CHESHIRE — Excitement was displayed all around Simosa Field Monday morning as rising quarterback Keegan Croucher showed off his right arm in picture-perfect throws to some of his receivers in front of the college coaches and recruiters at the Connecticut Football Prep Show Day.
Among the many Cats’ wide receivers is postgraduate Jovon Williams, who has as many as 17 scholarship offers from Division I schools, including Syracuse University and Virginia Tech.
“Our first game and this whole season is really important to show coaches what I can do,” said Williams.
A West Haven native, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Williams came to Cheshire Academy after spending his high school career at St. Joseph Regional in Montvale, N.J., encouraged by his cousin, Teriq Mallory, a former Cheshire Academy receiver off to play at Florida State this fall.
“This is only the first day we have had a chance to work out with him (Williams), but I am really excited about the season,” said Croucher, a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder who will be a junior in the fall. “I have a lot of trust in him. He is a fluid guy.”
Senior wide receiver and all-purpose player Tristan Washington, 18, said, “Jovon Williams is a special player. So is Keegan. Once he gets rolling, I think he will be fine. I’m expecting big things from him and Jovon as well”
So is Cheshire Academy head coach Bill Mella, in his fourth season. “Jovon is very quick and has great speed and (potential) growth and when the ball is in the air, it belongs to him," Mella said.
The college scouts also marveled at the 40-yard dash of Washington, who sported a 4.4 second time. He previously clocked a 4.3 time at Virginia Tech camp last year. His likely position in college is in the defensive back field where he recorded four interceptions, including a pick-six against Suffield Academy in a 21-14 win last November.
“I love pressure," Washington said. “Pressure is a privilege. My goal is to continue to improve and to take my career to the next step.”
Just like Croucher.
As a sophomore, Croucher tossed for 2,052 yards and 20 touchdowns with only three interceptions in nine games last season for the Cats (5-4) after transferring from Fonda-Fultonville (N.Y.) in the Adirondacks.
“Cheshire Academy has been a perfect fit for me,” said Croucher, 16. “It was the best decision I could ever make. I know I have a lot of time left in my career, but it will go quickly."
According to the Times Union newspaper in Albany, he engineered Fonda-Fultonville to the 2023 Class C state title game in Syracuse as a freshman. Named the Times Union's small-school Offensive Player of the Year, Croucher threw for 2,934 yards and 31 touchdowns in 13 games. He completed 38 of 53 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns in a 46-26 title game loss against Waverly.
Mella noted, “I think Keegan is more excited than Jovon in him coming here. Keegan has great touch and velocity and accuracy. He’s a natural QB, and the best thing he’s on;y 16 years old.”