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Quality Quarterback: Estevan Elec Andrew Kehler's Award-Winning Career

Carlyle's Andrew Kehler is closing out his high school football career with an award-winning season, even though his team- the Estevan Elecs- had what coach Mark Schott calls “a disappointing season,” finishing at the bottom of the Moose Jaw High Sch
Andrew Kehler

            Carlyle's Andrew Kehler is closing out his high school football career with an award-winning season, even though his team- the Estevan Elecs- had what coach Mark Schott calls “a disappointing season,” finishing at the bottom of the Moose Jaw High School Football League.

            Kehler- one of the Elecs' captains- was a bright spot during a challenging year for the team, according to Coach Schott.

            “Andrew just finished up a terrific season and career for the ECS (Estevan Comprehensive School) Elecs,” says Schott.

            Kehler ended the season with the Elecs' Most Valuable Player award and Special Teams Player of the Year award, along with the award for MJHSFL's league passing leader.

            Quarterback Kehler also led the MJHSFL in completions and passing yardage with 96/169 for 56.8% and 1,600 yards. He also earned the third largest single season passing yardage total in league history (1,600 yards) and the second highest career passing yardage total (3,523 yards) in league history.

            Kehler earned a spot on the MJHSFL's Individual Category Leaders List with his 2016 passing yardage and as a punter, he earned 4th in the league, with 31 punts for 982 yards (31.68 yards per punt).

            The grade 12 student at Carlyle's Gordon F. Kells High School first began playing football in Estevan in junior high. “In grade seven, I wanted to play football,” says Kehler. “A bunch of us from Carlyle went to Estevan and from there, I worked my way through the system.”

            In Kehler's inaugural season, while playing for the Estevan Miners, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player. From there, he played for the Estevan Chargers and the Estevan Steelers, before joining the Elecs when he was in grade 10.

            Wearing jersey #9, Kehler was soon switched from receiver to quarterback, a position he has held throughout his career with the Elecs.

            “Andrew joined our team during his grade 10 year, our 2014 season,” says Schott. “In his first game, he played receiver but then was switched to quarterback for the following game and has stayed there since. He has been the leader of our offence since he became our quarterback and was very effective at moving the ball through the air for us over his three-year career.”

            “I found out that I was moving from receiver to quarterback through a text from my coach,” says Kehler. “We had a quarterback who was om grade 12 and I was only in grade 10 then, so I did feel pressure. But by grade 11, I started to relax into the role. I wasn't a receiver for very long-only once- but being a quarterback means getting hit and having a bunch of people in your face all the time. I love the sport, so the practice schedule isn't burdensome to me. Nothing about football is.”

            As a high school player, Kehler also experienced a taste of football fervour in the U.S., when- as a member of the South Sask Selects- he played two years at a tournament in San Antonio, Texas.

            “In 2013 and 2014, we went down there and played against some of the best teams in Texas,” he says. “In our first year- 2013- we had no wins and in our second year, we came in second-place, behind the Alamo City Red Raiders.”

            “In Estevan, we practice at the school and play at Woodlawn Park,” says Kehler. “We get about 200 people at a game. In San Antonio, we played at a really huge high school field and the crowds were really big.”

            “We practiced in Moose Jaw, prior to going to the U.S. and we were from different places in the province, so we didn't practice every day. We practiced about 10 times as a team before we went to the U.S., but once we  were there, we practiced every day. It was a great experience.”

            Kehler says that a few other memories are stand-outs for him during his tenure playing for the Elecs.

            “We were playing the (Moose Jaw) Central Cyclones,” says Kehler. “It was my first year playing quarterback and we had a game that went into overtime. We lost by two points in the end. That would have been my first win as a high school quartberback.”

            “During our second game this season- also in Moose Jaw- they put me in defence for one play and got a quarterback sacked. That was pretty remarkable.”

            “What I learned is that you just keep looking forward after a game,” adds Kehler. “You never give up.”

            “There have been few other quarterbacks in the history of the Moose Jaw High School Football League that have moved the ball as effectively as Andrew did over his tenure as quarterback,” says Schott. “As evidenced by the fact that he sits second on the league's all-time career passing yardage list.”

            “Halfway through the season, Andrew also began punting for us and continued to do so this year. He did a great job helping us in the field position battle with his great punts,” adds the coach. “Andrew also spent some time playing outside linebacker this year in a couple of games and even had some tackles and a quarterback sack!”

            “Andrew was extremely dedicated and committed to the (football) program,” adds Schott. “He rarely missed practice despite travelling from Carlyle. We're really appreciative of Andrew and his family for the commitment that they have shown and for being great supporters of our team.”

            “Football taught me to be a leader,” says Kehler. “I learned integrity by staying with the organization and not missing practices, for example.”

            “Football's been my focus,” he adds. “In Estevan, it's a pretty tight team and we've all become pretty good buddies.”

            Although Kehler is now looking forward to a post secondary career with an aim to study computer science he encourages potential players to play football.

            “For smalltown guys who might not have a local team, there are still opportunities to play football,” he says. “I'd like to thank Estevan for giving me the opportunity to play for them, since I was an out-of-town player. The awards mean a lot to me and it is a great honour to receive them.”

            “It's an awesome sport.”