If anyone who’s played with me in the last four years sees those records, they should feel like they are their records too. They’re part of the reason why my name is up there. – Jordan QB Austin Kafentzis
DRAPER — When people see Austin Kafentzis’ name next to one of the 15 state records he set in his four-year prep career, he wants them to understand those accomplishments don’t belong to him alone.
“I had 10 other guys on the field with me, blocking for me, helping me, all the stuff that no one really gets credit for,” the Jordan quarterback said. “If I didn’t have those guys for the past four years, a lot of them played both ways, all of those guys are part of those records. If anyone who’s played with me in the last four years sees those records, they should feel like they are their records too. They’re part of the reason why my name is up there.”
To be honest, Kafentzis doesn’t even know all of the records he’s broken or the accomplishments he’s earned. The Wisconsin-bound senior laughs a little at that reality before confirming what most anyone who’s worked with or played against him says is his greatest attribute on the football field — his competitive spirit.
“Stats aren’t everything,” Kafentzis said. “The biggest stat you want is a win at the end of the day.”
In the final game of his high school career, Kafentzis did not get a win. In fact, he struggled mightily against the team that will play for the 5A title this Friday as American Fork defeated Jordan 58-13. The Draper teen's final moments on a high school football field were not indicative of the rare and impressive talent Kafentzis is.
"Austin's numbers were amazing, and it's unlikely we will see many, if any, of his records surpassed for a long, long time," said football historian George Felt. "It's so impressive that he holds records in so many categories. No one else holds more than two or three. Perhaps even more impressive is that he holds records for rushing and passing, showing what an amazing dual-threat quarterback he is. The other top 15 or so rushers have all been running backs."
Jordan head coach Eric Kjar said his first impression of Kafentzis was simply that he was a quiet but determined kid.
“He just seemed to want to sit back, learn and pay attention,” Kjar said. “He was really competitive. That’s probably one of his best attributes as a player. He’s really competitive.”
His desire to win is something that opposing coaches and dispassionate observers noticed as well.
“It seems like he’s been there forever,” said Bingham head coach Dave Peck. “I hate trying to prepare to defend him. He’s a great player, and I hope he goes on and does a good job (in college). … His greatest strength is just his competitive spirit. You try to take away the pass, and he’s going to run on you like crazy. … His athleticism is way better than what people know.”
And it isn’t just that he can pass and run, it’s that he’s fast, athletic and fearless.
“I have never one time, in the four years, I’ve never watched him slide,” Peck said. “It seems he’s going to try to punish whoever was trying to tackle him.”
Felt has been keeping track of Kafentzis’ accomplishments on the field. But he said the most dynamic aspects of his abilities might be those that aren’t easily quantified.
“But possibly his most impressive impact can’t be measured statistically,” Felt said. “It’s his leadership on the field, coupled with his ability to read the defense and instantaneously — and usually correctly — adjust and make a play whether by running or passing. And make the defense pay. I’ve seen more than a few doubters change their tune about Austin after they had a chance to watch him play.”
Kafentzis didn’t just distinguish himself among his Utah peers. In the last game of his high school career, he became the only high school quarterback in the country to ever score at least 100 rushing touchdowns and at least 100 passing touchdowns. Add to that fact the jaw-dropping knowledge that he also becomes the country’s first prep quarterback to ever become all-time leader in both passing and rushing yardages.
For Kafentzis, his coaches and his parents, indications that he might have a special career were manifest in his very first appearance as Jordan’s starting quarterback.
He was just a 15-year-old, overwhelmed and nervous as he won the team’s starting job for the season opener against Fremont his freshman year. The team trailed 12-0 at halftime, and he admitted it was a tough, lonely position to be in, especially as a freshman.
“B.J. Cavender, my center, we were down, and he comes up to me and says, ‘We’re all good,’ ” Kafentzis recalled. “He said, ‘Just go do what you know how to do. This is a new half, we’re behind you, we got you.’ He said the stuff that captains say, and that just got things going.”
Kafentzis led the team back, and in fact, threw the game-winning touchdown with just seconds on the clock.
“That game right there,” he said, “that kind of gave me a push for the next four years.”
Both Kjar and Kafentzis’ dad, Kyle Kafentzis, mentioned that game as one of their most treasured memories from Austin’s time as a Beetdigger.
But Kjar said he knew Kafentzis had the potential to be special long before he played his first down for the team.
