As the varsity football team took the field for the last time during the last regular season game on Oct. 24, sophomore and varsity quarterback Khilan Allen took a moment to reflect on a season of anguish and opportunity. Having started the season as third string quarterback, he never imagined finishing the season as the starter.

Throughout a turbulent season, injuries plagued the team. From a broken collar bone to a torn ACL, backup quarterbacks were kept busy.

Even though Allen endured some hardships himself on the field, he and original starting quarterback, junior Landon Cole, who broke his collar bone during the first game, expressed confidence that the team has bounced back and is ready for a deep playoff bracket run, and possibly a state championship.

“Going through the whole process of surgery and recovery really makes you realize how special everything is,” Cole said. “It has made me more ready for every game going forward, especially when it gets to playoff time.”

Allen and Cole have not been alone in playing games where the “next man up” mentality came into play. In the game against Saint Thomas Aquinas alone, the role of quarterback was played by three separate team members: sophomores John Watskey and Will Scaletty, and junior Micheal Blount.

“We have faced a lot of injuries this year, especially at the quarterback position, so being able to step in and take snaps as the wildcat quarterback is a dream come true,” Blount said.  “We are a hard team to stop, but with everyone healthy I think a state championship is in our future,