Fort Bragg's Lucas Triplett in control as team's new quarterback

Going into his senior year, Lucas Triplett already had locked up pretty much all of Fort Bragg High School’s career receiving records.

This year would be icing on the cake, right?

Not quite.

Last season, the Timberwolves were led by second-team Cal-Hi Sports All-State quarterback Kaylor Sullivan, who - usually connecting with Triplett - destroyed the school’s passing marks en route to a 7-0 North Central league I title and an 11-1 overall record.

But Sullivan graduated, leaving a gaping hole at quarterback.

Who was going to replace Sullivan’s 64 percent completion rate, which accounted for 4,192 yards and 49 touchdowns last season? Sullivan averaged a phenomenal 350 passing yards a game.

Longtime coach Roy Perkins had an idea.

Triplett had filled in briefly when Sullivan was injured as a junior. And he’d played quarterback as a youth football player for several years. He also was a second-team all-state selection as a receiver.

“Perkins talked to me about it and gave me the choice,” Triplett said. “I would have loved to play receiver, but I felt like I wouldn’t have been able to contribute as much. I’d be doubled up all the time.

“As quarterback, I can control the ball. Controlling it is the best option to win. I had to make that sacrifice.”

Some sacrifice. Triplett is lighting it up as quarterback as well.

Through half the season, compared with Sullivan’s senior year, Triplett had the same accuracy rate, was on pace for fewer interceptions and had a slightly higher QB rating. Triplett averages 15 yards per completion, also slightly better than Sullivan.

The Timberwolves are 6-0 in the NCL I and 7-1 overall, the only loss in the season opener against Division 3 Eureka.

On Saturday afternoon against St. Vincent in Petaluma, Triplett played only the first half as the Timberwolves enjoyed a 49-7 lead at intermission.

Before taking a seat on the bench, he threw two touchdown passes. In the limited action, he completed 9 of 15 passes for ?93 yards and ran for ?47 yards on eight carries.

Fort Bragg wound up winning the game 56-7.

Stepping up

Perkins has no regrets with tapping Triplett.

“He’s having quite a year. He’s a special kid,” Perkins said. “Having played receiver, he may even have a better understanding of our offense than Kaylor did because he brings the receiver perspective to things - he knows where the receivers are going to be.”

Triplett has always been an integral part of the Timberwolves’ offense.

In his first three years, Triplett played in ?30 games, collecting ?2,266 receiving yards, averaging 14 yards per catch average and 75 yards a game, while scoring ?35 touchdowns.

Last year teaming ?with Sullivan, he had ?100 receptions for ?1,402 yards and a 117-yard average. He scored ?19 touchdowns.

“The plays and the offensive scheme, he just had such a good understanding of it before he started playing quarterback,” Perkins said. “But what’s been remarkable is his poise and his understanding of it all.”

He didn’t doubt that Triplett was smart enough and athletic enough to take over the offensive leadership role.

“His footwork and mechanics are so good. What’s been a surprise that he’s been able to play so well so quickly,” Perkins said.

Triplett is such an exceptional athlete, he said, that he makes plays on his own. He runs more, and quicker, than Sullivan, so coaches have designed plays for Triplett.

The team had been running the spread offense, taking advantage of Sullivan’s arm and the team’s strong receiving corps.

But with Triplett’s running ability, the Timberwolves have added the read-option, allowing Triplett the choice to hand the ball off or run himself.

“It’s better for our offense,” Triplett said. “The teams we play now, they have to not only assign someone to the running back, but now they have to assign an outside driller to the quarterback, taking two more players out of the defense.”

‘I love pressure’

After throwing over the summer to get his arm ready, he said he’s equally comfortable staying put or coming out of the pocket to throw downfield.

“The main part was just learning to have my eyes downfield,” said Triplett, a 6-2, 190-pound senior. “I’m not used to keeping my eyes up.”

Triplett said the decision to move to quarterback was made easier because the Timberwolves have several speedy receivers.

Shane Giaccani, second in the league only to Triplett in receiving last year, has become Triplett’s favorite target, with 33 catches for ?597 yards and a team-high six touchdowns going into Saturday’s game.

Trystin Strickland has made 25 receptions, while Daniel Cook has nabbed 14 and Ian Sutton 10.

“We have depth in the receivers,” he said. “I knew I’d have six or seven solid receivers. Wherever I throw it they’re going to catch it.”

Triplett seems to be thriving.

“I love pressure. I’ve liked it forever,” he said “I like knowing that the game is my hands. If I lose it, I can live with it, but I wouldn’t want somebody else to lose it. I’d rather know I gave it all I had.”

He hasn’t completely left his receivers’ gloves on the sideline, though. He has made four catches this year, three of which were touchdowns.

Fort Bragg next takes on Middletown on Friday, a battle of league leaders.

Sports writer Lori A. Carter can be reached at lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. Correspondent Howard Senzell contributed to this story.