CHARLOTTESVILLE — Houston Swan is a year older and a year wiser.
The Eastern Hancock sophomore quarterback went through expected growing pains of being a freshman signal-caller in 2018. He was able to complete 54.1 percent of his passes and throw for 1,161 yards, but along with 11 touchdowns, he threw 20 interceptions.
The numbers have changed as a sophomore. Swan is one of the state’s leading passers. The percentage, yards and touchdowns are up, and the interceptions are down.
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On the way to helping lead the Royals to a 5-1 mark, the young quarterback has set numerous school records.
The formula to success has been more than just having another birthday.
Swan’s work at the quarterback position goes well beyond the Royals’ allotted practice time.
He spent time in the preseason working on routes and timing with receivers, a routine he and his teammates continue after the practice whistle blows.
“I think from the experience of last year, I learned a lot,” Swan said. “This summer and over the winter I’ve worked with the receivers more. I’m better at anticipating where they are going to be and what’s going to be open.”
Then, there’s the film study.
And more film study.
And, to top it off, there’s more film study.
“Going back to Christmastime, we have spent, one-on-one, over 100 hours watching film,” Assistant coach Michael Galyan, in his eighth year with the Royals and third as offensive coordinator, said. “It has made him more confident.”
“He knows the offense better than anyone, better than any of the other coaches. I’ll mess up a call, and he’ll fix it on the field.”
“I have watched a lot more film this year than last year,” Swan added. “I understand it better. I’m looking for holes in the defense and what plays will work and trying to translate that to the game.”
The fruits of his labor were shown immediately.
In the team’s first game of the season, a 42-13 victory Aug. 23 at Northwestern, Swan set a school single-game record with six touchdown passes. He threw for 301 yards in the game and did not have an interception.
In a 46-27 win over arch-rival Knightstown on Sept. 20, Swan set single-game school records for completions (27), attempts (45) and yards (352).
His efficiency has been phenomenal. He completed 19-of-23 passes (82.6 percent) in a 48-22 Week 2 win over Wes-Del. It was better the following week, connecting on 16-of-19 tries (84.2 percent) in a 48-14 victory over Fountain Central.
His interceptions are down. He has thrown eight, but four of those came in one game, a 38-20 loss to Class 2A No. 7 Heritage Christian.
The best week, efficiency-wise, came last week in a 48-12 homecoming triumph over South Decatur. Swan completed 9-of-10 passes (90 percent) for 197 yards and five touchdowns.
Swan has completed 68.1 percent of his throws in six games, connecting on 111-of-163 attempts.
He ranks seventh in the state in passing yards with 1,592. He is fifth in completions.
He leads all underclassmen in the state with 23 touchdown passes, an Eastern Hancock season record. He’s second overall, trailing only West Lafayette senior Kyle Adams, who has 29.
With four of the team’s five wins being blowouts, most of Swan’s numbers are from playing just the first half of the game.
Along with his extended work in the film room and practice field, Swan is blessed with a lot of talent around him. The Royals have a very strong offensive line, which has given the sophomore a lot of time to throw.
“We’re getting a lot better balls thrown. He has been more precise,” sophomore wide receiver Cole Rainbolt said.
While the line has given Swan time to be accurate, his biggest decisions may be whom to throw to. He has a ton of formidable targets.
He knows the offense, so it’s not just one or two receivers getting the bulk of the action.
Seven different players have caught touchdown passes and have at least one reception of 29 yards or more. Only two of them are seniors. The top five receivers are all underclassmen and all have at least 200 yards receiving.
Rainbolt leads the team in catches with 26 and has 330 receiving yards with four touchdowns. Junior J.P. Fuchs, in just four games, has a team best 359 yards. Fuchs and junior Cayden Sotelo each have six touchdown receptions. Sotelo also leads in yards per catch with 18.9.
“The receivers are learning their routes better,” Sotelo said. “We’re trying to find holes in the defense, coaches are teaching us those things and Houston is showing us what the defense is doing and how we can get through it.”
Sophomores Zach Arnold and Landon O’Neal have double figures in receptions, multiple touchdown receptions and are over 200 receiving yards. Arnold has 14 grabs for 254 and three scores. O’Neal has 15 catches for 217 and three TDs.
“We have more depth than we did last year, so we have guys that can come in fresh and give us a spark if we need it,” Swan said.
And, Swan’s been able to light that spark. He’s throw for at least two touchdowns in each game to go with his average of 265.3 yards per contest.
“I’ve not coached a kid that has put in as much time as Houston has put in on and off the field,” Galyan added. “He’s wanted it and the receivers have wanted it. They’ve all worked hard at it to be successful.”
