Freshman quarterback Jayden Neal (14) and the Knoxville Catholic Fighting Irish took on the Lipscomb Mustangs in a non-region matchup on Hollin Field at Blaine Stadium on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Lipscomb won 44-0. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
Though once a Heisman candidate, a former NFL first-round pick and a Super Bowl champion, Trent Dilfer could still think back clearly on his high school days and empathize with Catholic’s starting freshman quarterback Jayden Neal.
Dilfer, now in his third season coaching the Lipscomb Academy Mustangs into a state power in Division II-AA, knew just what Neal was likely feeling Friday night.
“I told our staff, he’s better than me when I was a freshman,” said Dilfer, on 5Star Live’s postgame show at Catholic.
“I probably can’t say this, but I would have been tinkling down my pants. … We have some dudes on defense. We have a lot of defensive pressures. But we knew with this game, you take the quarterback out of this game and it’s hard to have offense.”
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