LITTLE ROCK — Harding Academy Coach Roddy Mote likes the numbers, but he likes the man behind the numbers even more.
The man is senior quarterback Will Francis, who should surpass 8,000 career passing yards when the Wildcats (13-0) face Glen Rose (13-1) for the Class 2A state championship at noon Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
“What you see on the field is special, but when you get him off the field it’s extra special,” Mote said. “He’s a servant.”
Mote said it isn’t uncommon for Francis to help managers haul equipment, help coaches place sponsorship signs around the field on game days or aid water boys during breaks.
“He attracts people to him,” Mote said. “Our elementary kids love him.”
It’s a different story for coaches and players asked to stop Francis.
Francis, 6-4, 204 pounds, has thrown for 7,983 yards and 81 touchdowns in his career, the bulk coming the past two seasons as a starter.
Francis was behind Seth Keese as a sophomore when Harding Academy was beaten 14-10 by Rivercrest in the Class 3A state title game. Francis was Harding Academy’s punter in 2010 and became the starting quarterback following Keese’s graduation, directing the Wildcats to a 24-2 record the last two seasons.
As a junior, Francis completed 283 of 433 passes for 3,549 yards and 38 touchdowns. He’s 258 of 346 this fall for 3,724 yards and 38 touchdowns.
“Obviously, Will’s our leader on offense,” Mote said. “He does a great job of distributing the football.”
Harding Academy has six players with at least 21 receptions this fall, led by senior wide receiver Hunter Gentry (63) and junior wide receiver Kohl Blickenstaff (51).
Glen Rose Coach Mark Kehner describes Francis as a “tall, strong quarterback,” who can “really throw the ball.”
“He’s got a great arm,” Kehner said.
Despite his physical attributes, and gaudy statistics, Francis generated little recruiting interest.
“Things just work out for a reason,” Mote said. “Honestly, I’m surprised a little bit.”
Francis, however, is off the recruiting market after signing to play basketball at Harding University, the Searcy Church of Christ-affiliated school that straddles Harding Academy’s campus. Francis averaged 23 points and 8 rebounds as a junior at Harding Academy, which is coached Brad Francis, Will’s father.
Francis said he was initially disappointed about his football recruitment but said Bisons Coach Jeff Morgan had been “looking hard” at him since he was a sophomore.
“Right now, football is probably my favorite sport,” Francis said. “But overall it would probably be basketball, just from the standpoint of growing up with my dad being in the gym, him coaching and me being in the gym ever since I was little.”
Francis said he has a 3.9 grade-point average and scored 21 on the ACT, the type of numbers that are more important than what he amasses on the football field or basketball court.
“Even though a lot of people look at the field and what I do on the field, I feel like a lot of younger kids maybe look at me off the field as a guy they can look up to,” Francis said. “Hopefully, they can watch and learn from me.”
Sports, Pages 25 on 12/07/2012