Four Eagles to compete for starting quarterback job in 2025

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
Last season, Chase Neer won the job as the starting quarterback for the Grain Valley football team.
 
That’s because he had the strongest knowledge of head coach David Allie’s offense. His biggest strengths was making sure the other 10 players on the field were in the right position to execute the play calls and reading opposing defenses.
 
However, late in the season, the then-junior began to split time with Ethan Page as a signal caller as Allie wanted to get a look at both of them to see who would be the starter in the playoffs.
 
Neer and Page ended up sharing snaps in the postseason as Page was used in long-yardage situations because of his strong arm and Neer took early-down snaps.
 
Now, in 2025, Page is no longer with the team and Neer is competing with three other quarterbacks for the starting job for the upcoming season.
 
Senior DJ Pechar, junior Max Wilson and sophomore Cohen Morris are all candidates to be the starting quarterback for the Eagles this coming season.
 
“They are a good group to work with, and they are competing with each other,” Allie said. “Neer is a great leader. The other guys are hungry and they are all coachable. They are all getting reps and they are all getting better.
 
“We feel across the board that we have some viable options. That’s what the summer is for. Everyone is getting in some reps and are gaining experience. Then when August comes around, we have a good idea about who is going to be where.”
 
Right now, Neer is the frontrunner to earn the starting job as he started all 11 games last year and helped the team earn a 7-4 record. He showed some flashes as he had some big plays on some option runs in 2024. In the passing game, he was accurate on short distance throws and screens.
 
While he has the most varsity experience among the four vying for the starting spot, he admitted there are things he needs to work on and he said the spot is up for grabs.
 
“I am working on all my mechanics throwing wise and I am working on my strength,” Neer said. “I am trying to have a good senior year.”
 
Pechar got to play some in blowouts last year, but had been sidelined often due to a leg injury. He’s 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, so he has the height to see over the top of the offensive line and the defense to find his targets. He also is strong at extending plays with his legs when everything breaks down.
 
“DJ has been in the program for a long time,” Allie said. “He had an injury last year and his leg seems to be OK. We are playing catch up with him as far as reps go. He’s a big, tall kid and has long arms.”
 
Added Pechar: “I am good at improving and making things work.”
 
Wilson is a transfer from Blue Springs and his main focus has been learning Allie’s offense. He played for the Wildcats’ junior varsity team last season and he said his main goal is to earn the starting quarterback job.
 
Like Pechar, he is good at extending plays with his legs and he has a strong arm.
 
“Max has a good arm and he can sling the ball,” Allie said. “We run some different things then he is used to, so he’s trying to get used to that and learn our plays. He’s working hard and asking questions and I think he has a huge upside.”
 
Morris got some reps late in blowouts last season and he showed he could take off running with the ball when needed as he showed his speed and agility to get past opposing defenders. He also can throw the ball down field when needed like Wilson.
 
“Cohen can run with it, and he has a pretty good arm,” Allie said. “He's a baseball player so he has a quick release and he can get some velocity on the ball. He’s a kid that is not afraid to step in there and play. We are trying to see what he can do with the big group.”
 
Added Morris: “I am pretty good at throwing it. I just have to work on the run reads. I think I am good at reading the defenses in the passing game and I am an accurate thrower.”
 
Allie will have plenty of options to choose from when the season starts on Aug. 29. He said he is happy with the work his quarterbacks have put in over the summer so far and is confident one of them can get the job done this fall.
 
“Even though there is competition and they are all trying to be the starting quarterback, they are all working to make each other better,” Allie said. “They are willing to help each other out. I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids to help see who is going to help run the show on Fridays.”