Former Ceres High standout quarterback Josh Edwards didn't perform like a backup when inserted into University of Mary's starting lineup.
The 6-foot, 190-pound redshirt freshman completed 55 of 89 passes for 641 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions while filling in for injured teammate Craig Bagnell.
"I had a lot of fun," Edwards said. "I'm just happy I got to play. It all clicked."
Josh improved every game.
Edwards made his first start against host University of Minnesota-Crookston on Oct. 1. He passed for 40 yards and two touchdowns in the Marauders' 31-0 win over the Golden Eagles in 30-mile-per-hour winds.
Edwards finished 23-for-41 for 283 yards with two touchdowns in a 31-24 road loss to Wayne State College on Oct. 8.
Josh turned in his best performance during University of Mary's 41-28 setback versus visiting University of Minnesota-Deluth on Oct. 15 in North Dakota. He totaled 318 yards and four touchdowns while connecting on 28 of 40 pass attempts. "Getting thrown in there was a little shocking," Edwards said. "The game looks different from the sidelines. The speed's so much faster. There are reads and audibles that you have to make. It's different from high school."
Edwards was third on the Marauders' depth chart last season. He traveled with the team and dressed for every game.
Josh started in place of Bagnell for three weeks this year. Craig returned to the lineup on Saturday.
"I felt for him (Bagnell) because the same thing happened to me my senior year (at Ceres High)," said Edwards, who had his prep career cut short as a result of a serious knee injury. "I'm not trying to take his position. I was just filling in for him. I understand what my job is as second-string quarterback."
Edwards' stellar play should silence local critics who questioned if he had the ability to succeed at the collegiate level.
"You can't ever sell a kid short," said Brett Johnson, Edwards' high-school coach for two seasons. "The people that doubted Josh weren't around him at practice. He's a positive, young man. He works hard. It's nice to see him get an opportunity to prove himself on the field."
Josh threw for 2,335 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games for Ceres High. He earned second-team, Valley Oak League honors his junior year.
The 6-foot, 190-pound redshirt freshman completed 55 of 89 passes for 641 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions while filling in for injured teammate Craig Bagnell.
"I had a lot of fun," Edwards said. "I'm just happy I got to play. It all clicked."
Josh improved every game.
Edwards made his first start against host University of Minnesota-Crookston on Oct. 1. He passed for 40 yards and two touchdowns in the Marauders' 31-0 win over the Golden Eagles in 30-mile-per-hour winds.
Edwards finished 23-for-41 for 283 yards with two touchdowns in a 31-24 road loss to Wayne State College on Oct. 8.
Josh turned in his best performance during University of Mary's 41-28 setback versus visiting University of Minnesota-Deluth on Oct. 15 in North Dakota. He totaled 318 yards and four touchdowns while connecting on 28 of 40 pass attempts. "Getting thrown in there was a little shocking," Edwards said. "The game looks different from the sidelines. The speed's so much faster. There are reads and audibles that you have to make. It's different from high school."
Edwards was third on the Marauders' depth chart last season. He traveled with the team and dressed for every game.
Josh started in place of Bagnell for three weeks this year. Craig returned to the lineup on Saturday.
"I felt for him (Bagnell) because the same thing happened to me my senior year (at Ceres High)," said Edwards, who had his prep career cut short as a result of a serious knee injury. "I'm not trying to take his position. I was just filling in for him. I understand what my job is as second-string quarterback."
Edwards' stellar play should silence local critics who questioned if he had the ability to succeed at the collegiate level.
"You can't ever sell a kid short," said Brett Johnson, Edwards' high-school coach for two seasons. "The people that doubted Josh weren't around him at practice. He's a positive, young man. He works hard. It's nice to see him get an opportunity to prove himself on the field."
Josh threw for 2,335 yards and 20 touchdowns in 14 games for Ceres High. He earned second-team, Valley Oak League honors his junior year.
