Like his coach, Kennett junior QB has some big expectations to meet

Kennett High School quarterback Tanner Pierce rolls out on a bootleg during a football jamboree at Hayti High School recently.

Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

Kennett High School football coach Andrew Webster wasn’t the only person on the field of Metz Cherry Stadium on Friday seeking to meet high expectations.

Indian quarterback Tanner Pierce, like Webster, also has some big shoes to fill this fall.

In the case of Webster, the longtime Kennett assistant coach takes over for former head coach Joel Wyatt, who was the SEMO Conference Central Coach of the Year in 2020.

For Pierce, he took over for the now-graduated Bodey Ellis, who was the SEMO Conference Central First Team selection last season.

The Indians hosted Malden for the 2021 season-opener (complete coverage is online at Semoball.com) and Webster said prior to kick-off that he had complete confidence in Pierce running his offense.

“Everything,” Webster responded when asked what he liked about Pierce.

There may be no more critical trait to a quarterback’s success than his emotions and Webster said Pierce is excellent in that regard.

“Tanner is usually really cool-headed,” Webster said. “He is not too high or not too low emotionally.”

The junior has the mental part of the game down, but Webster said he also is impressive in his skills.

“He can throw the ball really well,” Webster said, “and he runs the ball surprisingly well.”

Pierce is one of the “three or four best kids on our team” when it comes to running the ball, according to his coach, though that may not be apparent to those in the stands.

“When you watch him,” Webster said, “everything is just so smooth. It doesn’t necessarily look like he is moving super-fast, but he eats up a lot of ground.”

Like Ellis, who led the Indians to 11 victories in 12 games last season, Webster said Pierce “is a winner.”

However, that may be where the similarities end between the two athletes.

“They are a lot different,” Webster said.

Ellis was a 6-foot, 205-pound bulldozer when running the ball, while Webster said Pierce “is more finesse. He’ll make you miss.”

“Bodey was big and strong,” Webster said. “He was like a big running back. But they are both winners and they are both great kids, for sure.”