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Ginskey steps into starting role

Lead Summary

With senior quarterback Taylor Bogen out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL, the Huskies turned to sophomore quarterback Jacob Ginskey to fill the starting role.
Making his first appearance late in the Huskies’ 42-0 loss against Mankato West in Week No. 3, head coach Jeff Williams said Ginskey’s playmaking ability caught his eye at the end of the game.
“He threw against West late in the game and did some pretty good things. And you know, he caught our attention. He really impressed us with his ability to move in the pocket, to extend plays and find open receivers,” said Williams.
Ginskey was not originally slated as the team’s backup quarterback, as senior outside linebacker Cael Dowling is listed as a two-way athlete, also on the quarterbacks’ depth chart.
Dowling started the West game and completed four of his five pass attempts, gaining a total of 11 yards.
The passing game’s inefficiency led to Ginskey getting a chance, where he earned the reigns of the offense.
Ginskey said that he was told the following Monday that he would be practicing with the first team in preparation for his first varsity start against Austin on Friday, Sept. 24.
Since taking over, Ginskey has completed 41 of 66 passes for 577 yards and eight touchdowns to four interceptions.
While completing only 62.1% of his passing attempts, the good news for the Huskies is that his average yards per completion is currently 14.1, above the 10.0 yard per completion threshold that most quarterbacks are compared against.
On the ground as a rusher, Ginskey has had some struggles, losing 9 yards on 19 attempts and adding one touchdown so far on the season.
However, according to Williams, the rushing stat line doesn’t define his ability to use his legs.
Williams is excited about Ginskey’s ability to move as a passer, spreading the field by getting to the edge and becoming a dual-threat quarterback with the ability to hurt a defense as both a rusher and a passer.
“I think, because of his mobility, we are moving the pocket a little bit more than we would have with Taylor. Our ability to move the pocket with some of our play actions, bootlegs and our sprint out game, I think, suits his skillset a little bit better. So we’ll probably emphasize those packages as time goes on,” said Williams.
Ginskey agreed, saying he too believes that his ability to escape the pocket and create plays is one of his biggest strengths as a quarterback.
Williams also noted Ginskey’s ability to scramble and find open receivers downfield.
He said that it offers the receivers the ability to play in a “street-ball” fashion, where they can adapt on the fly and find open space without needing to follow a route.
That style of play has been effective, as the Huskies have gone from 1-2 to now 4-2, pushing Ginskey’s record as a starter to 3-0.
Up next for Ginskey and the Huskies is an away matchup against New Prague on Friday at 7 p.m.
The New Prague Trojans are currently 4-2 and come into the game after losing to Rochester Mayo, 45-0.

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