Quarterback's Helmet Will Travel Despite Injury

senior quarterback James Beekley won’t take another snap this season.

Beekley, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during a 35-14 over Branham, nevertheless remains an integral part of the Cherokees season.

His teammates are making sure of it.

Thanks to a vocal teammate who called it his coaching staff during a team meeting last week, Beekley’s helmet goes everywhere the team goes, whether Beekley actually travels with the team or not.

The Sequoia program has instituted a weekly ritual of awarding stickers to players who make contributions to victories, and when senior running back/linebacker Josh Lauese noticed that Beekley’s helmet was nowhere to be found before the Cherokees took the field before a nonleague road game against Pinole Valley, he spoke up.

“James is a big part of our team,” Lauese said of why he demanded that Beekley’s helmet remain part of the team’s rituals.

“Part of him should go with us.”

Beekley, a 6-foot-4 205-pounder who last year helped engineer one of in recent Peninsula football history, has since attracted the interest of several Div. I programs including San Jose State.

He hopes to join his teammates on an annual college-style road trip after undergoing reconstructive surgery to repair a torn ACL on Thursday.

But either way, Beekley remains a team captain.

And his helmet goes to Oregon.

Beekley last season threw for 1,144 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the perennial doormats to the Central Coast Section Div. II finals. He faces some tough rehab, and will likely have to walk on or go the JC route to play at a Div. I college.

Beekley has demonstrated some impressive resiliency throughout his Sequoia career, rebounding from a knee injury that sidelined him for most of his sophomore year.

“I think he’ll bounce back,” Poulos said.

Poulos said it was by his teammates’ request that he retain his captainship throughout the season, something which he says speaks volumes about the type of player Beekley is.

“Here’s a kid who’s a potential Div. I athlete quarterback, sometimes those kids are a pain in the butt, they start to feel like they’re entitled and that kind of thing, but he’s the complete opposite,” Poulos said. “He’s the first guy (at practice) every day and the last guy to leave, always working hard and never making a special demand.”

Beekley has never been above running every rep on scout teams – assignments that are often relegated to backups – and has mentored some of the team’s up and coming quarterbacks along the way.

Junior quarterback Mike Taylor, who’s worked under Beekley’s wing, was instrumental in leading the Cherokees to a 28-17 victory over Pinole Valley in his first start since taking for taking over the starting job.

“He’s a significant part of the program,” Poulos said of why the symbolism surrounding carrying Beekley’s helmet this season is important.

The Oregon trip is an integral part of the team-building that Poulos has instituted at Sequoia. Last season, the team traveled to San Diego County to play San Marcos High.

This year’s trip includes a stop off in Sacramento on the way back to watch Saturday’s Sacramento State game against Montana.

“We want to give them a taste of what it’s like to be a college football player,” Poulos said.

“Ninety five percent of the kids are never going to play college ball, so this is a chance to see what it’s like and for them to get a feel for it.

“That helmet becomes a visualization of that. We want to have it wherever we go now. His helmet will be making the trip to Oregon, and hopefully his helmet will be making the trip depending on how he feels.”

Related Topics: James Beekly quarterback injury, Sequoia High School football, and traveling helmet Did you make it to the Branham game?