Brighton QB eager to start

Winston Harris has been waiting his turn. Brighton's senior quarterback has been coming up through the ranks, biding his time and itching to take over the reigns of one of the top football programs in the state.

The time is finally at hand.

"We have been working for this all of our lives," Harris said of himself and the rest of his senior class now taking on the major roles of the team. "We have played in the system for a long time, and we know the offense and defense. We really just need to step out on the field and do what we know we are capable of doing."

The Bengals have always been a senior-laden team, but last year's championship-game participants relied even more upon the oldest members. Every starter from last season graduated, leaving holes at every position to fill.

"I have been at the school for 11 years now," said coach Ryan Bullett who took over this season as head man from the retired Tom Cushing. "This is the first time since I got here that we didn't have a single returning starter back."

It is not that strange to have a quarterback step in and play only one season. Look at the string of successful BYU quarterbacks. They entered the program, sat back and learned the system and watched a senior pile up the numbers before taking over for a year and doing the same thing. Harris hopes to continue a trend like that at Brighton.

"We know how to win," he said. "We have been doing it at every age group all the way up, and now it is just our turn to do it for the varsity.

"Just because we haven't done it at this level yet, doesn't mean that we aren't prepared. I really think that we have lots of guys with experience and we are really a pretty deep team. We have guys that if someone isn't getting it done, they will step right in and do the job. It is competitive, but that makes us better."

Harris added he is happy to have the high-profile position of being the quarterback, but he knows that if he isn't successful, the team probably isn't getting it done either.

"I love getting out there and leading a team. I love running the ball and throwing it too," he continued. "We want to be a powerhouse running team mixed in with some passing, and I have to do my job if that is going to happen."

Bullett has the confidence that Harris can get it done. He also feels that it will not be a problem getting the rest of the team to rally around the new starter.