Area coaches say Providence's Chauncey Concepcion is an exceptional high school quarterback. But at 5-foot-8, Concepcion isn't sure if he can play his favorite position in college.

"I love the game," he said, "so if that's what is going to get me to the next level, to change positions, then I'm willing to do anything."

Tonight at 7, Concepcion will start the second game of his senior season for the Panthers (0-1), who play rival Charlotte Catholic (1-0) at home.

Last season, Concepcion threw for five touchdowns and ran for another in the Catholic game, but the Cougars stopped him on a two-point conversion to win 48-47 in triple overtime. It was Catholic coach Jim Oddo's 300th win.

Concepcion's coach, Randy Long, said that performance was one in a long string of highlights for his quarterback, who turned 17 last month.

"Honestly," Long said, "he throws as good a ball or better than anybody I've seen. Plus, he's so darned athletic. He knows how to use his feet."

Concepcion has started at Providence since he was a sophomore. The Panthers were 4-8 when Concepcion was a freshman on junior varsity. He led Providence to a 7-6 record in 10th grade, and the Panthers were 8-5 last season, when Concepcion threw for more than 2,500 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Among the losses Concepcion's teams have suffered, seven are to state powers Richmond Senior, Butler and Independence, teams that have won nine of the past 10 state titles in North Carolina's largest classification. And four of those seven losses are by an average of just a touchdown.

"It seems like the years we've been at our best, Independence and Butler have been at the very top," Long said, "so it's kind of nullified our opportunity for a championship at times. But we feel like we've got a chance to do it this year. We've played Independence and Butler as good as anyone and (we) always come up a little short. It's time to quit coming up a little short and we'll see what we can do this year about it."

The Panthers, Long said, will go as far as Concepcion can take them.

Though he threw for less than 100 yards last week at Richmond Senior, Concepcion's blend of running and passing had the Panthers ahead 21-17 late in the game, before turnovers cost them in a 31-21 loss.

And after playing Providence three times in his team's last 15 games, Raiders coach Paul Hoggard has a pretty good understanding of what Concepcion can do.

"Sometimes," Hoggard said, "kids who are really athletic don't throw the ball well, and sometimes kids who are not really athletic can throw the ball well. He can do both."

Concepcion was born in Boston and moved to Charlotte when he was going into sixth grade. His father, Charlton Canty, eventually rented an apartment across from Providence so his son could attend the high school.

He said Chauncey could throw a perfect spiral at age 2, and after some early struggles in Pop Warner, Concepcion began to shine in high school.

"You don't come across those that often like him," Rocky River coach Jason Fowler said, "not doing it against the highest level of high school competition, like he's doing it against. You just don't see that a lot."

But will it translate to college?

"I wish he was 6-2, so he could take this further," said Concepcion's father, Canty. "My gut tells me he'll play another position. My heart wants to see him throw that rock another four years, and I pray God will give him that opportunity, but it's starting to seem like the only way we're going to get the kind of offer we're looking for is if he switches positions."

Concepcion hopes his father is wrong. He wants to do what his good friend, Anthony Carrothers, is doing. A former 5-9 Independence quarterback, Carrothers ended his career as one of Mecklenburg County's all-time leading passers last season. He's now playing quarterback at Grambling, which hasn't announced its depth chart yet.

Concepcion said he's being recruited by Hampton, Catawba and Elon. He said Appalachian State and Richmond are also interested, but want him to switch to slot receiver.

"I'd like to stay as a quarterback," Concepcion said, "but I know at the height I'm at now, it'll be tough at the next level. I'm not saying I can't do it, though. I want a chance."