Going from a middle school football team to starting in high school is a significant change. The Hollis-Brookline football team lost their following year’s quarterback to college, forcing them to look into the roster. They saw the freshman quarterback Jacob Velez waiting for a shot. He had just found out he was going be the opening-week starter after a scrimmage game.  

“I really took time to process and prep my brain and really get ready to be this freshman QB,” said Velez. “I played wherever they needed me.” 

The football team and Velez picked up their first win in game two of the season against Lebanon,Velez came out firing on all cylinders throwing for 260 yards and two passing touchdowns. 

“It was pretty cool–it was awesome coming into our home to play, I’ve never experienced that type of entrenelen before,” Velez said about playing at home for the first time.

 “I think [Velez is] doing good, he’s learning the plays and reiterating the plays to the team,” said running back Adam York ’23. “He was good at throwing the ball hard and fast and not keeping the ball in the air for too long, despite some picks that didn’t set him back.”

HB coaching staff has been working on taking that pressure off of the young quarterback.  

“The coaches are doing everything they can to spread the pressure out to other players and off him and I think it’s helping,” said wide receiver Brady Laub ’23. 

Time will tell for the young quarterback as he will keep trying to help his team win.