It was first heard years ago, continues today and usually starts after he suits up and takes off behind his Longmont Trojans teammates.
“Run, Forrest, run!”
His name is Forrest Wetterstrom.
People call him Forrest Wetterstrom.
“Ever since I can remember, every game,” Wetterstrom said. “My coaches, teammates, just about everybody says that . . . and I say, ‘Oh, I’ve never heard that one before.’ “
“Forrest Gump” he may not be, but Wetterstrom has his own story.
The junior quarterback will lead the Trojans, 10-0 yet seeded fifth, into the first round of the Class 4A playoffs at home on Saturday against Falcon.
Longmont coach Doug Johnson opened up the box a year ago in naming the sophomore as the starter and knows what he’s going to get.
“I think Forrest is the best in the state,” said, Johnson, a veteran overseer of the prep game who usually doesn’t exaggerate.
Well, maybe exaggerate a little.
“He’s not your typical quarterback. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team, if not the hardest,” Johnson said. “He kind of reminds me of (John) Elway. He always senses to be one of the guys. He’s always in the weight room lifting with them. He just likes being one of the players, not the star.”
At 6-foot-3, the 17-year-old Wetterstrom, who said he’s 180 pounds “and 185 on a good day,” leads the Trojans in passing as well as rushing. All told, he has rushed and thrown for 2,082 yards. He has a 94-yard scoring run among his 13 touchdowns and has been efficient — Wetterstrom has just five interceptions against 22 touchdown passes.
“He has gotten some great holes, but he makes so many plays happen on his own,” Johnson said.
Wetterstrom credited offseason work, including with his receivers, “to get our timing down . . . I’m just glad I have these guys around me.”
He has come a long way from 2009, when he was the junior varsity quarterback as a freshman, then unexpectedly had to go in for a few plays in the championship game against Heritage when starter Jake Johnson — no relation to the coach — was sidelined.
“I guess, to call it anything, it was a good experience,” Wetterstrom said. “I was nervous being in there in the championship game and everything. . . . I forgot to put in my mouth guard and buckle my chin strap.”
Coach Johnson, whose team fell to Heritage 42-28 in that title game, has seen everyone from all-staters to others just like Wetterstrom thrown into the proverbial fire.
“I’m told,” the coach said with a snicker, “that he could barely get the play call out.”
Having dabbled in basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, baseball and gymnastics since kindergarten, Wetterstrom has settled in as a Trojans three-sporter. He’s due to graduate in 2012 as a 12-letter winner. Wetterstrom also wrestles for the Trojans and jumps, sprints and is on relays in track and field. His 3.3 grade-point average also comes with larger, more immediate aspirations.
Last season, when Wetterstrom took over as the starter, the Trojans were 7-5 in making the quarterfinals.
This year, they feel they can make a real move in the playoffs.
“We had a bye in Week 10, so we have our legs back,” Wetterstrom said. “We need to play perfect football with limited penalties and turnovers.”
Johnson balances welcomed, old- school intensity with more-modern unbridled, enthusiasm when he sends his special junior on to the field.
“He’s a great kid, and you should see him celebrate,” the coach said. “It’s not excessive, it’s absolutely genuine. Gosh, he loves the game.”
Footnotes.
• 4A Rock Canyon’s Eric Williams has 2,045 yards rushing, good for second among all classifications. He has surpassed 300 yards three times with a high of 310 last month against Ponderosa.
• I’m hearing more grumbles than usual about 5A seeding. The victory-point system in the 32-team wild-card format is getting bad-mouthed to the point that more and more coaches openly wonder about returning to seeding by committee, similar to that in basketball.
Coaches hate short weeks in the playoffs, but for the first time in memory, there will be no postseason games today during the second week. Not bad when considering the majority of schools in the upper two levels doesn’t enjoy exclusive use of a field.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
