2019 QB Brendon Clark Ready For State Semis, Notre Dame

Brendon Clark‍ has made things look easy at times this year, but only because the 2019 Notre Dame quarterback commit put in the hard working during the offseason.

“His team is definitely very, very dominant,” Clark’s personal quarterback coach Malcolm Bell said of Manchester (Va.) High School. “Probably one of the more dominant teams I’ve seen since playing football in Richmond. He’s doing really, really good.”

Manchester ran its record to 13-0 with a huge victory over Colonial Forge in the Region 6B championship game last Friday to advance to Friday night’s Class 6 state semifinal against Ocean Lakes.

Clark has thrown for just under 2,000 yards this season with 31 touchdown passes and just one interception.

“He’s doing what he has to do in the first two quarters and it’s kind of over by the third,” Bell said. “I can’t even describe how dominant he’s been and his team has been this season.

“These aren’t just gimme throws. He’s actually putting the ball where it needs to be – tight windows, back shoulder throws – to get these touchdowns. I think it’s really the work he put in in the offseason. Their offensive coordinator is a great OC. He puts them in the best situation. He doesn’t have a lot of interceptions because plays aren’t called for him to throw the ball every down.”

Clark has also rushed for more than 600 yards this season, including 142 yards against Colonial Forge.

“He’s probably one of the top 15 in overall scoring in the region as well because he’s carrying the ball,” Bell continued. “Everything goes through him on offense. He’s running the ball, he’s throwing the ball. I think that’s why you see a high percentage rate and zero interceptions. Even if it’s an RPO decision, he’s being very, very smart and efficient with the ball.”

Bell said Manchester’s staff has done a good job of putting Clark in a position to take advantage of the run/pass option plays.

“It could be looking at a specific person or it could be a look that corners are giving or something like that,” Bell said of the RPO decision-making process. “It could be difficult for somebody who doesn’t really know what they’re doing, but an RPO for him makes everything simple. They’ve implemented checks for him as well.

“If you go and watch Manchester, it’s like it’s his show. He’s running the offense. The tempo is great. He has a great grasp of what’s going on. The RPO is not different, especially for him.”

It will become more difficult when Clark gets to college, though.

“The RPO gets a little harder when your object to read is actually a good player or a great player,” Bell acknowledged. “You want to read slow on the inside linebacker, well maybe that inside linebacker is a lot better at the next level, so he messes with your eyes a little bit. It just all depends on safety rotation and things like that. Maybe the spin-down safety is very good at disguising the fact that he’s spinning down, so if you’re reading an object in an RPO, it could be very, very difficult.”

But Clark’s early mastery will help him down the road.

“It’s great for him having the success that he’s having with running the offense. A lot of teams are doing a lot of RPOs. You see it in the NFL now. I think he’ll be able to adjust to anything. As far as the RPOs and things like that, he’s showing a great grasp of it. Like I said, you can see it in the game, he’s very efficient. He knows what’s going on. He’s very good at situational football, down and distance, time on the clock. He’s just totally aware of everything during the game.”