Fans ended the 2024-2025 football season watching senior Demarcus Williams unexpectedly end his season after suffering a torn ACL, passing the role of quarterback, to then-sophomore Kaleb Marshall. Now, Marshall hopes to start the season off right rather than just picking up pieces.
“I just really tried playing the same and (coaches) just kept reassuring me to just play my game,” Marshall said.
Building the Foundation
Marshall started football at Moorhead Junior High. Moorhead coach Jesus Gonzalez said Marshall was driven to succeed, reminiscent of players he’s seen go pro.
“(Marshall reminds me of) a quarterback who is now the backup to the starting quarterback for (the Cleveland Browns), Bailey Zappe,” Gonzalez said. “Kaleb is stubborn; too stubborn to give up and too stubborn to accept defeat.”
As a multi-sport athlete, Marshall developed skills beyond just throwing the ball.
“Basketball helped me with communication,” Marshall said. “Wrestling helped me with the toughness.”
However, no matter whether it was basketball or wrestling, Marshall admits his real passion is in Football.
“(I picked football because of) the teamwork and leadership; the bond with my brothers,” Marshall said.
Marshall attended quarterback camps at The University of Houston and Howard Payne University, along with Caney Creek’s own strength and conditioning camp over the summer. Athletic Director Kendall Hineman said Marshall’s hard work made for an easy choice in selecting him as this year’s starting quarterback.
“He’s done everything necessary to take that next step,”Hineman said. He said the next step, being able to lead the offense, along with him furthering his dream to play in college.
“I felt like it gave me more exposure,” Marshall said. “(It) helped better my skills, better (and) sharpened down.”
Calm in the Chaos
As the deficit became only larger in the season opener against Waller, Marshall never showed outward signs of anxiety despite multiple high snaps and a quick blitz.
One of the biggest showings of this was early on in the 1st quarter, behind the 10 near their own end zone Marshall was in a shotgun formation snapped the ball, and immediately, Waller showed an immediate blitz. However, instead of just falling under the pressure of four lineman running straight for him, Marshall ran through the opening, gaining all the previously lost yards, and a couple more. Hineman noted specifically Marshall’s calmness.
“He’s calm, he’s not hotheaded,” Hineman noted. “To play that position, you have to be mentally strong.”
Marshall and the varsity squad go into their second district matchup against The Woodlands High School Friday, September 26, following their bye-week.
