Ty Storey proved himself as the best quarterback in Arkansas in 2014.
The numbers make the case.
The Charleston quarterback completed 294 of 447 passes for 4,159 yards with 53 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and rushed for 724 yards and 20 touchdowns on 150 carries this season as he wrapped up his high school career with 29 consecutive victories and two state championships.
That's why Storey has been selected as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's All-Arkansas Preps Offensive Player of the Year for 2014.
Charleston Coach Greg Kendrick said it's been bittersweet watching Storey move on to the University of Arkansas, where he is already on campus and has participated in practices for the Texas Bowl. Kendrick said he understands that quarterbacks like Storey, who guided the Tigers to two of their five state titles, don't come along every day.
"He's an unbelievable player," Kendrick said.
Storey's final game may have been his best at the Franklin County school.
Charleston and Smackover were tied at 26-26 with 4:55 left in the game when Charleston's Taylor King recovered a fumble by Smackover's Willie Manning, giving the Tigers the ball at their 45.
That's when Storey went to work.
Kendrick called nine consecutive running plays for Storey, who carried the Tigers to the Smackover 4. Then Storey threw his first pass of the drive, scrambling to his right before finding King in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown that capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive that gave Charleston a 33-26 lead with 17 seconds remaining.
Charleston's defense took care of the rest as Smackover's Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete.
"He's-a-once-in-a-lifetime player," said Kendrick of Storey, who completed 24 of 38 passes for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed 35 times for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 3A state championship game.
Storey, who graduated earlier this month, finished his career with 154 touchdown passes, the second-most by an Arkansas high school quarterback, 17 behind Rhett Lashlee of Shiloh Christian, who threw 171 (1999-2001). His 12,860 career yards stand behind Pulaski Academy's Stefan Loucks (13,703 in 2003-2006) and Lashlee (13,201).
Not only was Storey Charleston's leading passer this season, he was also its leading rusher with 724 yards and 20 touchdowns. He either passed or carried the ball on 597 of Charleston's 787 plays.
"He made big play after big play, drive after drive," Kendrick said. "We rode that kid."
Kendrick said Storey seemed to be at his best in big games, pointing to his performance Oct. 31 in a regular-season game against Booneville.
The Bearcats were the 2013 Class 4A state champions before dropping down to Class 3A this season in the latest reclassification cycle. The battle between the schools, located about 16 miles apart, had been highly anticipated.
Storey completed his first 11 passes and finished the game 23 of 28 for 385 yards and 5 touchdowns in a 47-20 victory that clinched the 4-3A Conference title. He threw scoring passes of 74, 13, 24, 49 and 8 yards and rushed for two scores.
Storey completed 15 of 17 passes for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns the next week in a 49-23 rout of Mansfield that wrapped up a 10-0 regular season.
"He's physically gifted by God," Kendrick said. "He's everything you want in a high school football player. He's a role model. He's a special young man."
Sports on 12/28/2014