Saxton continues South Fayette line of elite quarterbacks

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 9, 2017 | 1:51 AM

It is hard to deny that South Fayette has become a cradle of quarterbacks over the last several years.

Since 2010, the Lions have had three gunslingers throw for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

It began with 2011 grad Christian Brumbaugh, who finished his high school career with 7,164 passing yards — a then-WPIAL record — and 72 touchdown passes.

His younger brother and 2015 grad Brett rewrote history books as he became the all-time leading passer in Pennsylvania history with 11,084 yards and 127 touchdown throws.

The latest signal-caller, Drew Saxton, is already adding his chapter to the successful quarterback lineage. The senior is in his third season under center and is coming off a junior campaign when he threw for 2,638 yards and 30 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

“It is a cool thing to be part of,” said Saxton, who set a WPIAL championship game passing record of 435 yards as a sophomore. “I still stay in communication with Brett. We all love that we get to play for South Fayette.”

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Saxton has 413 passing yards with a pair of touchdowns through two games this season. The early success has already pushed him past 5,000 career passing yards and closer to being the 20th quarterback to top 5,500 career yards in WPIAL history.

Saxton came into his senior season ready to lead with two years of starting experience under his belt. He credits his development to working with players over the past two seasons who showed him how to be a leader.

“In my sophomore year, Hunter Hayes showed me how to do things the right way,” Saxton said. “He led by example. I was also close to Dan Trimbur last year, and he was a great leader.”

Saxton has shown this leadership by trying to help a group of new starting receivers find success. The Lions lost four of last season’s top receivers to graduation. In their place, juniors RayQuin Glover, Ryan Kokoski and Mike Trimbur have stepped up. Saxton said he worked with the group throughout the offseason to come in ready.

“We have been working together since the spring,” Saxton said. “The routes are the same, but getting timing down can be a difficult thing.”

One experienced target has been tight end Noah Plack. The senior is leading the team in receiving yards through the first two games with 138 yards and a touchdown.

“He is an amazing player,” Saxton said. “He knows how to get open. I know if I throw to him, he will go get it. Delaware got an awesome player with him.”

The Lions are off to a 2-0 start. South Fayette pushed its conference winning streak to 49 games with a 30-6 win over Mars in Week 1.

Saxton’s goals for the season go well beyond another conference title. The senior ultimately wants to lead the Lions back to Heinz Field and a WPIAL championship.

It is another accomplishment he hopes to share with the quarterbacks who came before him.

“I know as a team we want to get rings for winning the WPIAL,” Saxton said. “I know for some of our seniors it was devastating not getting it our sophomore year. It is the ultimate goal.”

Nathan Smith is a freelance writer.

Tags: South Fayette