Editor’s note: The following column from the Best of West collection was originally published in the Port Arthur News on Dec. 8, 1999.

The opinions you are about to read were not formed without considerable thought and input. They are likely to be disputed in some circles. But I’m just egotistical enough on this particular subject to believe I know what I’m talking about.

I’m also convinced time will prove me right.

Dustin Long of Port Neches-Groves is the best high school quarterback to play in Southeast Texas in at least the last 30 years. He will go on to become the most successful collegiate QB to come out of this area.

Those statements are made with the highest regard for Todd Dodge, Craig Stump and Larry Mayer of TJ. And for Gerald Landry, James Brown and Chip Ambres at West Brook. Also for Stephen F. Austin’s Kenny Ford and Lincoln’s Ken Washington. And Greg Davis of PN-G.

Excellent quarterbacks all, but none the complete package the 6-3, 180 pound Long brings to the huddle.

Having had the chance to watch Long play perhaps 15 times over the last three years has been one of the true joys of being involved with the Port Arthur News Friday Night Experience. I’ve thought since he was a sophomore that Dustin was one of those special players who come along all too infrequently. By late last season, I had no doubt.

Long is the difference between PN-G being a pretty good high school team and one capable of wining a state championship. He’s an exceptionally accurate passer with better than average arm strength. He’s a better than average runner whose option skills make the job of a defense increasingly difficult.

Despite getting star treatment in the media, he’s a thoughtful leader his teammates respect.

To cap it off, he is so football smart he rarely makes a bad decision. It is that trait which ultimately is going to elevate him over other talented players at the next level. Long is a coach’s son and a coach’s dream when it comes to doing the right thing or making the right call at the line of scrimmage.

He been given an inordinate amount of freedom by PN-G coach Matt Burnett because Burnett has total confidence in him.

“A few years ago I couldn’t have imagined allowing a quarterback to do the things we allow Dustin to do,” Burnett says. “We have complete trust in his decisions on the field.”

In the PN-G offense coordinated by his dad, Mike Long, pass-protection schemes come from the sidelines. Dustin, however, calls the pass routes. PN-G receivers then adjust their routes to the coverage and Long has to react to what they do. In the option game, he makes checks at the line of scrimmage that will dictate blocking.

“He’s pretty amazing,” Burnett praises. “Everything he does is basically a read. There is hardly a pass called where he knows that he’s going to a certain receiver. The other night against LaMarque he noticed right away they had their best cover man on Joey Price. He figured the best place to go, based on what they were doing, was Justin Baxter. You saw what happened.”

Long is so smooth he almost conveys the impression it’s easy to play QB. Nothing, of course, is further from the truth. It’s by far the toughest position to play in any sport. Quarterbacks have to make split-second decisions with people coming hard at them from all angles. Even the best of the best are prone to struggle because of the complexities of the job.