BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Jared Lorenzen may not be the best football player in Northern Kentucky history. Because tight end Derek Smith is an All-American, some might argue he's not even best on his team.
But perhaps no player has so captivated this area in such a short span of time. When the Highlands senior quarterback plays his final home game tonight, a Class AAA regional title game against Covington Catholic, local fans may want to linger on their last look.
In a 25-game reign which approximated a comet's quickness, the lasting glow will be that of legend.
"I had a feeling when he was a freshman he was going to be special," Highlands coach Dale Mueller said. "But the way he has matured and succeeded, you don't ever expect something like this."
Last year, in his first season as a starter, Lorenzen threw for 2,759 yards and 37 touchdowns in 13 games - nearly 1,000 yards more than any Northern Kentucky passer ever had in a season. To top it, he has assembled arguably the most well-rounded season any QB in this state ever has.
His 3,044 passing yards this fall are currently the eighth-best single-season total in state history, and with potentially three more games, he might pass all but the record total of 3,916 Tim Couch had at Leslie County in 1995.
"But Jared's got a 63.1-percent completion rate," Mueller said. "That's the kind of completion rate you get from a guy who only play-action passes, when you catch people by surprise.
"And to also average 20 yards a catch . . . you just don't have 63 percent and 20 yards a catch."
With the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Lorenzen, you do.
And you have 41 TD passes, with just five interceptions. (Four of the interceptions have been tipped passes.)
And 757 rushing yards - a 9.7 average per carry - with nine TDs. He has eluded tacklers enough to be sacked just eight times. (For comparison, Couch was sacked seven times in one game in 1995, a loss to Highlands.)
"I'd vote for Jared for Mr. Football, no doubt," said Smith, figured to be his primary competition. "He's the best offensive player in the state."
With Lorenzen, though, stats won't make the memory. The hype which surrounded him since his freshman year will.
When Highlands was reaching the state title game in 1995, fans were already buzzing about the freshman lefty who could throw 75 yards downfield. The next year, Highlands won state with sturdy senior P.J. Sauer calling signals, but no one left games early: Lorenzen threw for 670 yards just in mop-up duty.
And the stories. Oh, the stories.
The time Lorenzen read a blitz against Campbell County, audibled for a one-step drop and hit Josh Hasson for a state-record 99-yard TD. The time this fall he got spun completely around, set his feet, and threw a 50-yard TD. The time he took off on a draw play and bowled over a CovCath defender, knocking him out of the game.
Other feats, maybe you missed.
Lorenzen can kneel at midfield and hit the crossbar, 60 yards away. At an NFL punt - pass - kick competition three years ago at halftime of a Bengals game, he stood on one 40-yard line and threw a ball out of the opposite end zone, hitting an ABC truck. The times in practice receivers ran only 60 yards downfield and he overthrew them by 15 yards.
As powerful as his arm is, his ascent to the summit is still surprising. It hasn't been even 15 months since Lorenzen made his first varsity start against Moeller, completing just 5-of-17 passes for 42 yards in a one-point loss.
"There was all the hype how they'd changed the offense for me, so I thank Coach Mueller for sticking with me," Lorenzen said. After a few games, Highlands switched to a shotgun formation, and Lorenzen's stats skyrocketed. He is 23-1 since the Moeller game.
After last season, and a strong showing at a University of Kentucky passing camp, Lorenzen drew some notice. He still had to produce his own highlights tape to send to colleges, but when this season started, he obliterated all expectations.
"I went into the season trying to cut down on interceptions (12 last year), and then I got picked off on my first pass of the season," he said.
Then he settled down. Lorenzen threw for 241 yards and two TDs in that season-opening victory over Louisville Male, the preseason No. 1 team in AAAA, but his 122 rushing yards and two scores were what drew attention.
"That really surprised me," he said. "I didn't expect to have 120 yards on the season, let alone one game."
His career rushing total entering that game was minus-38 yards. This fall, he's the team's second-leading rusher.
"In spring football this year, we let the guys go live on the quarterback every day," Mueller said. "Just the idea of sacking Jared was exciting for them, so he would just take off running. He loved it."
Said Smith: "He's pretty fast for how big he is. We were watching tape of the CovCath game, and it seemed like he ran 40 yards in about two seconds."
Despite his rocket arm and powerful physique, Lorenzen's Couch-like smarts are what won him a scholarship to UK.
If his career ended now, his .597 career completion percentage would rank fourth in state history - a shade behind contemporaries Gerry Ahrens of Male and Kyle Moore of Breathitt County, who are tied for second at .616. His .631 completion percentage this fall would rank as the fourth-best single-season showing in state history. "He is such a good decision-maker," Mueller said. "People always see how he creates, but the basic stuff - drop back and get the ball to the open receiver - he just does that so well."
Lorenzen's 41 TDs this year are fifth-most in the state's single-season record book. (The mark of 57 set by Male's Chris Redman in 1994 is also the national record.) With eight more, Lorenzen could rank second - beating the 48 Couch threw in '94.
His 85 career TD passes are fourth-most in state history. His 6,473 career passing yards rank 12th and his 367 career completions 13th in the state record book.
"Never in my wildest dreams could I have foreseen things going this well," Lorenzen said. "It's been a blast."
Mueller is most proud of Lorenzen's manners. His QB constantly signs autographs for children - even once this fall at Conner just as Highlands was taking the field.
"I definitely appreciate the reception people give me," Lorenzen said. "Being at a game and seeing someone walk in with a (No.) 22 jersey, that's a feeling you can't describe."
