When Clayton Isbell needed advice last season about playing quarterback, he turned to the player who would hand him the proverbial baton.
“Zach Mitchell was a great quarterback for us last year, All-State, and he ran the offense perfectly,” Isbell said. “He helped me all year learning the position.
“At the end of the year I came up and asked him, ‘Can you teach me to throw a ball like you?’ He had such a great, tight spiral.”
Energetic and enthusiastic, Isbell has become the focal point for the Saints’ bid to follow up on last year’s Class 8A quarterfinal finish and an 11-1 record.
A 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior, Isbell has the athleticism to run St. Charles East’s triple-option offense. He played the position successfully for the sophomore team two years ago, and he has improved at throwing that spiral.
“During the offseason I worked a little with Zach,” Isbell said. “He taught me about the speed of the game, how it was real fast as a quarterback.
“I emphasized reads since last year, and Zach worked with me during practice at that, with different things when I had questions. Now I feel good about what I need to know to lead my team to victories.”
Isbell played defensive back last year for a dominant Saints defense that allowed 10 points a game.
“I grew up playing quarterback my whole life,” Isbell said. “Last year was the only year I didn’t. The triple-option offense is a nice offense for me. It lets me show my skills. I like running the ball.”
Flexbone Association 
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