Sports
David Ash named Longhorns starting qb
Thursday, 06 September 2012 by David Tuma
Former Belton High School quarterback David Ash was named the starter for the no. 15-ranked Texas Longhorns heading into Saturday's home opener in Austin against Wyoming. Ash was thrown into the starting lineup last year as a freshman out of high school in a year in which the Longhorns started both Case McCoy and Ash at different times in the season.
The move is a big one for Belton with the Longhorns predicted by some experts to qualify for a BCS bowl bid this season and be major contenders for a national championship the following season. The Longhorns offense struggled with two young quarterbacks when their top three running backs were injured during one point last year.
Ash started the Holliday Bowl and was named MVP after the longhorns won in dominating fashion. Ash completed 56 percent of his passes in an up and down season for 1,079 yards. At one point the former Belton quarterback was referred to as their running quarterback after he set almost every record in the books for the Tigers football program.
"I am happy for him. He has worked hard for this. As a freshman he handled the situation last season well. There is pressure at a place like Texas. I just told him to handle what he can control. You don't get very many chances at Texas and he need to take advantage of his opportunities," Brewer said.
This is good for the town of Belton. We have tremendous support from the community here and that is part of David getting this opportunity. The hard work of David and all those involved contributed to this. He still keeps up with the team and made several games last season and was at our spring game," said Tigers offensive coordinator David Brewer.
Brewer and Ash worked together for three seasons when Ash transferred to Belton. His sophomore season he wasn't the original starter and worked his way into the starting lineup and ended up throwing for more than 2,400 yards that season. The district final Ash led the Tigers to a 31-21 win against Bryan. Ash came of age in that game throwing for 321 and three touchdowns passes.
The next season as a junior he led the Tigers to a return in the playoffs and their first 5A playoff win. His work ethic paid off. What most people didn't see during his time at BHS was Ash bringing his lunch and going over game film during the school year trying to improve.
Ash made the Cove game last year in Cove and several other games during the season.
