When Jordan's McCoy Hill took the first snap of the season, he knew all eyes in the crowd were on him. Even more, he could surmise their thoughts.

Could he live up to standards of standout Alex Hart, who completed 317 of 490 passes for 4,442 yards and 47 touchdowns last season to break multiple state and national records?

Would he emulate Hart's style, or tread a path of his own?

Most importantly, could the Beetdiggers continue to win without their all-time greatest signal-caller?

It's a set of expectations few green quarterbacks ever have to face. But so far, Hill has kept it in perspective.

"I've never seen a quarterback have more fun than Alex," Hill said. "It's a stressful job, so I'm trying to play the same way."

Now the senior leader of the complex Beetdigger offense, Hill spent two years as an understudy. Most of his junior season was spent on the sideline during Hart's historic campaign, biding his time and, most importantly, watching the record breaker's every move.

"It was an honor to play behind Alex. It helped me out because I learned from the best," Hill said. "I try to do everything as much as I can like he did. Why wouldn't I emulate someone who threw for over 4,000 yards in one season?"

Good question.

But while Hill models himself after the best, he sometimes grows weary of the constant comparisons. After all, the dream to be a varsity quarterback was his long before Hart ever broke the state passing record.

"It's something I've dreamed of since I was 8 years old," Hill said. "I've been preparing for this opportunity for a long time, too."

Still, he knew the order to lead an high-powered team like Jordan would be a tall one. The Beetdiggers have had quarterbacks throw for at least about 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in each of the last five seasons, and Hart blew those marks out of the water, setting a new standard that eventually fell directly in Hill's lap.

No pressure.

"There is a kind of legacy of quarterbacks at Jordan," Hill said. "I'm just doing my best to make sure that continues."

But unlike his predecessor, Hill has only one year to cement his legacy. He hasn't wasted any time.

After three games, Hill has completed 27 of 62 passes for an impressive 517 yards and 11 touchdowns, culminating in a 63-point explosion against Sky View. At his current pace, he'll easily surpass the standard set by most of his predecessors not named Hart.

And though his stat line likely will not , Hill plans to distinguish himself with his arm, which he employs during the spring as the Beetdiggers' ace pitcher. This season, he's expected to throw pitches at speeds upward of 90 mph.

"He's a lot like Alex, just a little different," Jordan coach Eric Kjar said. "Alex had all that experience, but McCoy has this throwing ability."

Receiver Taylor Loomis elaborated: "His arm is like a loaded gun."

"He's the perfect D-I quarterback," Loomis said of 6-foot-5, 215-pound Hill. "He's fast and strong with the perfect drop-back. And he knows our offense like the back of his hand."

But Hill knows not much of that will matter if the production stops now. On Friday, Hill and company will face their first big test of the season in Alta — and the Beetdiggers are hardly deceived by the Hawks' winless record.

"I think they are the best 0-3 team in the nation," Hill said. But more importantly for Hill, it's an opportunity to lead his team to a win over their cross-town rival.

That's something Hart was never able to do.

"I just want to be able to say that I left everything out there in the short time I had," Hill said. "I don't get another shot at it." —

Legacy of Jordan quarterbacks

2009

Alex Hart

317-of-490 for 4,442 yards and 46 TDs.

2008

Alex Hart

228-of-339 for 3,181 yards and 26 TDs.

2007

Chaun Cook

169-of-288 for 1,980 yards and 23 TDs.

2006

Jared Taylor

186-of-296 for 2,805 yards and 32 TDs.

2005

Sean Taylor

124-of-194 for 2,285 yards and 26 TDs.