He completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,393 yards, 45 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also rushed for 904 yards (8.4 avg.) and 15 TDs in leading Highlands to a 15-0 season and No.19 national ranking (USA Today).
“When Johnny Unitas presented Jared the Frank Camp Award (two weeks ago), someone asked me how I thought Jared would do in college,” Highlands coach Dale Mueller said. “I thought Johnny redefined what a QB was when he played, and I think Jared's redefining what a QB is today.
“He does all the traditional things well — he can be a ball-control QB or pass it deep — but he can scramble and run it and improvise so well, too.”
Lorenzen is the third Northern Kentucky player to win Mr. Football. In 1986, Newport Central Catholic running back Frank Jacobs was the award's first winner, and Boone County running back Shaun Alexander won in 1994.
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