Raising ‘Kane’

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September 13, 2012

Raising ‘Kane’

Warriors turn to first-year QB for first win of 2012

By Tony Tsoukalas / Sports Writer The Meridian Star The Meridian Star Thu Sep 13, 2012, 06:00 AM CDT

MERIDIAN —     After losing big against power-house teams Itawamba and East Mississippi Community College in Weeks 1 and 2 of the season, East Central Community College looks to earn its first win of the season, as it travels to Copiah-Lincoln tonight at 7.

   While the losses were tough for East Central head coach Brian Anderson and his team to swallow, the Warriors will look to move on, as tonight's game marks the start of divisional play.

   “We played two tremendous football teams,” Anderson said. “They were perhaps the two best teams in the North Division. That gives you a true gauge of where you are at, but it also doesn't mean anything as far as our South Division standings. It is a new beginning.”

   Part of building success at the junior college level is the ability for a team to gel together quickly. Anderson said his team is not quite there yet, but he hopes the Warriors will improve as they prepare for divisional play.

   “From what I have seen, it takes three or four games before you can really do that,” Anderson said. “In the last four years we have had a freshman quarterback, you just have growing pains.

   “I tell you, I have seen a tremendous change in Colton Kane this week. He's getting the ball out noticeably quicker. His mental approach, the way he's going through his progressions, it's much faster. It's just obvious that anybody can see if you watch practice this week.”

   The Florida Atlantic University transfer, Kane has struggled at times during the games against Itawamba and EMCC. However, heading into Week 3, the quarterback said he is beginning to feel more comfortable in his first year as a starter at the junior college level.

   “Oh yeah, I feel like the first two games, you play two really good teams and you get exposed to the areas you need to work on,” Kane said. “You just go back to the board and work on it. That told me a lot, and those are two of the best defenses I am going to play all year.

   “It showed me a lot. It showed me I am going to have to work that much harder and really put in the extra time.”

   Kane attributes much of his success on the field to his relationship with Anderson. Kane said he shares the same inner drive to get better Anderson does, and the two feed off one another during practice.

   “We both keep each other going,” Kane said. “I expect him to be on me ever practice, all practice, to try to make me the best that I can be. He definitely does that and it helps me out a lot.”

   The 6-foot-3, 190-pound quarterback has not only built trust with his head coach, but other members of the Warrior offense are starting to look to him as a leader as well. Over the past two games, Kane believes his offense has seen his true character and respects him.

   “You got to build that trust,” Kane said. “Guys are going to see how you are, if you can take a hit. After these first couple games they have seen that. Even if I get knocked down, I am going to get back up and start fighting.”

   With the season moving into divisional play, East Central knows the extra importance of every game. Tonight, Kane and Warriors are confident and ready to pick up their first win of the season.

   “We have been doing a lot of film study this week, and there is a lot of holes in (Copiah-Lincoln's) defense that we can expose,” Kane said. “We put in some plays that we have been working really hard on. We are definitely ready for it, that's for sure.”

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Raising ‘Kane’

Warriors turn to first-year QB for first win of 2012

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