LEXINGTON — Cade Stover packed a season’s worth of highlights into a half on Friday night.
The Richland Bank Athlete of the Week scored five touchdowns and threw for another in Lexington’s come-from-behind 48-35 win against visiting Orrville.
The ultra-athletic junior demonstrated again why every major college program in the country is knocking on his door with a pair of see-it-to-believe-it TD runs in the second half. The first came from 65 yards out in which the 6-foot-5 Stover broke no fewer than five tackles. The second, a 25-yarder, saw Stover hurdle a would-be tackler near the 20 yard line before cruising into the end zone.
The win was the first of the season for Lex, which lost a wealth of talent to graduation from last year’s regional runner-up team.
“We lost a lot of weapons from last year and we’ve got a lot of young guys learning the ropes,” said Stover, who has scholarship offers from Ohio State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame among others. “I’m taking on more leadership, but I’m still learning, too.”
For Stover, a converted receiver, the transition to quarterback has been challenging. He played the position occasionally in junior high school.
“It’s a whole different level here,” Stover said. “There is a lot more to learn, but I think it’s going well.”
It helps having a family member to lean on, too. Stover’s father, Trevor, was recruited as a quarterback coming out of Big Walnut High School. Trevor Stover was converted to a tight end at Bowling Green, where he became an All-Mid American Conference selection.
“That’s who you strive to be like, your dad,” Cade Stover said. “Without him, I’m nowhere close to what I am today.
“He’s so knowledgeable about the game.”
The younger Stover has accounted for nine of Lexington’s 11 touchdowns this fall. He tossed a 16 yard TD pass to Josh Aielo in a 41-7 loss to Shelby in Week 2 and connected with Mitch Dummitt on a 15-yard TD strike last week. He also rushed for a pair of second-half scores in 21-20 loss to Ontario in Week 1.
“We had a lot of people playing for the first time,” Stover said. “Everybody is getting more comfortable.”
The Minutemen begin Ohio Cardinal Conference play Friday at Mount Vernon. The Yellow Jackets (1-2) are coming off a 17-9 loss to Buckeye Valley.
“Our goal, like everyone else, is to win the conference. I think we can make a little run,” Stover said. “We’ve got to keep plugging away at it. We lost a couple of games early, but there’s no time to hand your head. What’s over is over.”
