This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • Peruse the UHSAA record book. Jordan quarterback Drew Lisk isn't in it. But the name of his predecessor, Austin Kafentzis, is attached to 19 state records, including total offense, rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, passing yards, touchdown passes and points scored.
Replacing the greatest quarterback is school history — whom some might argue is the best ever in Utah — is Lisk's responsibility. It's the hardest assignment for any player in the state, tasked with answering the question: Can he become the next Kafentzis?
No. He cannot.
But that's not an indictment on Lisk's talent. Quite the contrary. The reason he'll never emerge as the next Austin Kafentzis is because he's solely focused on being Drew Lisk.
"The individual and team success [Kafentzis] had as a quarterback — it's incredible. Any time you're in the same discussion as him, I think it's nice," Lisk said. "But I'm not trying to do what he did, or be him. I'm just going to be me and do what I can do, and our team will have success on our own."
Lisk, a three-sport athlete who also plays baseball and basketball, moved to Utah from Virginia in ninth grade. Gifted enough athletically to start for other programs immediately, he patiently waited behind Kafentzis for three seasons. Instead of transferring — a trend in athletics nationwide — he viewed his position as a learning opportunity. Now he's reaping the rewards.
"I wouldn't say [it was] frustrating," Lisk said. "It makes it nicer for this year, now that I've waited three years and I'm finally getting my turn. Those three years, I learned and developed a lot, too. That's been mainly [from] playing behind Austin. I think it helped, honestly, more than anything."
As Jordan's standout at shortstop on the baseball diamond, Lisk's arm strength and throwing accuracy weren't a mystery. It appeared the Beetdiggers' aerial attack, which averaged 324 yards per game in 2014, actually showed the potential to improve in preseason camps. But for Jordan's high-octane, read-option scheme to execute at its highest efficiency, the quarterback needs the ability to break containment with his legs to hurt the defense from outside of the pocket, preventing the secondary from sagging back into coverage.
"I may not be the fastest, but I feel like I can definitely do some stuff in the run game," Lisk said.
Against Class 3AA's top-ranked Desert Hills in the opening game of the season last week, Lisk showcased the complete package. He accounted for 618 yards of total offense and six touchdowns in the Beetdiggers' 54-34 win. He accumulated 181 yards on the ground, with two scores, on 14 carries — equating to 12.9 yards per rush, while his 437 passing yards rank fourth nationally.
Lisk never expected the gaudy numbers, but he wasn't surprised because he was confident in the weapons placed at his disposal.
Flip open the UHSAA record book next season. Lisk's 618-yard performance likely will be listed fourth for most single-game total yards. Considering Jordan might be a sleeper in the 5A classification, and individual accolades, as Lisk explained, accompany team success — that could be the first of many times Lisk etches his name into state history this season.
Twitter: @trevorphibbs —
About Drew Lisk
Class • Senior
Height • 6-foot-2
Weight • 195 pounds
Noteworthy • Lisk's 618 total yards against Desert Hills in Week 1 ranked as the fourth-most single-game total in UHSAA history. … Lisk waited three years behind record-setting quarterback Austin Kafentzis. … He also plays baseball and basketball for the Beetdiggers. —
Friday football schedule
Altamont at Lyman, 4 p.m.
American Fork at Highland, 7 p.m.
Ben Lomond at Carbon, 7 p.m.
Bingham at Herriman, 7 p.m.
Bonneville at Northridge, 7 p.m.
Brighton at Fremont, 7 p.m.
Canyon View at Emery, 7 p.m.
Copper Hills at Murray, 7 p.m.
Corner Canyon at Maple Mountain, 7 p.m.
Delta at Millard, 7 p.m.
Desert Hills at Diamond Ranch, 7 p.m.
Duchesne at North Summit, 7 p.m.
Grantsville at Juab, 7 p.m.
Gunnison at North Sevier, 7 p.m.
Highland at Olympus, 7 p.m.
Hillcrest at Alta, 7 p.m.
Hunter at Cyprus, 7 p.m.
Kanab at Beaver, 7 p.m.
Kearns at Granger, 7 p.m.
Layton at Clearfield, 7 p.m.
Layton Christian at ALA, 7 p.m.
Lone Peak at Timpview, 7 p.m.
Manti at Juan Diego, 7 p.m.
Mohave, Ariz. at Dixie, 7 p.m.
Morgan at South Summit, 7 p.m.
Mountain Crest at Bear River, 7 p.m.
North Sanpete at Timpanogos, 7 p.m.
Orem at Spanish Fork, 7 p.m.
Park City at Preston, Idaho, 7 p.m.
Parowan at Enterprise, 7 p.m.
Payson at Provo, 7 p.m.
Pine View at Uintah, 7 p.m.
Roy at Jordan, 7 p.m.
Salem Hills at Stansbury, 7 p.m.
San Juan at Piedra Vista, 7 p.m.
Sky View at Logan, 7 p.m.
Snow Canyon at Cottonwood, 7 p.m.
South Sevier at Richfield, 7 p.m.
Springville at Lehi, 7 p.m.
Syracuse at Box Elder, 7 p.m.
Taylorsville at Davis, 7 p.m.
Union at Hurricane, 7 p.m.
Viewmont at Bountiful, 7 p.m.
Virgin Valley, Nev. at Cedar, 7 p.m.
Wasatch at Westlake, 7 p.m.
Wayne at Milford, 7 p.m.
West at Skyline, 7 p.m.
West Jordan at Mountain View, 7 p.m.
Woods Cross at Judge, 7 p.m.