Program Builder: Quarterback Skyler Kelly helps elevate Prairieville High
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
PRAIRIEVILLE – Prairieville High had the ball first on offense in its June 10 matchup with Baker in the Robert Graves Metro Baton Rouge 7-on-7 League.
Junior quarterback Skyler Kelly carried out his play-action fake at the line of scrimmage, took a three-step drop, and delivered a pass down the middle of Prairieville High’s field for a 45-yard touchdown, eliciting an enthused response from head coach Mike Schmitt.
“We’re trying to get him to become that complete quarterback,” Schmitt said. “It’s not like he couldn’t throw the ball last year. Most of the balls we’re throwing in 7-on-7 are long balls. We’re trying to get defenses to back off the line of scrimmage for him to have more freedom to run. He’s got to be able to hit those throws. He’s doing better.”
Prairieville took a decidedly positive step forward in its second year.
The Hurricane completed the regular season 5-5 and was 3-3 in District 5-5A play, earning their first trip to the postseason, where they ran into Southside (52-14) in the opening round of the Division I non-select playoffs.
The collective direction of a program that had two wins and no playoff experience in its first season could be attributed to the growth of Kelly, a former defensive back and wide receiver, who didn’t become the team’s starting quarterback until the fall scrimmage.
Kelly gave the Hurricanes stability and identity with his command of the team’s option attack, using his elusiveness in the running game to propel a team which has a bright future going into the 2026 season.
“I’m way more comfortable,” Kelly said. “I’ve got the experience. I got a full season, and I’m getting closer together with all of the guys and have the chemistry, and hopefully get better.”
Kelly averaged 224 yards per game, averaging 98 rushing yards and 126 passing, becoming the centerpiece of an offense that returns the majority of last year’s starters.
“Our culture’s set,” Schmitt said. “We’re still not to the level that we want to be, but our culture of accountability, toughness, and knowing we belong is there. He’s kind of the lightning rod. When we need something big to happen, he makes it happen. It sparks the offense, and it ultimately sparks the defense and the whole team. He’s not the motor because he’s kind of a quiet guy. I wished he talked more, and we’re working on that.”
Kelly looked like a natural at quarterback, finding an open player with the ball, whether it was via a handoff or pass.
He rushed for 100-plus yards in seven of his team’s 11 games with a career-high 187 yards on 21 attempts and two touchdowns in a 32-28 league win over Live Oak that completed a program-best three-game winning streak.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Kelly averaged 8.8 yards per carry with 1,381 yards on 157 attempts and 11 touchdowns. He also completed 53% of his passes – 97 of 183 passes – for 1,082 yards with four interceptions and 11 TDs.
“I just put in all of the work, went to practice, and got as many reps as possible,” said Kelly, who totaled 2,463 yards and 22 touchdowns. “I got closer to learning all of the plays, having to know everyone, and I just connected with everyone, got better.”
Prairieville High opened in 2024, the result of continued growth in that area of Ascension Parish.
That brought a collection of students from Dutchtown High, East Ascension High, and St. Amant High to help create Prairieville High, where the Hurricanes were born, wearing green, blue, and white colors.
Prairieville began with a more wide-open offensive approach in its first season.
Kelly spent his freshman year at Dutchtown, where he didn’t play much quarterback.
Schmitt said he first saw Kelly’s raw ability and athleticism during a team competition in the fall.
Players, sectioned off into position groups, raced each other for time during an event referred to as ‘Smokehouse,’ with the winners moving on to a final overall race.
Kelly was the program’s fastest player, earning the nickname ‘Smoke’.
“He’s a great kid,” Schmitt said. “He doesn’t have a lot of emotion. He’s just one of those steady guys. When I saw what we had coming back after the first year, we decided to go in a different direction offensively and places that I had been before when I had a quarterback like that.
“I was able to kind of spotlight them,” Schmitt said. “He just took to it and had an unbelievable run. He made some great runs, made some decent throws. We’re trying to expand his game.”
Kelly was initially Dutchtown’s freshman quarterback and finished the season at safety.
“I just wanted to get on the field,” he said. “I played on defense, and that didn’t really work out too well. Then I got the spot at quarterback and went from there and kept it.”
Prairieville worked with another quarterback through last spring, and Kelly was the team’s reserve at this point in 7-on-7 competition.
That battle for QB1 continued into fall camp, where Schmitt said he made Kelly aware that he was the man for the job.
“We saw that he could do it,” he said. “At the end of camp, we said we’re going to give you the keys, and we’re going to go with you.”
Kelly pointed to the number of repetitions in practice, getting accustomed to the ball handling that’s so pivotal at the position and reading of defenses with split-second decisions to either keep the ball, hand off on the drive, pitch, or throw it.
“I finally understood it all, and eventually it just clicked, and I was better at quarterback,” he said.
Prairieville faced Istrouma and Plaquemine in its fall scrimmage and met Dutchtown in its jamboree, where Kelly scored on a roll-out.
