The NKyTribune will be offering focused coverage of NKY high school football throughout the season, thanks to support from St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine. See all our pre-season features on each of NKY’s 21 high school football teams and follow our coverage, including roundups each week at Northern Kentucky High School Football.
By John Lachmann
NKyTribune contibutor
After its quarterback-to-be decided to quit football prior to the 2014 season, Campbell County held an open tryout for the paramount offensive position. One of the candidates was junior Carson Plessinger, who had played the position in sixth grade and then specialized on defense, developing into a solid linebacker during his sophomore season.
Plessinger won the quarterback job and was under center for all 11 games last year, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in the process. Having established himself as a capable rusher, he developed skills in other areas during the offseason to continue as the Camels’ quarterback going into his 2015 campaign
“He’s just more versatile,” Campbell County coach Steve Lickert said. “Last year, he was more of a running back playing quarterback, but this year he’s a quarterback.”
Knowing the starting quarterback job is his heading into this season, Plessinger wants to make it a memorable one now that he’s fully recovered from a shoulder injury he suffered in the summer of 2014.
“I feel a lot more comfortable in the pocket,” he said. “It’s going to be so much easier – everyone is helping me out a lot.”
Campbell County’s offensive playbook was somewhat limited last season because Plessinger was a first-year starter at quarterback. But he still managed to rush 225 times for 1,083 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also completed 54 of 143 passes (37.8 percent) for 839 yards and eight touchdowns with just four interceptions.
“It definitely affected our defense because when you take a kid that good out a team is going to take a little bit of a hit,” Lickert said. “He’s just a really good football player. If he was a linebacker, we’d probably still be talking about him.”
As a linebacker, Plessinger always had a thirst for learning. He said that helped tremendously in his transition to the most cerebral position in the sport.
“I’ve always been that person that wants to know everything,” he said. “Even on defense, I had to make sure everyone knew what they’re doing. I’ve always helped people like that.”
Plessinger, who is drawing some interest from several colleges, also plays a thinking-man’s position in baseball as a catcher. He talked about the similarities between catching and quarterbacking.
“Overall, you’re the coach on the field, and you’re expected to know what people are supposed to do and that they’re doing the right thing,” he said.
CAMPBELL COUNTY CAMELS
COACH: Steve Lickert (62-60 in 11 seasons at three schools).
2014 SEASON: 6-5 record, lost in first round of Class 6A playoffs.
THIS SEASON: Class 6A, District 6 with Boone County, Simon Kenton
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 – EAST CENTRAL (Ind.), 7 p.m.
Aug. 28 – at Highlands, 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 – NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 – at Cooper, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 – at Ryle, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 – WESTERN BROWN (Ohio), 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – at Conner, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 – at Simon Kenton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 – BOONE COUNTY, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 – LEXINGTON HENRY CLAY, 7:30 p.m.
See the previous prep football story here:
Highlands High School