Kyle Covley to direct Penfield gridders

This seems to be the year of the quarterback in the Monroe County Division 1 this season.

While a lot of eyes are focusing on Rush-Henrietta senior Ashton Broyld, there are a couple of juniors who will turn heads as well, including Kyle Covley at Penfield.

“Without seeing all the other quarterbacks in the area, I would say Kyle is one of the top,” said Penfield head coach Steve Romano. “Between last year and this year he has incredibly matured as a quarterback. We have been going over each play, all his reads. He knows more now that he did last year. Fundamentally and mentally he's really looking good.”

Covley added, “I feel pretty good going into this year. I think we should get some wins. I think our offense is looking pretty good, and if we just keep working on our whole group as a team, then I think we can do pretty well this year.”

The Patriots (3-6) ended last season with a victory, the first time that has happened in a number of years at Penfield, and they are looking to build on that.

“I understand the offense a lot better,” Covley said. “Coach Romano is doing a good job at teaching me how to read the defense and find the open guy to throw to, so I think I'll do pretty well.”

Covley will have an experienced back in sophomore Connor Russell as the Patriots return 10 starters from last year’s squad. The signal-caller will have four senior receivers to throw to as well: Zach Koenig, Matt Condon, Nick Costanza, and Rob Bartosiewicz.

“At 6-foot-3, 195, he's has excellent size for a QB,” Covley said. “He has no problem seeing over the line of scrimmage, which is always a tough thing for kids to do in high school. He's got a very good arm. He's becoming more patient. He's doing his reading more. There's always two or three reads on every play when we throw the football, and he's getting better at his progressions before he throws the ball.

“We always give him two plays. We give him rules and he needs to run it this way or that way, depending on how the defense is set up. He's getting better at standing up there, taking a quick look and deciding our chances are better here than there. He's getting better at managing and reading at both pass and run. Overall, he's maturing.”

This seems to be the year of the quarterback in the Monroe County Division 1 this season.

While a lot of eyes are focusing on Rush-Henrietta senior Ashton Broyld, there are a couple of juniors who will turn heads as well, including Kyle Covley at Penfield.

“Without seeing all the other quarterbacks in the area, I would say Kyle is one of the top,” said Penfield head coach Steve Romano. “Between last year and this year he has incredibly matured as a quarterback. We have been going over each play, all his reads. He knows more now that he did last year. Fundamentally and mentally he's really looking good.”

Covley added, “I feel pretty good going into this year. I think we should get some wins. I think our offense is looking pretty good, and if we just keep working on our whole group as a team, then I think we can do pretty well this year.”

The Patriots (3-6) ended last season with a victory, the first time that has happened in a number of years at Penfield, and they are looking to build on that.

“I understand the offense a lot better,” Covley said. “Coach Romano is doing a good job at teaching me how to read the defense and find the open guy to throw to, so I think I'll do pretty well.”

Covley will have an experienced back in sophomore Connor Russell as the Patriots return 10 starters from last year’s squad. The signal-caller will have four senior receivers to throw to as well: Zach Koenig, Matt Condon, Nick Costanza, and Rob Bartosiewicz.

“At 6-foot-3, 195, he's has excellent size for a QB,” Covley said. “He has no problem seeing over the line of scrimmage, which is always a tough thing for kids to do in high school. He's got a very good arm. He's becoming more patient. He's doing his reading more. There's always two or three reads on every play when we throw the football, and he's getting better at his progressions before he throws the ball.

“We always give him two plays. We give him rules and he needs to run it this way or that way, depending on how the defense is set up. He's getting better at standing up there, taking a quick look and deciding our chances are better here than there. He's getting better at managing and reading at both pass and run. Overall, he's maturing.”

Also returning to protect Covley are senior linemen Bryan Bleecker (6-0, 240) and Jake Shattuck (6-3, 225).

“The offensive line is working really hard,” said Covley. "Coach (Greg) Geesler is doing a good job teaching them who to block. He's pushing them pretty hard, so I think they'll do a really good job.”

“Our number one thing with him is that we've got to keep him (Covley) healthy,” Romano said. “He's going to be the guy that we go to. You know how you sometimes say you don't ask quarterbacks to win games for you, well guess what? He's going to have to make some plays for us by managing the game. He's now ready to manage the game for us. We can maybe open up our playbook a little bit more because he's getting it a little bit more so maybe we can do a little bit more with him than we did last year.

“Last year it was new to him. The second year through I think he's ready to take on more. Kyle, as a junior, has two more years of high school. It's like the sky is open for him. He can do whatever he wants to do.”