Athlete of the Week: Drew Luidhardt of Eastwood High School

PEMBERVILLE, Ohio — Eastwood senior quarterback Drew Luidhardt had big expectations for his final season until a moment in a preseason scrimmage put everything on pause.

“We just entered the game-like situations, so we go back to defense toward the middle of the scrimmage and going in for a tackle and kind of bounced off his shin and (my forearm) just went numb,” he said. “I didn’t know what to think. I knew it wasn’t good.”

He would soon find out that he had broken his radial bone in his throwing arm.

Head coach Sam Cotterman said the moment was heartbreaking.

“He had just thrown a couple of back shoulder fades to his brother and we were so excited for that connection,” he said. “And then he came up and made a tackle and just a crazy situation. He knew right away.”

Luidhardt had never broken a bone before, but said his arm was clicking back and forth, indicating it was dislodged.

He had surgery the morning after it happened and said doctors initially told him he would be out eight to 10 weeks.

But even though the reality was tough to swallow, Luidhardt never left the field.

“I was chosen as a senior captain on this team over the summer and we put a lot of work in and for me to just get injured and not have the same role or vocal role or not have a role at all. It felt like I was letting my guys down,” he said. “So, I was going to do whatever I could to make sure that we won games and we perform at our highest ability.”

While Luidhardt led from the sidelines and helped out on the Eagles’ scouting team, his younger brother, Brayden, stepped up under center and guided Eastwood to a 4-1 start.

“Especially with him being all-state last year, we knew (Drew) was going to be one of our strengths and one of our leaders,” he said. “But with him going down, we had to find some guys to fill those spots and for me, I knew I had to step up, learn my plays and stay in the playbook.”

Brayden and Cotterman added that Drew helped instill confidence in him while taking over the QB1 spot.

“Them being brothers, Drew was right in his ear the whole time helping him out and Brayden’s already a competitor, it wasn’t like we were throwing some little sophomore in there,” Cotterman said. “Brayden was a starter on the basketball team as a freshman. He played more JV, which I think helped him prepare.

“So that means a lot, but you know, every brother’s going to do that,” he added.

Then came week six and against all odds, still wearing a brace on his arm, Drew returned to action and the Eagles have not lost since.

“He just didn’t miss a beat,” Cotterman said. “From the next week on, he was out here running our scout team until he was released to start throwing. He was as energetic as he ever was and he even helped me with his optimism and his behavior.”

Now with Drew back at quarterback and Brayden catching passes at wide receiver, the Eagles have been rolling.

“It feels great with the connection we have,” Brayden said. “It’s just like playing backyard football when we were younger and just having that connection.”

One injured arm, one brotherly bond, and one big game ahead. The Eagles’ season is far from over, but the heart of their story has already been written.

“Obviously, we do things a little different to try to protect him a little more than what we normally would, but he’s just stepped in,” Cotterman said. “I think the kid that he is and the preparation that he was doing while he was out was a big part of why he stepped in and continued on like he never left.”

The Eagles are undefeated in Northern Buckeye Conference play and will face their greatest test yet: a first-place showdown with the also-unbeaten Genoa Comets.

“We’re super excited for the opportunity to play against Genoa and for the NBC championship and going forward trying to win out and we know we see what’s ahead of us,” Drew said. “We’re just focused week by week and we’re going to hopefully get it done.”