The South Coast has no shortage of standout quarterbacks. Counted among the area’s signal-callers are two seniors who have started at least three years and led their teams to state titles.

Three juniors return to starting roles in what should be pass-happy offenses this fall — though one of those playmakers suffered a devastating injury in his team’s first game — while another junior steps into the quarterback position in the area’s largest school.

And among the backups are one player who was a starter as a sophomore and another who threw five touchdown passes in relief last week.

In short, the area is loaded with talent.

And among the quarterbacks, you will find a few common traits — a strong arm, of course, but also a great understanding of football and outstanding leadership skills.

Among the images Kevin Swift recalls from the 2004 state championship game, when his Gold Beach club was defeated by Lost River, is a television news recap of the game that showed Swift on the sidelines with eighth-grade ball boy Jeffrey Knox standing alongside.

“He looks like he’s 12 years old,” Swift said. “Less than (11 months) later, he’s still looking 12 years old, and he’s the starting quarterback on the football team. That’s quite a jump for a young man.”

The Panthers were off to an 0-4 start in 2005 when Swift made the freshman Knox his starting quarterback.

Since then, Knox has recorded a 31-3 record as Gold Beach’s starter, including winning the Class 3A state title last fall.

He has become outstanding in directing the Panthers’ veer offense, with an ability to run and pass the ball, as well as make the right decisions on distributing it to his teammates.

Knox will be remembered as one of the top players in Gold Beach history, as well as one of Swift’s favorites.

“I can’t say enough about the young man,” Swift said. “He’s pretty special.”

Swift didn’t intend to use Knox as a starter his freshman season, unsure of how the rookie might handle all the pressures that come with the position. But the team was struggling offensively under James Taylor, another standout athlete who had volunteered for the role, but was better suited as a receiver — he became an all-state tight end his senior year.

“I had to do what was best for (Taylor) and hopefully best for the team,” Swift recalled. “Fortunately, Jeffrey came in and really played marvelous, stayed within himself and did the things necessary.”

The Panthers went on to close the season with five straight wins and also win a playoff game.

“He managed the team very well,” Swift said.

Knox has continued to grow in his role as quarterback throughout his career.

Knox is strong — he bench presses 275 pounds — and fast, and has pushed himself relentlessly to improve.

“He’s got unbelievable work ethic,” Swift said.

Knox blossomed as a team leader during a semifinal loss to Santiam Christian in 2006, when star fullback Travis Moore was sidelined by an injury, Swift said, adding the quarterback has managed to stay grounded despite all the success.

“He’s put up with a lot of pressure, and he’s handled it with grace and humility,” Swift said. “I’m hoping that he decides to continue on (and play in college). I think he’s capable.”

While Knox started as a freshman, up the road in Florence Jacob Mitchell took over the reins of the Vikings at the start of his sophomore year and had similar success.

He stepped in following his older brother, Aaron, and led Siuslaw to a perfect season.

The Vikings topped Sisters in overtime for the Class 4A title that season and finished 9-2 last year, reaching the state quarterfinals.

Like Gold Beach, Siuslaw runs the veer offense. And like Knox, Mitchell has been a standout directing that attack, with lethal passing accuracy and smart decision making.

Also like Knox, Mitchell will long be remembered for the intangible things he brings to the Vikings.

“Jake’s a great leader,” said teammate Mike Bradley. “He’s always giving 110 percent. Everybody looks up to Jake.”

Siuslaw coach Tim Dodson said that while Mitchell might have surprised people being a sophomore starter, every opponent knew his abilities last year and he still flourished.

Dodson expects Mitchell to have another big season this year.

“He knows it’s his group to lead and he’s having a good time leading them,” Dodson said. “He might not have the best arm or be the fastest kid on the field, but his qualities of being a great person is what makes Jake a special person.”

Coquille has the luxury of two proven quarterbacks to use in the team’s new spread-option offense.

