Country Day's offense is trending up with a healthy senior QB. 'We're just getting started.'

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Senior quarterback Hudson Wright made his season debut Friday, and there was a noticeable difference in Country Day's offense.

Country Day (1-2) scored 57 points in a Week 3 matchup at Episcopal with Wright under center after scoring 48 points the previous two weeks combined.

Wright shined in what ended up a 66-57 loss to Episcopal. The senior completed 24 of 36 passes for 409 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.

Wright found wide receivers Curtis McAllister and Kellen Brewer for two touchdowns each, with his longest scoring pass covering 65 yards.

"It felt good to be back," said Wright, who was sidelined by a concussion the first two games. "We felt good about our offense (against Episcopal). We put up a lot of points, and that's what we can do every week."

Wright said he prepared himself well for his season's debut.

"I took recovery very seriously," he said. "I wanted to make sure I was ready come game time, so I was very cautious. Taking my first hit out there, I felt good after that and was ready to go."

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Junior Allen Dietz started in place of Wright for the first two weeks. Running back Justin Drago also saw snaps under center while Wright was out.

"(Wright at quarterback) is what we've been waiting on," first-year coach Ben Powell said. "We've worked since the spring and all summer in 7-on-7. He performed really well there and going through fall camp."

Besides being Wright's go-to wide receivers, McAllister and Brewer are key contributors on Country Day's basketball team and the sons of former professional athletes Deuce McAllister (Saints) and Corey Brewer (NBA player currently assistant coach with Pelicans).

Brewer led Country Day with 127 yards receiving and two touchdowns on six receptions against Episcopal. McAllister wasn't far behind with seven receptions for 120 yards and two scores.

"It's all about getting those guys into space," Wright said. "You get (Kellen Brewer) on a screen and he can be explosive ... and Curtis is Curtis. He's going to go up and get the ball with those hands."

"We had a strong core of receivers to begin with," Powell said. "Then a bunch of our basketball guys came out. Those guys have given us more versatility."

Country Day's running game is led by Drago, who has 66 carries for 403 yards and six touchdowns along with five receptions for 33 yards.

Powell described Drago as "an all-state caliber running back." The junior had a strong showing against Episcopal with 117 yards rushing and two TDs on 17 carries.

"It's not even just the runs, but the plays that weren't runs," Drago said. "I was making blocks downfield, making other plays happen like on the screens to (Brewer) and the other receivers."

Powell called the Cajuns offense an "air-raid" attack, a stark contrast from the run-heavy offense that he oversaw at Haynes last season.

Having Wright as a three-year starter under center with plenty of receivers to throw to along with Drago at running back makes Country Day's offense seem like no fluke.

"We're just getting started," Wright said. "There's a lot more to come, a lot more games. (The receivers and I) come and work all the time on the weekends, so it's good to see it all show on the field."

Country Day has two nondistrict contests beginning Friday at Douglass (3-0) before district play starts.

Country Day's last district title came in 2021, and the hope is that a postseason trip this year will result in the Cajuns advancing past the second round for the first time since 2019.

"I feel like the potential that we could be as a team, as a program this year, we're definitely starting to see it," Powell said. "Our goal is to throw and score a lot of points. We think (Week 3) is a harbinger of things to come through the season."