North Texas Among Programs Pursuing Carthage’s Blake Bogenschutz

Carthage's 2014 class features several offensive players who could be Division I FBS recruits, including the man at the helm.

Quarterback Blake Bogenschutz has started two years and led Carthage to a combined 20-7 record in 2011-12, reaching the Class 3A Division II Region II semifinals as a sophomore (9-4) and the Class 3A Division I state semifinals as a junior (11-3).

Colleges have taken notice. North Texas has invited Bogenschutz to its Feb. 23 junior day. Bogenschutz said UNT offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Canales visited with Carthage coach Scott Surratt to watch film of Bogenschutz.

"North Texas, Texas State, and Houston Baptist have all come by and watched film with coach Surratt," said the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder. "(Canales) came out to the baseball field where I was practicing. He said I could do a lot to help their program. (Surratt) said he was real high on me."

Bogenschutz has thrown for 5,566 yards, 62 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions in two seasons as a starter. In 2012, he completed 185 of 335 passes (55.2 percent) for 2,870 yards, 38 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. The 38 touchdown throws are third in single-season school history behind Anthony Morgan, who produced back-to-back 41-touchdown seasons during Carthage's second and third consecutive state championships in 2009-10.

Bogenschutz enters his senior season trailing Morgan by 1,458 yards and 22 touchdowns in the Carthage career record books. Morgan threw for 7,024 yards and 84 touchdowns in two seasons -- plus one game as a sophomore -- as the starter.

The stats suggest a pass-happy attack, but Carthage's pro-style offense is far from the omnipresent spread that has taken over high school football. The Bulldogs threw 351 times and ran 445 times in 2012, with 3,009 passing yards and 2,660 rushing yards.

In other words, Bogenschutz is more than familiar with running a pro-style offense. Surratt, who was Ryan Mallett's offensive coordinator at Texas High, asks a lot of his quarterbacks, and Bogenschutz regularly makes decisions at the line of scrimmage, often changing from one play to another based on the opponent's alignment.

Bogenschutz' familiarity with that style could influence his eventual college decision, but he's happy to hear from anybody, he said.

"I want to stay in Texas. I will go to Louisiana or something like that, but I don't wanna go too far off," Bogenschutz said. "Somebody who runs a pro-style offense or throws the ball. I'm just looking for any school that shows any interest and I'll consider them.

"Texas Tech would be nice to here from. I've gotten a few letters but I haven't had direct contact with them."

Bogenschutz said he's also received mail correspondence from Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. TCU and SMU have recruited Bogenschutz, but he said he hasn't heard from either lately. He added that he has not heard from TCU since receivers coach Trey Haverty was hired by Texas Tech in late December to coach safeties.

Chances are good that Bogenschutz and the Carthage offense will garner recruiting exposure for themselves in the fall. Carthage, which Dave Campbell's Texas Football named in its winter edition as the likely preseason No. 1 team in 3A, returns not only Bogenschutz, but its top two rushers, top four pass-catchers, its tight end, and all five starting offensive linemen. The only offensive regular Carthage must replace is fullback Payton Klysen, who graduates this spring.

"I think when we come back (in the fall) we'll be a lot more advanced," Bogenschutz said. "We know our offense is gonna be our strong point. ... I think we'll be a lot better than we were this year. I think we'll be more advanced than we've ever been starting a season."

Carthage averaged 42.1 points per game in 2012, eclipsing the 50-point plateau five times. Bogenschutz said Carthage may rely more on its offense in 2012 with heavy graduation losses occurring in the Bulldogs' front seven, including Texas A&M signee Isaiah Golden at defensive tackle and middle linebacker Trent Jackson, who led Carthage in tackles each of the past two seasons.

Bogenschutz joins running back/cornerback Tevin Pipkin (5-10, 170), receivers Tee Goree (6-2, 170) and Okeeron Rutherford (6-5, 180), and guards Griffin Bankhead (6-2, 290) and Adrian Goodacre (6-4, 310) as potential FBS recruits in Carthage's 2014 class. Goree has received interest from Oklahoma, according to the Carthage coaching staff.