Fenske -- at 6-4, 192 -- has the prototypical QB size.

By Jake Shaw/TexasFootball.com

Read a few quotes from Round Rock McNeil's Jake Fenske.

You'll see how came off the bench and nearly rallied his team from a 24-point deficit in the final seven minutes of the regular season finale.

"I was really eager, it was like that all season. In the weight room I was trying to get stronger and faster."

"It was the last game of the season, and I wanted to let everyone know what they would be seeing."

"I wanted to make a point."

When Round Rock beat Pflugerville the final week of the season, thus eliminating McNeil from the playoffs, McNeil players knew only pride was to play for against Georgetown.

"Coaches wanted to try something out," Fenske said.

Fenske responded by going 5-of-7 for 133 yards. Three completions helped chalk up 21 straight points (on touchdown passes of 12, 18, and 80 yards), and McNeil's last gasp fell just three points short.

The night capped a season spent mostly on the sideline, as his final numbers (19-of-32 passing, 425 yards, 6 TDs, no INTs) indicate.

McNeil head coach Robert Wilcox knew Fenske had that potential. But last year, with a young defense, Wilcox said a ball-control offense gave McNeil its best chance to win.

"From a coaching standpoint, you've got to look at what's best for your team," he said. "We knew we needed to keep the ball away from the other team, and the best way to do that was on the ground."

With Fenske in the picture, passing is taking over.

"Our philosophy has already changed," Wilcox said. "We knew that going in we would be throwing the ball a lot more with (Fenske) in."

That suits Fenske just fine. He doesn't have the experience, but he has some things you can't coach. Such as size.

The junior already is 6-4 and nearing 200 pounds, the size recruiters covet. He may not win a 100-meter dash — "He's not a burner," Wilcox said — but his arm strength makes up for it.

"That's my strong point," Fenske said, "just throwing from the pocket."

Both Wilcox and Fenske said recruiting interest has been slower than desired. But Fenske plans to make the rounds this summer, attending as many camps and junior days his schedule will allow. He's even created his own web site.

Fenske, who already is brimming with confidence, will then get his chance on the field this fall.

"He's got a really, really high potential," Wilcox said. "The thing about him is he's just going to get better and better."

Instead of entering the 2007 season with the sting of a season-ending six-game losing streak, Fenske's and McNeil's rally against Georgetown gives the Mavericks reason to hope.

"The players were high-fiving, going crazy, the junior ones were really excited about it," Fenske said of the game's aftermath. "They were talking about how they can't wait until next year. It was all positive."

And that young defense? It will be a year older. It now also one of the top defensive backs in the state, A.J. Williams, an early commitment to Texas.

Despite playing in 14-5A, a district where all four playoff teams made at least the second round, Fenske said McNeil's two-year playoff absence should end.

"We're pretty much the offensive and defensive leaders," Fenske said of himself and Williams. "We've got a lot of returners coming back. Next year, we're just trying to lead the team back in the playoffs and back where we need to be."

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