Senior Courtney Stamper is too big and strong to play quarterback because his skills could be used at other positions on an every-down position.
He's taken snaps for Red Bank.
Senior Malik Davis is too shifty, speedy and slender to play the traditional quarterback position. He's thrown passes this season.
Junior Caleb Tate looks the part -- even with a wispy throwback mustache -- and started the season behind center. Then he stood on the sideline and watched senior Brett Perry start against Rhea County heading into a bye week.
"We've had a miss-mosh of quarterbacks," Red Bank coach Chad Grabowski said. "It's been about trying to find the right combination and the right guy for the game."
A few teams rotate between two quarterbacks with the game on the line. Grabowski has used all four in close contests, including the 14-7 win last week over East Ridge. Tate started, Davis threw two passes, Stamper punished the Pioneers' line for a touchdown and Perry came in for the equivalent of a save in baseball.
"It makes us very different," said Stamper, who has an injured right ankle and is questionable for tonight's game against Hixson. "There aren't too many schools that have three or four quarterbacks that can do the different things we do."
The quarterback rotation -- as well as a solid defense and running game featuring Demarcus Rivers -- has resulted in a a 4-3 season and a 3-0 District 6-AA mark heading into the Hixson game. The Wildcats also are 3-0 in the district, so the winner tonight grabs control of an automatic playoff spot by controlling their own destiny.
"It's exciting, especially here where expectations are high and it hasn't happened in a few years," said Grabowski, the first-year coach who moved to Red Bank from Florida. "It feels good to have the opportunity, and it would be better if we could win it."
The quarterbacks should be key for the Lions, as they have been all season.
"Caleb is going to be playing, then Malik," Grabowski said before practice Wednesday. "Caleb is a good thrower and Malik is our changeup. He can run and make things happen, but he can also throw it. A lot of teams think Malik can only run, but he played quarterback a lot last year and threw it a lot."
Davis starts at receiver but knows he'll take snaps at some point in a game. He knows others will, too, in a four-quarterback system.
"It gives us more options and threats and helps a lot," he said. "Us four, we're like perfect with no arguments about playing time or anything like that.
"It's cool."
Stamper is the least likely of the four to throw when he lines up to take a snap. That's OK for the Lions, because he's gained several valuable first downs from the position and scored the eventual winning touchdown last week.
"I got to the O-line and ask them to get me in the end zone," Stamper said. "Then they do their job and I thank them.
"I'm like a power QB."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.