The succession of the quarterback position at Aberdeen High School started in 2014.
Quarterback Josh Williams was making the Bulldogs go for his third and final season. Tramonte Prather was a junior and earning a reputation as one of the team’s top defensive players.
While Aberdeen racked up the victories, each player knew the Bulldogs would look a lot different in 2015.
“Josh is one of the greatest to ever play the position here,” Prather said. “I tried to learn as much as I could. We all had the feeling I would have a chance to be the quarterback (in 2015), so my job was to learn. I tried to follow everything he did. I would ask questions and learn all I could.”
It seems Prather had made the most of his note-taking.
Aberdeen (10-3) will carry a seven-game win streak into today’s Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 3A North State semifinal matchup against East Side (9-4) at 7 p.m. in Cleveland.
“I am really proud of Tramonte and how he has become a leader,” said Williams, who was a reserve quarterback at Itawamba Community College this season. “Being a quarterback is so much more than making plays. You have to be vocal. You have to have the other players engaged and focused on what they were doing.
“The hardest thing is becoming that leader — becoming the person that everyone wants to follow.”
Fortunately for Prather, he already was one a leader on defense. As he learned how to play quarterback, his leadership role grew to encompass the whole team.
While Prather has some amassed some of the best passing and rushing numbers in Class 3A, his love remains defense.
“Making a big hit is still my favorite part of the game,” Prather said. “Making a hit to keep the other team out of the end zone is great. Defense is a pride thing. You don’t want to give up first downs, big plays, or any points. The one-on-one contact. The physical play. The big hit. Those are the reasons why I loved the game.”
As a defensive back, Prather has 56 tackles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and 11 pass breakups. At quarterback, his numbers aren’t half bad, either. Prather is 129 of 227 (56.8 percent) for 2,194 yards 27 touchdowns (12 interceptions). Prather has rushed 113 times for 581 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Almost all of the offensive starters returned from last season’s 10-4 team. On defense, 10 starters returned. However, the Bulldogs had to adjust to Eric Spann, who took over as the team’s coach for Mark Bray, who retired.
“It was a learning process,” Spann said. “We knew what we had. We just had to put it all together. Tramonte has all the natural leadership characteristics. Still, it is learning a position and becoming the leader. As he found his comfort level, the team did as well.”
Aberdeen went 3-3 in non-region play. All six games were decided by a touchdown or less. In Class 3A, Region 4 play, Aberdeen won all five region games by an average of 33 points.
Postseason victories against Belmont (52-6) and Water Valley (42-13) have extended the winning streak to seven.
“This team is really hungry,” said Aberdeen senior wide receiver Jerrick Orr, a Memphis commitment. “Last season was real disappointing because we felt like we had a team good enough to win the championship. As far as (Prather) at quarterback, that was a natural fit. We knew the energy he brought to playing defense.
“If he brought that to offense, we were going to be unstoppable.
Orr has 67 receptions for 1,171 yards and 16 touchdowns. His chemistry with Prather eased the team through some early growing pains. Their connection has became near-perfect in the second half of the season.
“We have so many great players,” Prather said. “I know everyone looks at the quarterback. That is what I admired so much about Josh. If we needed a play, he was going to make the play. It didn’t matter where we were on the field, he was going to make a play. I learned some things about mechanics and all that, but the main thing I learned is how to be the No. 1. How to be the man when the pressure is the greatest to make the play.”
Williams had little doubt Prather would excel in his new position. As a senior, Williams threw for 2,492 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for 891 yards and 19 touchdowns. Prather threw for 283 yards and ran for 160 more as his backup.
“He always wanted more,” Williams said. “When you want more for yourself and you want more for the team, you can go a long way. Having (Orr) certainly helps. I thought this offense really had a chance to be special.”
A year ago, Aberdeen beat region rival Kemper County in the regular season but lost to them in a third-round playoff game. A year older and wiser, Aberdeen stands in the same location. The Bulldogs need one more win to reach the North State championship game.
“The gold ball is all anyone has ever talked about this season,” Prather said. “Each week we talk about taking it one game at a time. However, in the back of your mind is the state championship. We want this program to be about winning championships. We know this team is good enough to do that.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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