As he scans the field, looking for an open receiver, Jared Taylor is in his element. If it weren’t for an injury to starting quarterback Nate Wieland ‘17 earlier in this season, he likely wouldn’t be in this position. Taylor stepped in as the starting quarterback early in the season against Cedar Falls and Bettendorf after Wieland injured his non-throwing shoulder.

“Taking over as the starting quarterback, preparation wise, you have to be mentally and physically ready to go every week,” Taylor said. Mental preparation is probably the biggest part of it.”

This season, Taylor has 16 touchdowns, and over 1500 passing yards, following his  performance in the regular season finale against Muscatine, Taylor was named a finalist for the KCRG-TV9 athlete of the week.

As Jared has taken over as the starter, he still has maintained a close relationship with Wieland in practice.

“Nate helps me go through with the game plan every week, helps me on things that I’m not quite sure quite how to handle,” Taylor said of his relationship with Wieland. He was the starter last year, so he has more experience than I do with [working on the game plan].”

Taylor has brought in a bit of a different style for the Little Hawks. With Wieland at quarterback, City High Coach Dan Sabers admitted that they called more quarterback runs. With Taylor under center, the Little Hawks have passed more, and ran the ball with their running backs more. He says that Taylor has gotten more carries as the season has progressed-he had 63 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. He only had four carries for -7 yards against Ottumwa after taking over for Wieland following his injury in the first quarter.

“He is very conscientious, a very accurate thrower and has a great work ethic,” Dan Sabers said.