High school football: Highland QB Andrew Lurtz exits game early with shoulder injury

PERKINS TWP. — Highland senior quarterback Andrew Lurtz has been through a lot of adversity during his high school football career. Lurtz has had two ACL injuries and a shoulder injury suffered earlier this season that cost him time on the field. "You build a special adversity when you play football," he said. "It is something that you never, ever want to leave. I knew when (the knee injuries) happened that I had to get back. You can't have anything stop you." In the Hornets' 42-6 loss against Toledo Central Catholic in the Division II, Region 6 semifinals Friday, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder took another big blow when he left with 5:07 to go in the opening quarter after sustaining another shoulder injury. "Andrew is probably one of the toughest players I have ever coached," Highland coach Mike Gibbons said. "He's had two torn ACLs and he played with a separated shoulder through this entire season. What a gutsy kid just to want to be out there." On Highland's second possession of the night and its sixth play of the game, the senior kept the ball on a power read and ran up the middle for 7 yards. He was hit hard by a defender and knew right away it wasn't good. "It was a read-option play," Lurtz said. "The defensive end flew out, so I kept it. I went to just go down and took a helmet right to the shoulder, and I knew something wasn't right as soon as it happened. I came to the sideline and I felt it from my shoulder all the way down my bicep. It just wasn't good." Lurtz came off the field for the final time much earlier than he had hoped with his left shoulder hanging limp and the Hornets (12-1) trailing 7-0. Lurtz completed his only pass of the night for5 yards to Matt Ciryak and had his lone rushing attempt of the game that ended his season. He finished 71-for-121 (.587) for 1,053 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing 56 times for 222 yards and seven scores. "It sucks to lose, but we have so many memories created throughout all the years I have played football," Lurtz said. "The friendships that you build, I will never forget it. We have to be proud of what we accomplished this season. We accomplished a lot." Lurtz desperately wanted to get back into the game, but the Hornets turned to backup Peyton Janickas. "It's just confidence," Janickas said of coming into games. "I think about what I can do to help the team. Get in there and be confident and show the guys that I can help them win the game." Janickas, a 5-9, 147-pound junior, spelled Lurtz after his first shoulder injury and performed admirably, but was ultimately overwhelmed by a Fighting Irish defense that dominated the line of scrimmage. He completed 2-of-7 passes for 22 yards and ran seven times for 12 yards. The two quarterbacks had a preseason battle for the starting position that Lurtz won one day before the season opener against Berea-Midpark, but the confidence in Janickas was there based on how closely the competition played out. The two had a great relationship, and Lurtz was a good example for Janickas. "He's been the best teammate," Janickas said of Lurtz. "Before the season started, we were competing for a spot. We battled it out, he got the spot and I accepted it. I tried to become the best backup teammate I could to him. He's been the best mentor and friend I could have ever asked for." Contact Chad Grant at sports@medina-gazette.com.