Athlete of the Week: Sauquoit Valley’s Colton Larsen

Webster's Dictionary defines the word "versatile" as "embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills," and Sauquoit Valley junior QB Colton Larsen embraces that word fully.

"Keeps me in shape as a player, especially because I play three sports," Larsen said. "Having adversity around the field helps me push myself to become a better athlete. Definitely gotta keep a clear head. If something goes wrong on offense or kicking, just gotta have a clear head, put it in the past and focus on the future."

"He's been a weapon in all phases of the game for us, we knew that coming into the season, having watched his film, realizing his athletic ability, he's one of those kids that can kind of do anything," Sauquoit Valley football head coach Jason Alexander said. "He also leads by example, and he's a great leader on the field. Above and beyond just the physical characteristics, it's the leadership characteristics as well."

Larsen plays in all three phases for the Red Hawks, playing QB, DB, and kicking the football, including the game-winner as time expired against Little Falls.

"It's definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life," Larsen said.

"I'm thrilled for them as a team, I'm thrilled for him as an individual as well," Alexander said. "It took a lot of mental toughness in that moment for us collectively and for him to keep his focus and go out there and do what he does."

As Sauquoit Valley has transitioned from playing 8-man back to 11-man football, Larsen's leadership and maturity have been a major help.

"He's matured as a football player and as a young man," Alexander said. "He was a very young quarterback last year, a sophomore, and he's a junior this year, and he's developed that sense of maturity just keeping his focus and setting the tone for the rest of the kids and trying to be more vocal about it as now a junior this year. He's trying to speak out and lead in that way as well. He's done a great job with it. He really has."