Syracuse Strong quarterback Jason Boltus earned Player of the Game honors in Week 9. Here are all of the details and looking ahead to final 4 games.
The Syracuse Strong have persevered through a lot of adversity during the 2019 season. But perhaps no game epitomized that more than Week 9 vs the Monroe County Sting.
The field was unkempt and hadn’t appeared to have been mowed in months. No working scoreboard. Record-breaking heat.
Yet Syracuse Strong quarterback Jason Boltus said it’s a testament to this team’s resiliency and that’s part of the reason he earned Player of the Game honors in Week 9:
"“It’s a testament to the character of this team and our coaches. There’s always ups and downs during a game. There was a lot going on in Rochester on Saturday but ultimately its the name of the game. We got down in this game early and the guys rallied, we made adjustments.This was a very tough team and talented team and they came out with a good gameplan to take the air out of the ball. We really only had like two possessions in the second half. It was a very weird game, but we got the victory and that’s most important.”"
This is the first time this season that Jason has earned Player of the Game honors for the Syracuse Strong. Of course, being the modest unassuming quarterback he is, Jason shares this award with the entire team:
"“The MVP goes to everyone on the team. Everyone did their part, they did their 1/11th. We needed everyone on the Syracuse Strong to play a role on Saturday to get the win. The goal-line stand at the end of the game was a battle of wills and we jumped on their mistake.”"
The rigors of a football season can take their toll on any player, but especially the quarterback.
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Jason has taken some serious beatings this season and that was again the case on Saturday vs Monroe County:
"“I feel good, I kind of injured my oblique in practice and that has really made me tender in the games. I can make all the throws it’s just kind of painful. I give a ton of credit to the coaches they’ve made amazing gameplans to maximize the talent on this team. We have so many guys on this team who have the ability to take it to the house. Realistically it’s just about me managing the game: taking what the defense gives me and taking shots when they’re available.”"
A few weeks ago we saw what the Strong offense looked like without Boltus in there, versatile utility man Zavon Watkins stepped in and it sputtered.
When he was ejected a week ago, Boltus stepped up to the plate for the team. Everyone on this team has the capabilities to play multiple positions and that has helped the Strong in a few pinches this season.
Although Jason’s favorite target this season has been Zavon:
"“He lined up on the outside last season and now we’ve moved him into the slot and he’s a mismatch nightmare. Zavon has a ridiculous football IQ. He knows how to run routes, how to get open, and how to make plays. I love all my receivers man, we’ve got a talented group of guys.”"
The great thing about Jason is his unselfishness.
Everyone likes to say they’re unselfish, but when push comes to shove, Jason doesn’t care what his stats are as long as they win the game.
Recently the Strong coaching staff have been taking Jason out of games and installing a wildcat option of sorts with Watkins and it hasn’t bothered Jason in the least nor has it affected his rhythm:
"“Not at all. I don’t care if I throw for 50 yards as long as we win. It’s not about stats or egos, winning cures all. There’s a lot of talented players and teams out there that are going to make plays, we just have to maintain a next play mentality. Zavon is more of a running threat than I am, so if the coaching staff thinks he can come in certain packages than I’m all for it.”"
One of Jason’s best abilities is to draw the defense offsides with his cadence. Sometimes when he’s able to get a defender to bite, a free play is available and you can occasionally pay for it with a free hit from the defense. But Boltus used the baseball strike zone as an example, a batter has to feel out what the ump’s strike zone is, the same thing in football:
"“You have to feel how they’re going to call the game. Sometimes they can be touchy feely, sometimes they can be more firm. Sometimes when I get them to jump and I don’t see the flag or some of our players don’t move I can take a free hit or get the ball off, it really just depends. But there’s been a lot of plays made this season from it.”"
The Strong is in the final stretch now with only four games remaining on the regular-season schedule ahead of postseason play. Here’s Jason’s message to the rest of the team:
"“We continue to do what we do and handle business. Each game we have to limit turnovers and eliminate negative plays. The coaches continue to give us really good gameplans and they let the players be players and the coaches coach, it’s just that simple. Every week we get the other team’s best shot, we’re the defending National Champions. We’ve got some tough games left and we have to remain focused. There are no cupcakes on our schedule.”"