Neosho senior Quenton Hughes wows as team leader

By Don Lowe

As the Neosho Wildcats starting quarterback, senior Quenton Hughes needs to be a take-charge guy who helps make sure everyone is lock step together on every play.

And Neosho Football Head Coach Brandon Taute says Hughes is a fantastic field general. “Quenton’s work ethic and leadership skills are as good as any kid I have coached.

“He’s a great leader. He does all the little things right and can bring all his teammates along with him.”

When it comes to his own athletic capabilities, Hughes says, “I’ve always had a strong arm. I’m not the fastest person but my arm has always backed up my lack of speed.

“Although speed isn’t my best aspect as far as athleticism, I’ve always been very agile and can make cuts very well.”

Hughes is confident in his overall understanding of the game’s technical points, and he explains, “Besides my arm strength, I’ve always been able to read the defense very well.

“I can make a pre-snap read to foresee what the defense is going to do before they do it. I can also adjust to what the defense does during the play.”

“Quenton works hard at improving all areas of his game,” says Coach Taute. “Over the last few years, he has developed a greater understanding of defenses and how to attack them, and his arm strength has increased

Neosho Wildcats

Senior Football Star

Quenton Hughes

Fast Facts

Age: 18

Grade in School: 12th

Parents: Eric and Jessica Hughes

Sibling: Brooklynn Hughes and niece Harper Ann

Hometown: Neosho, Missouri

Favorite Subject in School: History

Favorite Food: Spaghetti or Alfredo

Favorite College Football

Player: Kansas City Chiefs

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes

Favorite Sports Movie: The Longest Yard significantly, which is due in large part to playing baseball and being a multi-sport athlete.”

Hughes recognizes it’s not all about his own individual achievements and he says, “It’s important to be a team.

“I can confidently say the most success I’ve had with a team is the camaraderie and the relationships you gain with it. Once the respect is mutual between the guys next to you, you’re unstoppable as a team.” While he’s focused on football for the next several months, Hughes is also a shining star in baseball and has visions of playing both sports in college.

“In all honesty, I would like to try and do both,” he says. “The task will be hard, but I like challenges, and being able to take on both sports collegiately has always been a dream of mine.”

Regardless of where his journey takes him beyond Neosho, Hughes says, “The atmosphere on a Friday night is nothing compared to anything I’ve ever felt. The crowd, the lights and the competition are an out-of-body experience very few get to enjoy.

“Also, the team and relationships you have last forever. I still talk to people who graduated years ago who I played with before. Once you go through the grind during the summer, the fall and the games, you build a connection that lasts a lifetime.”

Coach Taute couldn’t be more thrilled to have a young man the caliber of Hughes on his squad and says, “Quenton is the type of kid everyone hopes their son will grow up to be like. He treats everyone in the school with respect and is always willing to help improve the school and community in any way.”