Now in his third season at the helm of the Bret Harte offense, quarterback Ryan Kraft feels at ease in the Bullfrogs' hybrid triple-option.
Any doubt? Call Delta Charter.
Bret Harte blew through Delta Charter like a fast-forming, faster-moving tornado. The Bullfrogs ran just 20 plays and never faced a third down in a 41-0 victory, their first of the 2018 season.
"It was a fun game," Kraft said. "Usually, we get 60 plays in a game. It seemed like anything we called somehow worked."
Kraft was 6 for 6 for 201 yards and three touchdowns. He had a fourth passing touchdown called back because of penalty. For his efforts — and his efficiency — Kraft, one of FrontRowPreps.com's top-50 returning players, is the Panelli Passing Academy small-school Top Gun award winner.
"I feel like I'm in complete control," said Kraft, an all-Mother Lode League performer last fall. "I feel more relaxed this year than in any of the years past. ... I feel like a guy who can be looked up to, and a guy who can call the offense."
The offense blends triple-option run principles with a heavy emphasis on the pass. Kraft said the Bullfrogs want to throw the ball 25 times a game, which thrills the third-year signal-caller.
"When I was a freshman, there was this new head coach (coach Casey Kester) who introduced this triple-option, barely-pass-in-a-game-ever offense," Kraft said. "I like running the ball, but I like throwing the ball a lot more."
Though Bret Harte is just 1-2, Kraft says the locker room brims with confidence going into Septemeber. The Bullfrogs battle El Dorado (0-3) on Friday before turning their sights to former Mother Lode League foe Linden (1-2), and then four-time defending MLL champion Sonora (0-3) in their league opener. El Dorado, Linden and Sonora are a combined 1-8.
Follow James Burns on Twitter at @jburns1980, or email him at frontrowpreps@gmail.com.
