FOOTBALL: Poised Bodine just fine for Cherokee

• Bodine rotated the last two years as Chiefs' QB
• In his first full-time role, the senior offers an extra dimension other than star RB John Lovett
• Cherokee knows it can't be one-dimensional in postseason and Bodine offers flexibility

Cherokee High School football coach P.J. Mehigan doesn’t have to dig deep to characterize his quarterback.

“One of our mottos is, ‘Pride and Poise,’” he said. “When I think of him, I think of poise.

“He never gets too high with the highs or too low with the lows. He’s even-keeled and balanced in all that he does.”

QB Q&A: Chiefs' leader answers 

Senior quarterback Jake Bodine’s been a steady presence for Cherokee, No. 7 in the Courier-Post Mean 15.

With star tailback and Rutgers University commit John Lovett behind him in the backfield, Bodine knows he’s not the offensive focal point. It doesn’t bother him a bit.

ADVERSITY: Key to Lovett's success

“I feel like other teams have been aware of what a threat John is and will prepare for him,” Bodine said. “That leaves some areas where we can throw the ball.

“There have been times when I fake a handoff and everyone goes John’s way. I remember a couple of times where I’ll be right next to (a defender) running the ball and they’re still looking at John.”

Lovett’s presence gives the Chiefs (4-2 overall, 3-1 WJFL American) a home run possibility on any touch. He ran for 250 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 42-21 blowout of Washington Township.

RUN, JOHN, RUN! Lovett wows in big win

But, the fifth and sixth scores for the orange in that clash came courtesy of Bodine. Both showed the extra dimension the 17-year-old adds to the offense.

The first came on an option play in the third quarter when the beleaguered Minutemen defense kept all eyes on Lovett. Bodine dashed in for an 11-yard score.

On the final touchdown, he linked up with Stephen Gervasi for a 21-yard trip to the end zone. Gervasi’s a preferred target for the quarterback – and has been since freshman year.

“He’s a big boy,” Bodine said of his tight end. “If I was scrambling out of the pocket (freshman year), if there was six guys on him, I'd still throw it to him.”

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound tight end’s been impressed with his pal’s command of the offense. The last two years, Bodine rotated every other series with since-graduated Evan Powell.

Mehigan knew he needed Powell’s full energy at the middle linebacker position. He decided a rotation would afford that.

“I didn’t think it was difficult for him,” Gervasi recalled. “I think when Jake came in, he embraced it and did his best.

“I honestly wouldn’t want to play for another quarterback. He’s definitely the leader of this offense. Even though John rushes for all those yards, Jake is the one who puts everyone on the line and makes sure we’re running consistently.”

Bodine’s scores on Friday came a week after a four-touchdown performance through the air in a rout of Paul VI. He’s hit on 48-of-86 passes this season at a clip of 16.9 yards per completion and nine scores.

A Haddon Heights resident who plays for the Chiefs due to his parents’ affiliation with the school – his father, Raymond, taught English before retirement two years ago and his mother, Amy, currently teaches math and science – the 6-foot right-hander knows he will be given chances to make a large impact.

Mehigan does, too.

“He knows how special John Lovett is and he knows he’s not going to throw it 20 to 25 times a game,” Mehigan asserted. “But he can make the most of those 15 throws he gets. As you go into the playoffs, you can’t be one dimensional.”

Bodine’s unaffected once he gets in his pregame ritual of a 10-inch BLT hoagie from Wawa with a blue Gatorade and two bags of chips – one Doritos, the other a random selection.

Poised and selfless, his appetite for a South Jersey Group 5 title allows him to meet any request Cherokee demands.

“I’m going to do what I’m supposed to do and not worry about anything else,” Bodine said. “If I have to hand the ball off, then I’ll carry out my fake.”

Mark Trible; (856) 486-2424; mtrible@gannettnj.com