In August, as the Lawrence High football team was preparing for its season opener against Olathe North, I approached LHS coach Dirk Wedd and picked his brain about a story on junior quarterback Clint Pinnick.

A couple of days earlier I had done a similar story about Free State QB Craig Rosenstengle and in the interest of being fair, combined with my desire to find out more about the new LHS signal caller, I thought I’d do the same for Pinnick.

It didn’t work out. True to his old school demeanor, Wedd said he wasn’t comfortable giving that kind of attention to a kid who hadn’t done anything yet.

Boy how things have changed.

Following last Friday’s loss to Free State, in which Pinnick threw three picks but played as tough as anyone on the field in either uniform, Wedd divulged just how far his quarterback has come.

“We’ve put a lot on him this year,” Wedd said. “But he’s handled it all. He’s going to be a great one.”

No doubt about it.

It’s been a rough year for the LHS football team. A tough schedule combined with a rash of injuries has turned a potentially solid product into an inexperienced group of undersized players battling their tails off to no avail.

But there have been bright spots. Pinnick has been the brightest of them all.

Although he has missed two full games and significant parts of two others with an ankle injury, the junior QB has been the undeniable leader of the Lions.

He’s a sensational field general, throws a great ball – both down the field and on the short, crisp routes that are key to the Lions’ attack – and displays a toughness that is uncommon at many high schools, especially at his position.

Take Friday night for instance. Pinnick was sacked six times in the first quarter alone. After each one, he pulled himself up and walked back to the huddle determined to make the next play. He never once rolled his eyes, never once appeared annoyed by the fact that the supporting cast he began the year with had all but disappeared.

“The injuries we’ve had have been key injuries,” Pinnick said. “But that’s the game of football. It happens. All we can do is keep fighting and play the cards that are dealt to us.”

No one does that better than Pinnick.

During his first season as the starter, Pinnick has played hurt, begged to go back in after being injured and somehow overcome what appeared to be a season-ending ankle fracture. Less than three weeks after originally injuring his ankle in a 28-9 loss to Olathe South on Sept. 21, X-rays showed no signs of a fracture whatsoever. Even the kid’s immune system is tougher than most.

Pinnick’s quick recovery cleared the way for a return to the lineup for the district opener against Washburn Rural, a game LHS won 28-6. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Lawrence High is a better team when Clint Pinnick is under center. That’s not a knock on senior Andrew Miller, who was solid in relief. That’s a credit to Pinnick, his knowledge of the game and the fact that his teammates raise their game to his level when he’s out there leading them.

The Lions face a must-win Friday night at Topeka High. A victory gets them to the playoffs. A loss ends their season.

My advice: Bet on Pinnick.