LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — South Laurel doesn‘t have to look very far to find a former quarterback in the state record book. The names Ricky Bowling and Neil Warren remain high in several categories.

Bowling shares the state record with Tim Couch for career touchdown passes with 133. Warren is 14th on that list with 104. Warren also had the fifth best single-season touchdown mark with 56 in 1999. Bowling threw 40 touchdown passes in 2007.

Bowling’s 947 career completions are a state record and his 12,575 career yards still rank No. 2 all-time. Warren threw for over 8,000 yards in his career.

The Cardinals current quarterback, Tyler Detherage, is earning a lot of attention as he enters his senior year. Detherage  is coming off a strong junior season and appears poised for a breakout year.

“Tyler’s close. We’ve got get Tyler to where his confidence level is on the same level as those guys. Sometimes he wants to get down on himself a little too much,” South Laurel quarterback coach Travis McDaniel said. “Those guys had a confidence level to where they felt like they were not going to fail.”

Detherage threw for 2,405 yards as a junior with 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for 441 yards and seven touchdowns.

“He did a really good job last year. He matured as the season went by and I expect good things from him,” South Laurel coach Larry Welch said. “His arm is a little stronger and he moves around a little better. This should be his year.”

Detherage never got a chance to see Warren play. He did watch Bowling during his South Laurel career, but they never shared a field.

“Ricky was a very good pocket quarterback. He took what the defense gave him. I think that’s what I need to work on a little bit more,” Detherage said. “Just reading the field, scanning the field, and trying to get the ball out quicker.”

McDaniel does have first-hand knowledge of the South Laurel quarterback greats. He played with Neil Warren and coached Ricky Bowling in seventh grade. Detherage may not be in that class yet, but he might not be far off either.

“He’s got good footwork, good arm strength. As soon as we get his decision making down he’s the type of kid that the sky is the limit. It’s just a matter of what it’s going to take to get him there,” McDaniel said.

The one number that does need to go down this season is the 19 interceptions. Welch said interceptions can be for a number of factors, including receivers running the wrong route or the quarterback reading the defense wrong.

“In football there is always room for improvement and you learn from your mistakes. Like his reads and things of that nature. To this point the has looked excellent,” Welch said.

McDaniel said improving a quarterback’s skill level at reading defense is a never-ending process.

“I told him I’m coaching him every play. Even if it’s something good I’m coaching him. I want to know why he through that. What was his reasoning? What type of coverage were they in?  What made him decide that. I don’t care if it’s a good play, bad play he’s going to be coached every play,” McDaniel said.

Detherage said he didn’t know what to expect when he first stepped under center at South Laurel. He did not have goals of how many touchdowns or yards he would throw.

“I just came out, worked hard, and did my best every day. Everything just fell in place,” Detherage said.

Detherage attended several quarterback camps over the summer and spent a lot of time in the weight room. South Laurel has also been touring the state’s 7-on-7 passing camps, including a win at the Union College camp and runner-up at Lindsey Wilson.

“He’s put a lot of work, effort, and time into being what he is,” Welch said.

When asked about his goals, Detherage still doesn’t talk about flashy individual numbers. His goals are based on what his team can accomplish. The Cardinals are coming off a 5-6 season that saw them make the playoffs.

“I would like to have a district championship and try to make it past the first round of the playoffs,” Detherage said.

With Detherage and much of the offensive talent returning from a team that averaged 30-plus points per game last season, there are plenty of weapons for a big season. McDaniel thinks this year’s group of skill players compares favorably to the final season of coach Jep Irwin. That lineup included Zach Marcum, Terry Bingham, Ty Proffitt, and Josh Riley.

“This group of kids, all around, they are serious. They are true weapons. They are kids that can catch a 1-yard throw and turn it into a 99-yard touchdown,” McDaniel said.

Welch agrees that the success of a quarterback is only as good as the parts around him.

“You have to have people that can get open and you have to have receivers. We have several people this year,” Welch said. “You also have to have a quarterback with a strong arm and knows what to do with the ball.”

Detherage does plan on playing football in college, but where he ends up will depend on his senior year. Western Kentucky is among the school watching the South Laurel quarterback to see how he performs. Other schools in the mix include Union, Lindsey Wilson, Kentucky Wesleyan. He has been impressed by Pikeville College and Dudley Hilton.