How QB competition is setting tone for new-look Mars football team: ‘They’re yin and yang’
BUTLER TWP — Nobody’s job is safe.
Taking over for a Mars football program that had established itself as a perennial playoff team under former coach Eric Kasperowicz, his successor, Zachary Benedek declared such when he took over. Junior quarterback Colin Yurisinec, last year’s starter, didn’t like it — not at first, anyway.
Yurisinec’s competition, Nate Walker, is a classmate who started two-thirds of the 2024 season behind center, throwing for 1,081 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Walker hurt his elbow before last season, an injury he described as “definitely kinda a bump in the road.”
Yurisinec, who feels like he did well last season — admitting bias — was frustrated to hear the job was up for grabs. But he realizes Walker didn’t have a fair crack at winning a competition while injured last year.
“They’re yin and yang,” senior offensive lineman Jameson Dickman said at the recent Butler Eagle Football Media Day, held in the Butler High School gymnasium. “One guy can throw it a country mile, the other guy can throw it through a tire. ... Come Week 0, there’s gotta be one guy, and I think both of them have done an incredible job this entire summer.”
Benedek sees the two as “opposites,” and believes both guys could step in as the operator of the attack. Senior Ryan Walker, who will share carries with Jameson Garvin, described the pair of signal callers as “the same and different. They’re not gonna run away from nobody, but both of them (have) got really good arms.”
Yurisinec passed for 1,607 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season. He’s the more outspoken player, while Walker, who describes himself as a pocket passer, is reserved.
“I think we’re pulling it out of him,” Benedek said. “I used to joke with Nate that, ‘Hey, you can talk to me at practice.’ And then I’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh, Nate, my ears.’ And then, with Colin, he’s hooting and hollering a decent bit. ... It’s been awesome getting to learn both of their personalities and seeing them answer the call.”
Benedek didn’t peel the curtain back too far on where the battle stood in early August.
“It just depends on who steps up and is the leader and can run the offense,” Benedek said. “Both of them are doing a great job, and they’re not pitted up against each other. When we have our quarterback meetings and we’re watching film, we’re joking around. And that’s what it’s about, a friendly competition that makes each other better.
“They’re really responding well to it, and I think that’s helped the team out a lot, because with different competitions in other positions, it’s helped them respond like, ‘Hey, Colin was the guy last year, and he’s respected the battle.’”
Benedek didn’t want to venture too far into the weeds, either, regarding his evaluation process, but he is weighing how both passers make plays, move around and “let the ball fly.” Both have been more studious while watching film with the coach, he noted.
Garvin believes the derby has served as an example for the rest of the team.
“It kind of brings that edge to practice,” Garvin said. “They’re both fighting for a spot, and that kinda brings us up a little bit just because they’re ... trying to get their money.”
Wait, as in NIL?
“As an expression,” Garvin said, laughing.
