Timing Guns : In heat of playoffs, Kennedy’s Zinck becoming a key element as a passer.

Kennedy High quarterback Calvin Zinck has taken nearly every snap under center for the Golden Cougars this season.

Of the 134 passes Kennedy has attempted, Zinck has thrown 133. He was the only quarterback on Kennedy’s roster during the regular season.

Zinck’s backup is Waking Bailey, a receiver-defensive back whose experience at quarterback consists of running out the clock in an earlier, lopsided victory over Birmingham.

But midway through the season, Kennedy coaches made Zinck a quarterback-guard in the Golden Cougars’ game program.

Although the 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior is one of the more physically imposing players for the undefeated Golden Cougars, don’t expect Zinck to play on the interior line anytime soon.

Rather, the designation represents an inside joke to Zinck and the coaches. Most of the season, Kennedy’s offense has been very simple: Pitch the ball to tailback Antwane Smith.

Zinck needed to do two things: make an accurate pitch, and turn around to block any defender who might be in the way.

“I think players get a little surprised when they see me block them out of the way,” Zinck said. “I’ve found out I like to hit people.”

But Zinck’s role changed dramatically last week in a City Section 4-A Division quarterfinal against Franklin. After an easy opening drive, Smith was routinely stuffed by the Panthers. Kennedy fell behind, 17-7. In desperation, Kennedy Coach Bob Francola turned to Zinck.

Zinck responded with his best game of the season, completing 13 of 16 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns, keeping third-seeded Kennedy’s season alive. All told, he has completed 75 of 133 for 1,291 yards and 13 touchdowns and has thrown five interceptions.

Francola and offensive coordinator Fred Grimes might turn once again to Zinck when Kennedy (12-0) faces its toughest test of the season tonight at 7 against second-seeded Dorsey (11-1) at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Actually, Francola had planned to open up the offense after a 10-7 victory over Garfield in a first-round game. Kennedy did not score an offensive touchdown and was held to a season-low 122 yards of offense.

“Maybe we were relying a little bit too much on Antwane in the Garfield game,” Francola said. “Fred kept trying get me to throw more but I guess I’m too conservative.”

The assistant’s persistence paid off. Of particular delight to Grimes was a 70-yard touchdown pass to Bailey midway through the second quarter that energized the Golden Cougars en route to a 48-25 victory over Franklin. But it wasn’t just the touchdown that pleased Grimes.

[Zinck’s] first receiver was covered, but he was able to find the guy in the open,” Grimes said. “I think that’s a decision he would have had a real hard time making early in the season.”

On a team full of senior leaders such as Damion Thompson, Smith and Karalus Doyle, Zinck was admittedly nervous for the season opener against Quartz Hill. His previous game experience was two incomplete passes in mop-up duty for two-year starter Dan McMullen. Zinck’s jitters showed; he completed only two of seven passes against the Rebels.

“I didn’t want to go in there and screw up for the seniors,” Zinck said. “The first game was tough, but I had the confidence that this was going to get easier.”

The coaches’ confidence didn’t waver either. Six days later against Troy, the first play from scrimmage was a pass.

The pass fell incomplete but the message was clear. Zinck made strides against Troy, completing six of 12 for 99 yards, and he has slowly improved since.

Although he isn’t fleet, Zinck shrugs off pass rushers with ease, allowing speedy receivers such as Bailey and junior Aaron Lewis to get open downfield.

“He’s a big strong kid with a very strong arm,” Francola said. “He’s worked really hard to become an effective quarterback.”

And a blocker too.