ANDREW FROSCENO — Staff Writer
For Medfield, Mass. native Kevin Lynch, staying in New England and attending a school with a great football program like Southern’s was a dream come true.
“Southern is just around two hours away from my hometown,” Lynch said. “They recruited me hard and I knew they were good academically. All that tied together in my decision.”
Lynch, a senior, who according to Southern’s athletic website was just named an Honorable Mention All-American by www.d2football.com, is entering his second full season as the starting quarterback for the Owls.
According to Lynch’s player profile, he set multiple Owl records last season. In September in a game against West Liberty he set a single game record by an Owl quarterback by completing 30 passes. Later in the season he and wide receiver Willie Epps teamed up to set a new record for longest play from scrimmage in Owl history with a 97 yard touchdown pass.
Epps says plays like that are made by Lynch and his receivers because of the great chemistry Lynch builds with his receiving targets.
“I believe over the last two to three years Kev and I have developed a great chemistry on the field as well as off the field,” Epps said. “Him and I are really good friends and it’s been a pleasure to have him as the QB (quarterback) to our offense.”
Epps isn’t the only receiver who credits Lynch for the chemistry he develops with the receivers.
Senior Andre Privott said that the chemistry the two share on the field is a chemistry built on respect that was developed over time.
“Kevin and I came in and redshirted together, giving us an extra year to learn and basically focus on syncing our game,” Privott said.
Lynch last year threw for 24 touchdowns and 2,468 yards while completing passes at a 59.7 percent clip, and according to Epps, the high completion percentage is an indication that Lynch knows where to place the ball.
“He knows where to deliver every pass,” Epps said. “Not only to me but to all the wide receivers, tight ends and running backs.”
It’s no secret that it is tough to win games without a good quarterback and Lynch believes that he can help the team win in many ways.
“In order to help the team win I have to make sure everyone in the huddle is on the same page and does the right play,” Lynch said. “I have to make sure everyone knows their assignment so we can execute the play and obviously, I have to make plays.”
Top receivers Epps and Privott believe its Lynch’s leadership on and off the field that helps the Owls win football games.
“I always speak highly of Kevin in all aspects but his leadership is definitely his strongest quality,” Privott said. “He’s vocal, takes charge, commands the offense and the team, and knows his assignments as well as everybody else’s.”
Epps couldn’t agree more.
“The guy is a natural born leader, he’s a tremendous leader for our football team,” Epps said.
Lynch is as much of a leader off the field as he is on the field, according to his teammates.
“The same field general you all see on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons is the same Kevin Lynch you’ll see off the field,” Epps said.
Privott shared the same feelings.
“He is leader off the field, stays out of trouble, and does his best to keep all of us in the same mindset,” Privott said.
With the season just a few weeks away, Lynch shared his goals for the season.
“Well obviously we want to win every game,” Lynch said. “But we just have to make sure we keep our focus and don’t get ahead of ourselves and take it one game at a time.”
You can watch Lynch and the rest of the Owls football team make their season debut on Sept. 3 in a road game at Central Connecticut State University.
