North Catholic quarterback Joey Prentice fights off a defender as he releases a pass during a win over Valley earlier this season. Prentice was locked in a battle this offseason to replace Zack Rocco under center for the Trojans. He won the job and has thrown for 1,031 yards, run for another 455 and has had a hand in 25 touchdowns this season for North Catholic.

Joey Prentice has a lot of decisions to make on a Friday night.

The North Catholic football team's offense is predicated on multiple reads and the junior quarterback has to make quick calls.

Some are easier than others — like which wide open receiver to get the ball to, or which gaping hole to hit and burst through with authority.

“It's amazing,” Prentice said. “Whenever you look out there and you have at least two people running down the field wide open and you have insane run holes, it's exciting.”

Prentice was locked in a battle for the position with Carson Laconi this offseason.

They were battling to fill quite a huge set of shoes — Zack Rocco, who graduated with nearly 6,000 yards passing and 80 touchdowns.

“It was a tough battle,” Prentice said. “It was a tough decision, I know.”

Prentice seems like the clear choice now.

In his first start, Prentice threw for 218 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 114 yards and two more scores.

It was quite the debut for Prentice, who said in reality it was no big deal.

“Going into that game, I already knew I had the best receivers in the WPIAL,” Prentice said of his big first start. “And the line really stepped up. They just make my job insanely easy.”

Prentice has completed 60 of 101 for 1,031 yards and 14 touchdowns this season for the Trojans, who are 6-0 heading into a section showdown with Freeport at the Mars Athletic Complex Friday night.

Prentice has also rushed for 445 yards and 11 touchdowns for North Catholic, which is putting up 48 points per game.

And he's having run doing it.

“Joey is making progress each and every week,” said North Catholic coach Patrick O'Shea. “Joey has matured as a passer, but also as a leader. He's embraced that role. We're so proud of him.”

Prentice is blessed with a wealth of weapons around him.

Senior Nick Maher has 21 receptions for 405 yards and six touchdowns. Tyler Maziarz, Laconi and a slew of other receivers have all had a hand in the passing game's success for the Trojans.

Prentice said they are all film junkies, too.

“It's nice because it's not just me watching film, it's everyone else,” Prentice said. “We all know what we're doing.”

Prentice said he learned a lot from Rocco — he was Rocco's primary back-up the last two years.

“(Zack) and my brother (Dom) were really good friends, so I was already around him,” Prentice said. “He filled me in on everything. He was super nice and he knew the offense so well.”

Prentice is no longer the apprentice.

Prentice said he believes North Catholic has what it takes to win a WPIAL title and make a run in the PIAA playoffs as well.

“If you ask me, I think we have everything to go all the way,” Prentice said. “But that's up to us if we want to come out and really play our butts off.”