Menwith Hill Mustangs quarterback Scottie Setzer looks for an open man earlier this month during the team’s game against the Rota Admirals. (Geoff Ziezulewicz / Stars and Stripes)
He’d never dreamed of doing it in 20 years of coaching Menwith Hill football, but Mustangs coach Pete Resnick saw something last year in ninth-grader Scottie Setzer.
Soon Setzer was the Mustangs’ first freshman quarterback.
"I didn’t think anyone could have that kind of poise and maturity to be able to control the huddle and call plays like that" as a freshman, Resnick said of the 15-year-old Setzer, now a 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore. "That takes a lot of confidence as well. He’s our on-the-field leader."
A Menwith Hill resident since first grade, Setzer is now leading the team he grew up watching.
"I’ve been here since I was in first grade so I always wanted to be a Mustang," he said.
And he celebrated his sophomore year on the team in proper fashion during the Mustangs’ home opener last month when he rushed nine times for 292 yards and four touchdowns, threw and caught a touchdown pass and completed six two-point conversions in his team’s 70-35 victory over the Brussels Brigands.
"It was just a breakout game for him," Resnick said. "He took it over, and he took advantage of it."
A Clover, S.C., native, Setzer said he will most likely not be at Menwith for next season.
He also likes to run track and play basketball, and he named former Mustang Le’Shawn Adams as someone who influenced his game.
"I looked at him a lot last year, he was a leader and did a lot for us," Setzer said.
Menwith’s Division IV status means they play nine-man games, something that’s not easy, Resnick said.
"This is iron-man football we have to play at Menwith Hill," he said. "Our kids play offense then turn around and have to play defense."
Setzer, ever the team leader, said he doesn’t mind playing both sides of the ball.
"Teammates tell you to keep on trucking," he said. "In that situation, most of the adrenaline’s still going."
Wherever he lands next football season, a new team will get an energetic and talented player in Setzer, Resnick said.
"I think he’s matured a lot from last year to this year," he said. "I thought he was excellent last year, and it’s even better this year."
Menwith Hill Mustangs quarterback Scottie Setzer looks for an open man earlier this month during the team’s game against the Rota Admirals. (Geoff Ziezulewicz / Stars and Stripes)
Menwith Hill Mustangs quarterback Scottie Setzer walked on to the team last year as a freshman and become the first ninth-grader to lead the team at that position in at least 20 years. (Geoff Ziezulewicz / Stars and Stripes)
