C.C. Thomas
Sports Scene
There was no doubt that Austin Pichiotino’ had the athletic ability to play quarterback for the Bay City Western varsity football team when he first lined up under center as a sophomore .
Even then, he showed the natural ability that now lets him run the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, have a 34-inch vertical jump, bench press 265 pounds, and throw a football over 60 yards.
But what Pichiotino, now a senior, says has made him an even better quarterback for the Warriors is his study of the position, improved vision, and knowledge of playing quarterback.
“I’m starting to understand how to be a quarterback more and better,” Pichiotino said. “The first time I played the position was my freshman year. At first, it was really hard. My first year was pretty much a learning year, when we put in our new offense. After that, I started to get things more. My athleticism has always been there , but now I see the field better.”
That athleticism and improved smarts have been displayed on the field this year.
Through the first three Bay City Western games, all wins for the Warriors, Pichiotino has rushed for 425 yards and 10 touchdowns and has thrown for over 400 yards and six scores.
In his first two years as starter, Pichiotino rushed for 2,100 yards and threw for over 3,500 yards.
“He is the best athlete I’ve ever been around,” Bay City Western coach Bruce Mann said. “If you put him in the weight room, he won’t throw a lot of weight around, but he will throw kids around on the field. He is a dynamic athlete — he is the real deal. He gets it done for us. He counts for a lot of our offense.”
Mann sees a smarter quarterback, not just an athletic one, now.
“It used to be sheer athleticism, that’s what he had,” Mann said. “But now as a three-year varsity player, he is starting to understand that be a good quarterback, it is more than being just a great athlete. He is now starting to make reads, and his accuracy is impeccable. He is a very accurate thrower for a high school quarterback. As a sophomore, he didn’t know about being a quarterback, he just slung it. Last year, he started to look like a quarterback. This year he is making his reads and reacting.”
As for what he likes being best, a running or a throwing quarterback, that’s a tougher call to make than reading an opponent’s defense.
“I like doing both because you are unpredictable,” Pichiotino said. “They can’t cover you one way. I force other defenses to play us honestly.”
One team Pichiotino wants to play him honestly is reigning three-time Saginaw Valley Association champion Mt. Pleasant.
“My main goal personally is to beat Mt. Pleasant,” Pichiotino said. “We haven’t beat them since our freshman year. They have been the top of our league for a long time now. Last year, we should have got them, but we had too many mental mistakes.”
Mann knows if his Warriors are to beat Mt. Pleasant on October 7, it will take more than Pichiotino. But he will play an important part.
“Football is an ultimate team sport,” Mann said. “Austin is certainly a guy we look to, and when he’s playing well, we put points on the board. His ability to keep defenses honest and make his reads is important to our success.”