Senior Buddy Parlier, the starter in 2006, and Junior Heston Altenbach, who started for last year’s playoff team, both will spend time at the position this fall, and both are capable of leading the team to success.

“Heston’s a natural leader,” coach John Breuer said. “That’s his biggest asset. He’s a good all around athlete. He’s a great leader and a great competitor.”

Parlier, meanwhile, is invaluable because of his knowledge of the game and what Coquille is trying to do.

“He’s the kind of player that he can tell anybody on the team what they’re supposed to do on a given play,” Breuer said. “That kind of kid is invaluable. He can step in and play any position that’s called for. He’s totally reliable.”

Coquille plans to pass a lot in the new offense, and both Altenbach and Parlier will play a major role in that. Altenbach is the better pure passer, but also a standout receiver, a necessity in the offense. Parlier is the better runner, but certainly an adequate passer.

Bobcat standout

Like Altenbach, Myrtle Point junior Ryan Hamilton looks every bit the quarterback.

He grew 2 inches this year, and now stands nearly 6-4 entering his second season as starter for the Bobcats.

But new Myrtle Point coach John Marquez was so impressed with Hamilton’s personal growth that he picked the quarterback among several players to take to a camp in California.

“Ryan Hamilton has really stepped up as quarterback and become a great leader,” Marquez said.

Hamilton already had a great arm, and should be even better this year, now that he’s familiar with the offense and he’s got good receivers surrounding him.

“I’ve never seen him more confident,” said Myrtle Point senior Scott Clark. “He’s improved tremendously.”

The Bobcats also are blessed with a solid backup in fellow junior Kyle Davis, who came off the bench when Hamilton suffered a slight ankle injury in the season opener against Illinois Valley and threw five touchdown passes.

Injured leader

By all accounts, this was supposed to be a big year for Reedsport’s Adam Chase, the third junior who is a returning starter on the South Coast.

The Braves have installed a spread-option attack similar to what Coquille is using, and Chase was ideally suited for it with his running and passing skills.

Then he went down in the opening moments of Reedsport’s game with Central Linn last week, aggravating a chronic shoulder injury. Chase might be done for the season.

That would be a bad break for the Braves, who were counting on the team leader after his development during the offseason.

Chase used extensive time in the weight room to improve both his speed and his throwing range.

“He’s good,” said Sean Horton. “He’s got the experience. He just needs to take it from there.”

Until the injury, Reedsport coach Steve Chase was looking forward to watching his son’s improvement this season.

“His speed has improved tremendously,” Steve Chase said. “His confidence level is way up.

“He’s a solid team leader.”

Unfortunately, the Braves might have to wait another season to see how much Chase’s improvement helps the team.

Long wait is over

Kyle Tedder has dreamed of this season since he was a kid.

He grew up watching Marshfield football because his dad was a teacher, and he envisioned himself as the Pirates’ starter since he found a natural ability at the position while winning the local Punt, Pass & Kick competition several years in a row.

“I’ve been looking forward to this since fifth grade — my first year of flag football,” he said.

Tedder inherited the starting job this fall.

“I am stoked,” he said.

Marshfield coach Kent Wigle said Tedder is ready for the position and could be one of the Pirates’ best signal-callers in recent memory.

Wigle has watched Tedder grow up and been close to him for years, and has seen first-hand the potential that Tedder possesses.

“He’s a real student of the game in both football and basketball,” Wigle said. “That’s so important.”

As a first-year starter, Tedder is going through the same learning process his fellow South Coast quarterbacks already experienced about the value of hard work and leadership, especially with Marshfield coming off a rare losing season.

“(Last year) gave me the motivation for this summer,” he said. “It gave me the drive to get as good as I could to get in top shape.

“Our school needs a good season. I don’t want to be at the end of the school year saying, ‘I wish I would have done this or would have done that.’”

If Tedder is able to lead Marshfield back into the playoffs, he could be remembered for years to come.