Andy Schob is in a win-win-win situation.
That's right, the second-year Marietta High head football coach can pick either Lance Weppler, Morgan Wynn or Matt McKitrick as the Tigers' starting quarterback to kick off the season against visiting Morgan Aug. 28, and feel good about the decision.
It's a tough call, because all three have been impressive so far in scrimmages against Bellaire and Cambridge at Don Drumm Stadium. Preseason play will conclude at 7 p.m. Friday when MHS hosts visiting Washington Court House.
After that contest, the picture will become clearer for the Marietta coaching staff.
Will it be Wynn? Well, the junior signal caller threw two touchdown passes, one to Perry Wheeler and the other to Billy Grizer, against Bellaire.
McKitrick, a sophomore, also took center snaps against the Big Reds, and played well.
"Morgan looked good and Matt looked good," Schob said. "Both of our quarterbacks are understanding what we want from them.
"Neither one turned the ball over. They completed the short passes. They ran the offense. They ran the ball well. They're making progress."
The 6-2, 215-pound Weppler, a senior, was sidelined with an ankle injury against Bellaire, but returned to action against Cambridge in Monday's Jamboree game. He also made an impression.
"Lance hit Billy (Grizer) with a long pass to the 4-yard line," Schob said. "He threw four or five nice balls.
"All three of our quarterbacks did some good things."
Overall as a team, Marietta probably didn't play as well against Cambridge as it did against Bellaire. But the Tigers, in two quarters of play, did get into the end zone on Wheeler's short burst from the one.
In one formation, Wynn at QB and Weppler both lined up in the backfield. Hey, if Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles can think about doing it, so can the Tigers.
Perhaps pressing a little bit, MHS coughed up the ball near the goal line, and had a pass dropped in the end zone.
"We made a few more mistakes against Cambridge than we did against Bellaire," Schob said. "But again, it was a typical scrimmage, and if we're going to make mistakes, I'd rather it be now, so we can learn from them, instead of later when the season starts."
Defensively, MHS rested a couple of starters, who were "dinged up" a little bit, and got an opportunity to see some other players in action on the gridiron.
Cambridge hurt Marietta with a long TD run, and also kicked a couple of field goals. Last year, the Bobcats from Guernsey County beat the Tigers in a regular-season game, 41-27.
"We knew Cambridge would be good," Schob said, "and they were. Overall, though, the defense did a good job."
Marietta and Washington Court House will be meeting for the first time ever, Schob said. The format will be similar to the Jamboree game with just two quarters being played. And, again, no official score will be kept.
All eyes, no doubt, will be on Weppler, Wynn and McKitrick. One of them is going to be the 2009 Marietta Tigers' quarterback.
Thing is, if it's Weppler, Wynn will then move out to the wide receiver position, and McKitrick will continue starting in the defensive secondary.
If it's Wynn, then look for Weppler to be a running back.
Schob is in a good position, and he knows it. No matter who he chooses, it'll be the right call.
"I have an idea," Schob said. "But there's still competition for the position, so we'll just have to wait and see."
Ron Johnston is the Marietta Times sports editor, and can be reached at 376-5441, or at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com
