The options were clear for Jeremy Young: Step up to the challenge, or remain seated on the pine.
Florence High School’s quarterback was too talented and too athletic to stay down for long following his benching by coach Mark Buderus after one uninspiring start as a sophomore.
But the tough love inspired Young, preparing to take control of the Huskies’ offense for a third year, to become one of Class 3A’s most talented athletes.
“That first game was nerve-wracking. I wasn’t ready and I was messing up, going the wrong way on plays and just making mistakes,” said Young, who last season rushed for more than 1,400 yards and passed for 900.
Buderus, who started establishing Florence’s dominant program nearly 20 years ago, pulled Young from the lineup for two games in favor of an upperclassman and gave the green quarterback a playbook to study and some junior varsity games to play in.
“I studied the plays and practiced as hard as I could so that Coach would see me working,” Young said.
Soon Young was back in the huddle, and he helped lead Florence to the state title game while gaining valuable playing experience.
“If he has a bad play, he has the knack to put it behind him and not make the same mistake again,” Buderus said. “When you have someone who touches the ball 50 or 60 times a game, you want them to know what to do with it.”
Young said he felt comfortable during his junior season, and now he is ready to step up as the leader on a team packed with talent.
“Is he back? Dang it,” Falcon coach Jason Catron said in response to a question about Young.
Young has been clocked running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, and he can bench-press 250 pounds and squat more than 300 pounds. His personal goal this season is to rack up at least 1,000 yards both on the ground and through the air, something Clint Buderus did during Florence’s 2002 championship season.
“He can move that marker,” Pueblo County coach Jeff Wilson said. “You think you’ve stopped him on a play, but he really just moved the marker 6 or 7 yards.”
Every coach asked had praise for Young, who for his part said he doesn’t listen to that kind of talk.
“I really don’t pay attention to it. I just go out and play,” said Young, who will be a four-year starter at guard on the basketball team and a two-year starter in center field on the baseball team.
Young and some of his talented teammates live the typical life of a high school athlete in a smaller town – wake up, go to school, practice with the team, lift weights, eat and do homework. And then it all starts again the next day.
But with goals as lofty and expected as those for Florence, there is no time to rest.
“I don’t want to be cocky, but that is our goal – a state title,” said Young, a Penrose native.
Coach Buderus might not say it, but Young is not being cocky. Just honest.
With seasoned athletes back at all of the skill positions, and 15 of 22 starters returning from a year ago, the Huskies are among the favorites to win the 3A title.
Working with Young on offense will be seniors Brandon Ridgeway (running back), Dom Torri (tight end), Cody Bennett (wide receiver) and Nick Karpilo (center).
The defense is just as loaded with multiyear senior starters, including Levi McDowell (defensive line-linebacker), Mike Roberts (safety), James Fitz (cornerback) and linebackers Travis Archer and Rod Marques.
“They know the drills, and they know what to do in most situations,” Buderus said.
