WEST PALM BEACH – In football, they say if you have two quarterbacks, you have none.
Do not tell that to the Forest Hill Falcons though, because they won’t listen.
Over the course of the season, the Falcons have utilized a two-quarterback system, giving both Dmitry Peters and Miche Estime significant playing time.
The result has been nothing but success for the Falcons.
Forest Hill currently sits at a 5-2 record, riding a five-game winning streak which includes a victory against district foe Park Vista. That win – along with their other wins in the league – has given them a Class 8A-District 8 title following a win over Santaluces.
“It’s just kind of surreal. It’s huge,” said head coach Jim Basford about winning the school’s first district title since 1985. “It’s great for these kids, I’m so proud of them. Proud of our coaching staff. It’s just awesome, man.”
The Falcons started the game against Santaluces with Peters under center, as he quickly led the them down the field for a Melvin Hubbard touchdown.
Peters then finished a drive off himself with a 22-yard touchdown.
“It means a lot,” Peters said about winning the district title. “They haven’t done it in 35 years or something like that, so it means a lot for me to win [the] district title my senior year.”
Peters, however, wasn’t always under center.
Estime also saw significant time at quarterback. Just a sophomore, Estime finished the game with two touchdowns to both Peters and Reggie Workman in the first half.
“It’s automatic,” Estime said about his connection with Peters. “Like that play right there, I knew it was going to him. I just read my safety and just put it on him.”
The touchdown from Estime to Peters was a perfect example of Peters.
Not only does Peters play at center, but he also plays running back and wide receiver. He’s a do-it-all player for Forest Hill and it works.
“He’s very intelligent,” said Basford about Peters’ role. “Most kids, good athlete but you can’t move them around. I could probably put him at a tight end … and he’d be fine. He just knows the offense, he knows all the tags, he’s another coach out on the field.”
Simply put, as Basford explained, you have to know where Peters is on the field at all times.
While the two may play on the field together, Estime and Peters are still, to an extent, tied at the hip. Despite the unique position, there wasn’t any explanation needed for the situation, as both embraced it.
“There was no issue,” Basford explained. “They both want to win, they’re both competitors, they’re both very supportive of each other. They both have their different packages and we rep them both in practice.”
For Peters, it is just more opportunities to get points.
“It’s just more opportunities to move the ball around,” Peters said. “Just be more versatile. Being a versatile player helps out the team. We switch in-and-out, so teams never know what’s going to happen.”
Likewise, Estime has embraced his role.
“I’m totally fine with it,” Estime said. “I’m a young kid, I’m still going to do big things when I get in, that’s the whole point. He’s a senior, we want him to go big places. I’m going to help him do that.”
Even better? The two speak highly of each other.
“It’s been a blessing,” Estime said about playing with Peters. “I feel like I have two blessings, having him as a receiver and as a quarterback, so he can do things. I’m just excited when he gets in. Even when I’m not in, I’m getting lit on the sidelines.”
On Estime, Peters said: “He’s still young but he’s a good player. He knows that he’s disciplined. He knows how to shake off if he makes a bad play. He’s going to be a great player one day.”
With the district title – and Class 8A playoff spot – secured, the Forest Hill Falcons are hoping this system and offense that averages 34.28 points per game can elevate them even further.
