High school football: Kingfisher's Grant Newton excels as full-time quarterback

Defensively, he started at safety, where his size and hard-hitting nature made him one of the team's more valuable defenders.

But this year, Newton has one job: Be the best quarterback he can be. Now, both Newton and the Yellowjackets are reaping the benefits as they prepare for the Class 3A state title game against Blanchard at 7:30 Friday night at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater.

“Grant is getting all the snaps, and that has helped him become more comfortable,” coach Jeff Myers said. “We have the luxury of not having to use him on the defensive side of the ball, and that helps keep him fresh for offense.”

More than that, Newton, 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, gets to spend more time preparing for the job of quarterback.

“Not being on defense during the game,” Newton said, “I get to talk to the offensive coordinator about what we're going to do about my reads and what the offense is going to do when we go back out there, instead of just walking from one side of the ball to the other.”

And it helps during the week, too.

“I'm watching and studying more film, and learning, where last year, I was preparing for defense, too,” Newton said. “I've been a lot more ready for the game, and it's a lot easier to read and see things. I'm a lot more comfortable than I've ever been.”