Bentonville Coach Barry Lunney Sr., who has 26 years of experience of being a head coach, is high on sophomore quarterback Kasey Ford’s talent.
“He can throw the ball,” Ford said. “He threw one against Rogers 53 yards right on the money for a touchdown and didn’t look like he was pressing that much. I think he’s going to be one of the most recruited kids in the state in the next couple of years if he stays on target and doesn’t lose focus about football.”
Ford, 6-5, 237 pounds started the season a little shaky when he started the third game of the season against Trinity Euless High School from Texas, but has shown considerable improvement the following week.
“He had three interceptions in that game against a very good pass defensive team, but also threw some really nice balls in that game,” Lunney said. “Next week against (Springdale) Har-Ber he had an outstanding game. The game is getting slower for him in the sense.”
Ford, who also plays baseball and has thrown in the low’s 80’s on a radar gun, has completed 72 of 124 passes for 1,246 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“Like any sophomore his mechanics have to get better,” Lunney said. “His reads are still not great.”
Lunney pointed out that Ford has played against good competition and well coached teams.
“The game happens so fast, movements and shifts and the coverages,” Lunney said. “We took it easy with him early and we’re giving him more and more.”
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema attended the Tigers’ home game against Springdale Har-Ber. If Ford progresses the way Lunney thinks, the sky is the limit.
“I had a talk with him I said ‘Son, these guys you see on Saturday afternoons from coast-to-coast will be in here’,” said Lunney, who reports Alabama and Memphis visiting the school last Friday. “There’s not that many guys that big that’s got that arm and the physicality at that position. He has a chance to be pretty special.”