Sophomore QB Rory Funke has helped carry Dexter Southfield (6-2) to a Class A NEPSAC bowl berth, and he’s solely getting higher.
Dexter Southfield coach Casey Day realized Funke’s expertise early on.
“We’ve had a pair different guys in between years, however Rory was a Day 1 starter from the primary day he got here on campus,” stated Day. “He simply had a (sense of) maturity, competitiveness, and actually a sophisticated degree of management for a child who was a freshman in highschool on the time.”
Funke’s dad and mom had been athletes at Boston School. His father, Jerod, was a soccer participant, whereas his mom, Gabrielle, performed a number of sports activities. She starred in area hockey and lacrosse.
Rory’s older brothers are linemen. His oldest sibling, Jack, is a junior offensive sort out at Boston School. Dominic is a dominant senior edge-rusher with Xaverian and has additionally dedicated to BC.
“We’re all several types of athletes,” stated Funke. “I believe it’s additionally simply superb to see their exhausting work and their dedication. It (has) really led me to need to observe of their footsteps, and work exhausting at every little thing.”
Rory selected to be a quarterback. He has racked up 735 yards passing whereas speeding for 639 yards, registering 17 complete touchdowns this season. Day compares his QB to former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL professional Tim Tebow due to his athletic model and skill to scramble for large positive factors when performs break down.
“He simply has these intangibles of all these nice athletes that all of us sit down to observe,” Day stated. “He’s obtained it… He simply does every little thing. You may come to one among our practices, and you’ll see him going about each drill he does with the very same quantity of focus, and a spotlight to element.”
There have been questions as to how Dexter Southfield would possibly carry out within the newly-revamped NEPSAC. Funke took his sport to a brand new degree throughout his sophomore marketing campaign.
He led the Brookline-based faculty to 6 straight wins to open the season. Towards Loomis Chaffee Oct. 18, Funke accomplished 12-of-13 passes for 109 yards. He additionally rushed for 116 yards, ending with three complete touchdowns throughout a 23-10 victory. The win clinched a NEPSAC bowl berth.
The next week, Dexter Southfield fell quick to Avon Previous Farms (29-28). Nonetheless, Funke was nice in opposition to a regional heavyweight, prepared his group again from a 14-0 deficit. He tallied 163 yards passing to go together with 153 yards speeding, with three extra touchdowns.
Funke additionally performs baseball, and goals to play each sports activities collegiately if the chance presents itself at a Div. 1 faculty.
“To place it into quick phrases, I believe the eagerness I convey is basically what separates me,” Funke stated. “I’m a extremely good athlete I believe, however what separates me is how a lot coronary heart I present and the way I lead my group. On the finish of the day, I attempt to do every little thing I can to win. I don’t care in regards to the stats I put up or something. I simply need to win. I believe my teammates respect that, and so they present that very same ardour as effectively.”