“It was during two-a-days his freshman year,” Kjar said. “We were running our 60 series, where he drops back, he’s gotta read, identify a defender, key him, and during his seventh or eighth practice, that’s where I really realized he had the ability to be pretty special.”
He said Kafentzis, who led the team to a state title his sophomore season, has always exhibited a maturity and wisdom beyond his years, but at the same time, he is one of the most humble and coachable players he’s ever known.
“He definitely has some awareness, and always has, that he needs to improve,” Kjar said. “A lot of kids have trouble admitting they have flaws, but he just acknowledges and wants to focus on it to get better. … I don’t think a lot of people realize how humble he is. The teachers in our school, some have come up and said, we expected this kid to be … a stereotypical star jock. But he’s the opposite. They fall in love with him. He’s such a good kid, and he works his butt off. He’s really humble, just does his job and encourages other kids.”
While Kafentzis credits Kjar for helping him improve on aspects of his game every season, Kjar said Kafentzis' natural ability and work ethic have made him look pretty good as a coach.
“They don’t come like that very often,” Kjar said. “He’s as gifted a kid as there is, and it’s been really fun to coach him. … His records are crazy, but he really has no clue about them. He just really wants to win.”
Kafentzis said he’s grateful for teammates who’ve taken time to help him, his coaches, especially Kjar, whom he called a “football guru” with spectacular football knowledge, and his parents, who’ve supported his long hours and time-consuming commitment to football.
“I have so much support,” said Kafentzis, who is the first in a family filled with successful football players to ever play quarterback. “I have a cousin who texts me before every single game,” he said. “My mom and dad, my sister who’s showed up to every game. My aunts and uncles, and God for everything he’s given me, all the paths he’s led me down, whether they’re successes or failures. I’m just grateful for the opportunities.”
He doesn’t admire a single football player, but picks out his favorite traits from the most successful quarterbacks and tries to incorporate or hone their strategies and skills.
“Football has taught me a lot of life lessons,” he said. “It’s just real life stuff. Sometimes you don’t want to get up and go lift or you don’t want to go to practice because it’s too cold. … Those are the times you push through; those are the days that create your character, make you better than you were, and push you to work 10 times harder.”
He said he’s even learned to embrace the natural highs and lows that come from competitive sports. Kjar, he said, allows him to ruminate on a bad play exactly three seconds. His father said Austin’s ability to move forward has made him almost impossible to defeat mentally.
“He forgets quickly,” said Kyle Kafentzis. “That’s the way it should be. His No. 1 trait that helps him succeed is his work ethic. But the second thing, the thing I like is that he forgets quickly. Yeah, he’s thrown interceptions, but he’s also won a lot of football games.”
There are those who doubt he will ever start for the Badgers, let alone play significant or meaningful minutes as a college quarterback. He just laughs when asked about his critics.
“I love football,” Kafentzis said. “I love playing. I love practice. I just love being able to put my pads on and play football. I want to play at the highest level I can. (College) will be like starting over as a freshman again. I’m going in as the new guy, getting familiar with everyone, and I’m excited for the opportunity to play with a good group of guys. It’s going to be nice, and I love being the underdog and proving people wrong. That’s like my favorite thing in the world.”
KAFENTZIS BY THE NUMBRS
State records (15)
Career records (12)
1 — Total offense —19,678
2 — Rushing yards — 6,749
3 — Rushing touchdowns — 100
4 — Touchdowns scored by rushing, receiving and all returns — 100
5 — Carries — 976
6 — 100-yard games — 37
7 — TD passes — 114
8 — Passing yards — 12,929
9 — Pass attempts — 1,434
10 — Pass completions — 811
11 — Touchdowns responsible for — 214, 100 rush and 114 pass
12 — Points scored — 600
Single-game records:
13 — Total offense — 694 (10/15/2014 vs. Brighton) (previous record, 691, Chase Nelson, 2013)
14 — Touchdown passes — 8 (9/21/2012 vs. Copper Hills) (tied with Alex Hart — Jordan, 10/16/2009 vs. Taylorsville)
15 — Single-game Touchdowns responsible for — 10 (4 rush, 6 passes) (10/15/2014 vs. Brighton) (tied with Adam Boelter, West Jordan, 10/14/2009 vs. Payson, and Gene Livingston, East, 10/17/1919 vs. Davis)
One national record is most pass touchdowns in a quarter with 5 (9/21/2012 vs. Copper Hills)
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