“He’s an intelligent kid,” Schmitt said. “He’s a great student, but he’s also got the ability to see angles, and to feel pressure, which isn’t necessarily easy for a lot of kids. He’s always been that way, even when we were trying to play him at free safety and slot (receiver). He still had those opportunities. Having the ball in his hand is one less thing he’s got to worry about. He’s already had the ball, so he could do all of the other things.”
Kelly eclipsed the 100-yard rushing barrier in each of his first three games, registering a key 21-14 win over Parkview Baptist in Week 2.
He had back-to-back games of 175 and 178 yards respectively, the win over Parkview Baptist and 40-23 defeat to eventual Division IV select state champion Riverside Academy.
With the Hurricanes 1-3 through their first four games, Kelly elevated his play, and the Hurricanes began to show promise during a three-game winning streak that helped the team finish 4-0 at home during the season.
That stretch carried Prairieville to a share of the District 5-5A lead with wins over Walker (28-23), East Ascension (44-27), and Live Oak.
Kelly accounted for nearly 300 total yards per game with a high of 365 yards and three touchdowns against East Ascension, which went on to share the district title with Denham Springs.
He enjoyed his top passing outing of the season on 17 of 28 completions for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He added 152 yards rushing and a score.
Prairieville held a 14-6 lead at halftime before outscoring EA 30-15 in the second half, with 20 of those taking place in the fourth quarter.
“We just came together as a team,” Kelly said. “We played good on offense and defense. We just clicked that game. We just had a good game plan, and they weren’t expecting that.”
Kelly amassed 349 yards and four touchdowns in a back-and-forth victory over Live Oak with a key defensive sequence in the final seconds. He rushed for a season-high 187 yards and two TDs and added passing for an additional 162 yards and 2 TDs.
Prairieville was also developing key pieces around Kelly to take pressure off of him. Running back Tahj Wallace became the team’s second leading rusher, with tight end Parker Feist and wide receivers Chance Jackson and Kale Daigle becoming downfield threats.
“We have a slew of guys that are weapons, and they’re all juniors, so we’re excited about that,” Schmitt said. “Parker’s a real good middle-of-the-field guy. The outside guys will be great, and they’ll be juniors. They’re tall and fast, and we’re trying to get that confidence built up. His job is to identify the defense, what they’re trying to do with him, and then use his skill guys where everybody touches the ball.”
Prairieville rebounded from consecutive league losses to Denham Springs and St. Amant with a 42-0 win over St. Thomas Aquinas. Kelly contributed 108 yards and three total touchdowns in limited action before leading the Hurricanes against Southside, a game they trailed 24-14 in the third quarter.
“I was happy with where we ended last year, but we can always get better,” Kelly said. “We just want to get closer as a team, have more chemistry, get stronger, get 1% better every day.”
There’s no denying the upward trajectory of Prairieville’s program.
Kelly played a large role in raising the level of the program’s profile surrounding this year’s team, which will rely on several multi-year starters.
“The option is what we do,” Schmitt said. “We don’t just dabble in it. Every single day, we spend time on it. Every day is keyed on that.”
Kelly hones his craft, working on the intricacies of the position that are equal parts ballhandling and passing.
Fumbles are treated equally, with the responsibility shared amongst the team through push-ups that bring a greater sense of awareness for the entire group.
“For us, controlling the ball is vital,” Schmitt said. “He’s done a good job of that, but that’s part of coaching. Taking those kids and helping them with their weaknesses and designing things toward their strengths.”
Kelly has become the focal point for an offense primed to take another step forward. The offseason has provided the opportunity for him to become better against defenses that will likely be more inclined to negate his big-play ability.
A year ago, Kelly had four touchdown runs over 49 yards with a long of 75 in the season opener with Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy.
“They’re definitely going to play us differently,” he said. “Hopefully, some other guys will shine and get the ball more. I’ve just tried to put in the work and become that key player that I am. I’m glad that I put in the work to do it, and I’m glad I have the opportunity to do it.”
Schmitt would like to see an expansion of the passing game where four regulars – led by Jackson (12.9) – averaged better than 11.0 yards a catch.
Kelly continues to develop staples in the offense with rolls outs to take advantage of his ability to throw on the run. He’s also aware of Schmitt’s desires to foster more of a down-the-field attack.
“When the safeties are involved with trying to stop the quarterback running,” he said, “we’ve got to be able to throw.”
Improved accuracy remains a daily objective that Kelly looks to take into the fall.
“The next step is to be more of a passer this year, be able to throw the ball more accurately, have a higher passing percentage, and hopefully win some more games and be better than we were last year,” he said. “We’re going to try and pass the ball more, try to get some deep shots, and hopefully that works out during the season.
“We’re way more comfortable this year, we’ve grown together,” he said. “We’ve practiced together. We’ve spent so much time together. We just click more than we did last year, so this year’s going to be way more fun. With all of the work that we’ve put in, I’m glad to see it show. We just want to keep getting better every day.”