One of the main topics surrounding Ben Davis sports as the fall athletic season begins is who will step in as quarterback for the football team.
The football team begins action tonight in a scrimmage situation at Westfield before opening the 2025 season next Friday against Cathedral with the game scheduled to be played at the Butler Bowl.

Last season started with senior Isiah Rodgers at quarterback, then after dealing with injuries, the last part of the season, sophomore Joe Goss stepped in and took us to the sectional championship against the current state champions Brownsburg, where we had a commanding 35-7 lead going into halftime. What followed was a heartbreaking comeback where Brownsburg scored 31 consecutive points, winning 38-35.
Now we’re approaching the 2025 football season and it is leaving people wondering who will be the next quarterback with key names leaving the team, such as Mr. Football Mark Zachery IV.
The vacant spot of the quarterback position begs the question of who will be next. Coach Russ Mann says that has been a big question during summer workouts.
Mann has three candidates in sophomore Kenneth Doss, freshman Gabe Kennett, and junior Jay Collins. The QB1 in question will be Kenneth Doss.
“Well, during the offseason, we were just looking at someone who could fill the role of quarterback, and it was right around spring break,” Mann said. “Doss gives us the ability to also potentially make plays with his legs instead of just throwing.”
Mann is impressed with what Doss brings to the position.
“I’ll tell you this, he’s the first to go downfield and block when he’s not at the ball,” Mann said. “He’s the first to celebrate with our defense when they come off the field. He gets football and the team concept.
“He’s a football player. He can play a lot of different positions. Quarterback is a new one for him, but he can play running back, receiver, he can play safety he can play cornerback. He was one of the main factors that made a lot of plays last freshman season.”
A name that came to mind when talking about Doss was former Mr. Football from 2017, Reese Taylor.
Mann stated, “That’s a big comparison, but we were very close to putting him in number two because there are glimpses of when he cuts, he cuts a little like somebody I had to defend many times. There are glimpses of Reese Taylor, and having to defend him was a gosh darn nightmare.”
Mann is looking forard to seeing what Doss can do.
“This kid has no fear being a football competitor,” Mann said. “What is relieving is that not all the weight is on him with having Gabe, and Jay.”