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Patch Athlete: Ledyard's John Rainey

Colonels QB Proves You Can Go Home Again

Ledyard junior John Rainey is not what you would call a Fantasy Football quarterback.

As Colonels signal caller, Rainey's job is to manage the offense efficiently, hand the ball off to 2,400-yard rusher Alex Manwaring and pass sparingly and prudently. In short, Rainey's job description is to manage the game, limit turnovers, make plays when asked.

He's not asked to roll up 200-yards and multiple touchdown strikes to light up Fantasy Football totals that attract post-season all-star votes. Rainey could have been that guy if he remained at Saint Bernard, where he was quarterback in a wide-open, four-receiver spread offense as a sophomore last year. He filled the air with passes in many games, took a lot of daring chances, but also ran for survival, avoiding rushes during two dismal Saint seasons.

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So Rainey's idea of Fantasy Football is the fantasy he's living playing Ledyard football after transferring this summer back to his hometown high school. Rainey is a confident young man, but he likely circled Dec. 10 as a date for basketball practice or pickup ice hockey rather than the time for the Colonels to face Ansonia in the Class M state title game at UConn's Rentschler Field.

"It hasn't soaked in yet," Rainey said. "It's amazing. I've gone from 1-19 the last two years at Saint Bernard to 11-1 and the state championship game in one season. It hasn't hit me yet, but I'm sure next week after the season is over I'll reflect back on how thankful I am."

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Rainey played youth football with many of the current Colonels, so he needed no introduction when he appeared at Ledyard preseason practices. Though he had already established himself as a three-sport varsity starter in football, basketball and baseball with the Saints, he grew disenchanted there.

There was the turmoil of baseball coach Bill Buscetto's controversial firing and Rainey's own homesickness.

"I just needed a change," Rainey said. "I had been in the Saint Bernard school system six years. I was hanging out over the summer with Ledyard kids and wanted to stay in Ledyard. I felt comfortable here."

And more comfortable in the passing pocket and behind a quality offensive line in general.

"Playing quarterback at Saint Bernard was like playing tag," Rainey said. "I have a lot more time to execute this year."

The 6-foot, 185-pound Rainey has played solid ball all season, contributing early as a runner - 135 yards versus Stonington - and developing Ledyard's passing game midseason with Slade Baxley as a complement to Manwaring's mass production. He has shown tremendous leadership and poise, throwing just three interceptions and executing 100 percent efficiency on snaps from center Evan Stockmon.

"That's an underrated segment of the game," Rainey said. "We've had no bad snaps. Evan has been great, putting the ball right where it belongs even in rain and mud."

While Manwaring has carried the offense, Rainey has come through dramatically, essentially saving Ledyard's season in the last two games. In the final minute of a one-score win over Branford, Rainey scrambled for a TD on 4th-and-goal from the 18.

Fourth-and-18. Not exactly a high percentage play. Just the fact he attempted to score shows the confidence in his ability (nine rushing TDs this year), guts and flair for drama.

"I stepped up in the pocket and saw a running lane," Rainey said. "I ran toward Slade who was in the left corner of the endzone and gave him a verbal signal to block. He got just enough of the guy to allow me to dive over the front pylon."

In Ledyard's final regular season game, Rainey found Manwaring open for a 12-yard TD pass with four seconds left in a 14-12 victory. Rainey's final stats of 500 passing yards and seven TDs won't make many all-star teams (he was All-ECC Medium honorable mention), but without those frenetic finishes, Ledyard would not be playing Saturday.

And without Rainey reining his talent to fit Ledyard's structured and disciplined style this year, Ledyard would not be playing Saturday. Maybe next year without Manwaring, Rainey can resemble more of a Fantasy Football QB.

"He came in as a tremendous athlete, and he's becoming a very good quarterback.," Buonocore said. "His pocket presence, his footwork and his ability to read defenses has improved weekly. He has a great mentality and never seems to get flustered. That is a great attribute to have as a quarterback."

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