Vermilion Catholic’s Bazar: ‘The guy who replaces the guy’

There is an old adage in football, you don’t want to be the guy who replaces the guy.
In other words, you don’t want to be the person following the legend.
And for everything that Drew Lege accomplished as quarterback at Vermilion Catholic, he’s about as close to legendary status as you can get.
But, Lege graduated in May and head football coach Broc Prejean had to turn the reins of the offense over to another player so the guy that follows the guy for the 2021 season is senior Mikie Bazar.
“It’s a tough act for anyone to fill, the shoes of Drew Lege and Mikie knows that,” Prejean said. “But, we’re not asking him to be Drew. Mikie is a different kind of athlete.
“He has the ability to spark things with his legs and he has a heckuva arm. We’re bringing him along plus he got experience last year under Friday night lights as a wideout so that will help him at quarterback.”
Prejean knew for several years that Bazar was going to eventually play quarterback for the Eagles.
“He’s really been in the background for the past three years and we always knew we had him coming,” he said. “He’s a great competitor, a great leader and our most dynamic athlete.”
Prejean said that Bazar gives the Eagles another element to the offense, it allows them to run some run-pass options (RPO).
“He can make the throws in the pocket, but at any given time, he’s a threat to pull the ball down and run with it,” the VC coach said. “He’s going to make us look right, even when we’re wrong.”
As for Bazar, he’s ready for the challenge.
“Everyone is saying that I have to live up to Drew’s expectations, but I’m just going to be Mikie and use my gifts that I was given to the best of my abilities,” Bazar said. “Run, pass, I can do both.
“I’m a dual threat. I trying to live up to my expectations not the past expectations.”
Bazar runs about a 4.5 second 40-yard dash and played receiver last season so that gives him a unique insight into throwing the ball.
“Playing wide receiver helped me understand why cornerbacks and safeties play certain routes,” he said. “It helps me as a quarterback because I can see what they are doing and makes it easier to read the defense. It also helped me know where the windows are in throwing the ball, so that my receivers have the best chance to catch a pass.”
Bazar said the transition from receiver to quarterback hasn’t been much of a challenge.
“It’s been pretty easy,” he said. “We’re just a young team and we need to get the technique down. Once we get the technique down, it will all come together.”