Caston, Trinity receivers explode onto scene
Published 12:05 am Monday, October 26, 2015
NATCHEZ — There are few limitations when it comes to calling plays for Trinity Episcopal Day School head coach Zach Rogel.
A majority of that is thanks to his receiving corps, a group that is arguably one of the most explosive in the Miss-Lou.
“It is tough to have to double team either our X or Z receiver because that just leaves the other one open,” Rogel said. “A lot of teams have one dominant receiver, but we have two that we feel confident in in any one-on-one situation. They make me look good as a play caller. Athletes win games, and we’ve got some good ones.”
The two Rogel is referencing is Jakarius Caston and Demond Fleming, names that appear frequently in the box score and the receiving column nearly every week.
Just a freshman, Caston has burst onto the scene making highlight reel type plays all season.
“He can do it all,” Rogel said. “The screens, the slants, teams don’t know whether to press him or back off on him. He is just a big matchup problem. He still has a lot of things to learn as far as fundamentals, but he has a talent and is a hard worker.”
One thing Caston said has helped him adapt in varsity action is his brother, Kevontaye, being the starting quarterback.
“I feel better with him at quarterback,” Jakarius said. “It helps me concentrate and keep my focus more.”
As far as fitting in, it hasn’t been much of a challenge for Jakarius.
“I’m just a natural born football player,” he said. “Coach can put me in a lot of different places and I can play well.”
He did say, however, he prefers playing as the outside receiver.
“I prefer being one-on-one and I think I can win any battle,” he said.
For Fleming, this season has been one where he has developed his craft and advanced his game as a possession receiver.
“(Fleming) doesn’t blow you away with speed when you first look at him, but when he gets the ball he is quick,” Rogel said. “One thing he has done this year that he didn’t do much last year is going up and getting the ball at its highest point. There were a lot of balls thrown his way last year that were 50-50 balls that ended up being intercepted, but he knows the importance of taking care of the ball and can turn into a defender if he has to.”
Fleming credits off the field work and experience for his development this season.
“I’ve gotten older and more mature, and I understand the offense more,” he said. “I’m more comfortable this year with getting more touches. I got in the weight room, too, got my speed up and my hands are better.”
Fleming said having a talent like Jakarius Caston opposite him has only aided his game and the team.
“It gives the other teams a ton of problems,” he said. “Coaches try to put their best on me or their best on Jakarius, but they can’t cover us both. So coach calls the plays to make it happen. He can call whatever and he knows we’ll go do it for him.”
With plenty of time still left for both in varsity action, Rogel said there is only upside for the receivers.
“The sky is the limit,” he said. “They are going to get out what they put in, and if either of them realizes this is what they want and it is a dream for them and they stop at no lengths to reach that dream, they can do anything they want.”
The players agreed.
“We can be as good as we want to be,” Fleming said.