Brookhaven’s Charles (Bobo) Rancifer is a year older, wiser,stronger and faster. That was clearly evident Friday night whenRancifer directed the Ole Brook Panthers to a 42-35 triumph overthe previously unbeaten Clinton Arrows.

Rancifer (6-2, 190) passed for 4 touchdowns and ran for another.That performance has earned him The DAILY LEADER’s Offensive Playerof the Week honor for the third week of the 2006 season.

For the game, Rancifer completed 8 of 10 passes for 117 yardsand 4 TDs. He rushed 11 times for 60 yards, including a 35-yard TDscamper.

“Bobo is a much more mature player this year,” said Ole Brookhead coach Tucker Peavey. “His knowledge of what’s going on is wayahead of last year.

“He is mentally and physically more mature. His body and mindare stronger. That combines to make him a better quarterback.”

Peavey said Rancifer’s versatile skills make him a valuableasset. “He’s a good athlete and he reacts well in most situations.So far he has done what we need a quarterback to do.”

Each day Rancifer works closely with Peavey in practice. “Coachchallenges me a lot. He pushes me. He wants me to do better everygame.”

In three games this season, Rancifer has compiled 397 passingyards and 5 TDs. He’s rushed for 193 yards and 2 TDs.

Rancifer said he enjoyed last Friday’s win over Clinton. “Theatmosphere was great. We were playing in a big game.”

Working mainly out of the shotgun formation, Rancifer three 3touchdown passes to wide receiver Simmie Yarborough and 1 to tightend Chase McIntyre. He got plenty of run support from CharlesWilson who rushed 22 times for 148 yards.

“I like working in the shotgun,” said Rancifer. “You see thefield a lot greater. My receivers are catching the ball and gettingopen. They do a good job blocking, too.”

Rancifer said his offensive line has shown weekly improvement.Working in the front trench are center Taylor Newman, left guardSkyler Smith, left tackle Darion Smith, right guard Courtney Clark,right tackle Grady Autman and tight end Chase McIntyre.

The 16-year-old son of Charles and Tiffany Rancifer has ayounger brother, Chris, age 12; and a little sister, Destiny, 3.Both of his parents are BHS graduates.

In the weight room, Rancifer benches 225 and squats with 355. Heruns a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash.

Naturally, he has been compared to former Ole Brook quarterbackJimmy Johns who directed the Panthers to the Class 4A statechampionship in 2004. The Alabama signee was his idol in juniorhigh.

The Panthers play their first Region 6-4A game of the seasonFriday night at McComb and Rancifer said he expects a difficultgame. “McComb is really physical and fast. They are big team. Wewill need a team effort to win down there.”

In his spare time Rancifer enjoys watching ESPN. His favoriteNFL player is Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

Tuesday’s soaking rain forced the Panthers to practice inSinclair Gymnasium, another site of Rancifer’s athletic prowess. Inbasketball, he averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds per game as asophomore guard.

Rancifer’s favorite NBA Player is Miami heat guard DwayneWade.