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MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio — Luke Anzlovar’s hamstring “popped” while on vacation this summer, nearly costing him his senior season. Kindall Brown’s knee injury within the first few weeks of that season cost him his final season of high school football at Maple Heights. If that wasn’t enough, the Mustangs also lost senior safety Terence Whittsette from their talented secondary that features at least three future college football players. Injuries could have derailed a season of high hopes at Maple. Instead, Anzlovar is back at quarterback. Brown still can only watch, but the Ohio University recruit remains a presence on the sideline as the Mustangs’ talent, speed and resolve has taken them to the second round of the OHSAA Division III playoffs. “I just think that these guys truly enjoy playing with each other,” coach Shaq Washington said Friday after their 42-33 win at Chardon. “Each time they get to step on the field, they truly love it and embrace it. I think that’s actually what’s been fueling us.” Recommended high school sports stories From backup to breaking records: Nordonia QB Steven Fakult has made a leap for the Knights Nov. 3, 2025, 6:00a.m. OHSAA football playoffs 2025: Second-round pairings for all divisionsNov. 2, 2025, 2:51p.m. Week 11 Game Balls: Top performers from the first round of the OHSAA football playoffsNov. 2, 2025, 1:30p.m. Washington, who won a state championship at Maple as a player before a record-setting college career at Cincinnati, ran plays as the quarterback during practice this summer after Anzlovar’s injury. Most teams could have crumbled with such a setback. Anzlovar threw for 2,451 yards and 33 touchdowns last year while helping Maple to eight wins, his first full season as a starting varsity quarterback after transferring from Lake Catholic. Most of his top receivers were back for this season, including Brown, Erique Robertson and Mike Banks. Had Anzlovar never arrived, Banks likely would have been the quarterback. He played the position in the Cleveland Muny League and as a freshman at Padua. So, when Washington sought a replacement, he had one in Banks. “He meant a lot,” Washington said. “I think we’ve got a lot of kids that step up and do multiple roles for us, and I think that his willingness to prepare for both roles in all ways steps up to the challenge.” Banks and Anzlovar give Maple (8-3) contrasting styles at quarterback. When Anzlovar steps back there with his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, defenders take a step back expecting a pass. Anzlovar often delivers with a high velocity. When Banks steps in at the position, moving over from his receiver spot, defenders must brace for the run. The 5-8 senior also is capable of passing, which he showed at Chardon with a go-ahead conversion pass to Quenton Rose for the lead in the third quarter. “I’m surprised Mike doesn’t have a whole bunch of offers,” said Rose, who is one of Maple’s leaders at defensive end. “We need Mike.” Anzlovar can attest to that. “His routes are always crisp,” Anzlovar said. “I can trust him to win against any corner in the state. The fact we can put him at quarterback and running back and let him make plays by himself, too, he just does it all for us.” Banks led the Mustangs in rushing for the season and nearly the whole year in passing, until his big receiving game at Chardon allowed Anzlovar to eclipse him in that category. Banks went for 244 yards and three touchdowns on 19 touches, including 160 yards on eight receptions from Anzlovar, who threw for 249 yards. For the year, Banks now 2,131 yards from scrimmage with 26 total TDs between his rushing (806 yards, 10 TDs), receiving (409 yards, five TDs on 22 receptions) and passing (916 yards, 11 TDs). Much of it came while navigating the Mustangs through their first seven games without Anzlovar. “It was pretty easy,” Banks said of reacclimating to quarterback. “We practice it throughout the whole summer because we knew our main quarterback was going to be out.” Anzlovar returned for a Week 8 rivalry win against Bedford. He has thrown for 1,114 yards and 16 TDs in just four games. “Luke is a great quarterback,” Banks said. “I know he’s gonna distribute the ball well to our playmakers, and we’re gonna get the job done.” That job includes keeping Anzlovar upright in his return. Chardon could not get to him for a sack on his 28 pass attempts. Anzlovar did not run, either, instead dumping off the football before any potential scramble brought him to the line of scrimmage. Anzlovar spent much of the summer and fall with his right leg in a brace after that hamstring injury on July 5. He had high hopes after a strong performance in June at the NEO Rising Legends Showcase at John Carroll. “I was very proud of my brothers,” Anzlovar said, “but it’s hard when the game is everything to you. You’re not allowed to play, so it hurts. But I was able to get back on the field, which my doctor said I wouldn’t probably be able to do till the playoffs. I’m just grateful.” Maple’s season has taken a similar path to last year, when it bounced back from a late-season rivalry loss to win on the road in the first round of the playoffs. The Mustangs beat Western Reserve Conference champion Kenston last year after falling to Lorain for the Lake Erie League championship in Week 10. This year, they suffered a Week 9 loss to Garfield Heights — a game that would have been for the LEL title had the league not folded in the spring — before Friday’s trip to Chardon, which happens to be another WRC power. Now they head to Villa Angela-St. Joseph (8-1), the fourth seed in the Region 9 playoffs. The Mustangs can do more with Anzlovar back in the lineup, but Washington said his players’ unselfishness is what could be their most crucial ingredient. “It’s definitely a different dynamic having Luke out there,” Washington said. “His ability to spread the ball to playmakers all over the field from anywhere. We really needed that and got a good thing going.”
