Arabie’s switch proves powerful
By Tom Dodge
Wesley Richard passed for more than 2,500 yards last season to help lead St. Edmund to the Class 1-A quarterfinals.
One of his main receivers was Marshall Arabie, who gained more than 1,800 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in a stellar junior season.
Now Arabie is directing the Blue Jay offense to a perfect 7-0 season and a second-place spot in the polls.
Through seven games Arabie has passed for 1,402 yards (88-of-130) with 24 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He has also gained 735 yards on 79 carries and scored eight times rushing so far this season.
“It was easier to be a receiver first and then switching to be a quarterback,” Arabie said. “I know timing with the receiver and where the receiver would like the ball.”
“We worked over the summer running routes and knowing if the play breaks down where to find the open receiver depending on where the zone is and they do a great job of getting open.”
The move from receiver to quarterback was a move that Arabie welcomed and has embraced.
“I prefer the ball in my hands in tough situations because I feel I get the job done,” Arabie said.
“I am a quarterback first,” Arabie said. “I am a quarterback that can run. If I get in trouble I use my athletic ability to do my best to get away from the pressure and make a play.”
Arabie credited his receivers for his successful transition this season.
“I am not surprised that we have done this,” Arabie said of the potent Blue Jay offense. “I knew I had Trevor (Hargroder), Jarod (Fontenot) and Wesley Chachere. I have a good offensive line as well.”
“You don’t know how a guy will do moving from wide receiver to quarterback,” St. Eds head coach Tom Andrus said of the switch. “Marshall knew all the routes that he ran last year and I think that helped him in knowing when the guys would break and what routes they would run.
“He has a strong arm and he is real accurate,” the coach continued. “He has that cockiness in him that he likes to perform. He is a real good athlete, bottom line.
“He has excellent receivers and a great front line that give him time to throw,” the coach commented. “That makes a big difference.”
While his skills at quarterback have developed as the season progressed, Arabie said he also loves playing on defense and leads the team with four interceptions.
“If I make a mistake on offense, then I can correct it on defense,” he said. “I just want to be on the field.”
While District 6-1A is down this season with only the Blue Jays holding a winning record, Arabie said he feels his team will be ready for a tougher path in the playoffs.
“We have been practicing hard and once the playoffs get here we will be ready.”
But first the Blue Jays have to face False River (4-4,1-0) in the district finale and Kinder (1-5) for homecoming.
“We only have one goal and that is to make it to the Dome,” Arabie said of the team’s goal to advance to the 1-A title game Dec. 13 in the Louisiana Superdome.
Arabie said he wants to play college football and has attracted the attention of Texas Christian, McNeese, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Tulane and Southeastern.
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