The way Homewood-Flossmoor junior Karter Nicholson sees things, nerves can’t play a part in being the quarterback.
Nicholson, one of three signal-callers employed by the Vikings this season, is trying to make the most of his opportunity by keeping any jitters out of the equation.
“Nerves are not a factor — it’s execution,” he said. “If you don’t execute, that can cause some nervous energy.”
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Nicholson certainly looked calm Friday night.
He completed 10 of 15 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a TD as H-F closed the regular season with a 49-7 SouthWest Suburban Conference win over host Andrew in Tinley Park.
Doing all his damage in the first half, Nicholson threw a 30-yard TD pass to John Gadson and a 28-yard TD pass to William Jones III as H-F (7-2, 5-2) cruised to a 28-0 halftime lead.
Nicholson didn’t throw a pass in the second half as H-F ran the ball the entire time. Layden Williams ended up with 116 yards and a TD. Theodore Williams added 59 yards and two TDs.
“Our offense knew what we had to do and we got it done,” Layden Williams said. “Now, it’s playoff time.”
Defensively, H-F was also sharp as Zen Cambric came up with an interception and fumble recovery. Adrian Adams chipped in with an interception.
Luke Lewandowski scored the lone TD for Andrew (2-7, 1-4), which missed a chance to guarantee a playoff spot.
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Nicholson, meanwhile, continues to impress. He led a pair of TD drives in the final minutes of a 14-10 win on Sept. 25 over Lincoln-Way West and shared QB duties the next two games.
He had the job all to himself Friday night.
“He has shown the ability that when the pressure is high, he is able to stay calm and make plays,” H-F coach Troy McAllister said of Nicholson. “He has a knack for making a play when the game is on the line.
“Last year with the sophomore team, he had four come-from-behind victories. And that Lincoln-Way West game showed his ability.”
The Vikings head into the playoffs on a four-game winning streak. They have outscored their last three opponents 140-14.
“The O-line is playing way better and we’re seeing the field better now as a team,” Nicholson said of the big difference. “Our receivers know the playbook really well.
“It’s a young receiver corps. It’s a young running back corps. And we are all getting it now.”
Nicholson, who also plays volleyball, started playing football at age 4 with the Chicago Cowboys.
“She threw me into football and I started out as a tight end,” Nicholson said of his mom’s decision to get him going in the sport. “I didn’t become a quarterback until I got into high school.”
H-F will likely have a bye week under the Illinois High School Association’s new playoff format.
A week off is new to McAllister, who consulted with Craig Buzea. The former H-F head coach is now at Crown Point in Indiana and is used to bye weeks.
“It’s unique,” McAllister said. “I picked Buzz’s brain a little bit to see what we can do with our schedule and what we’re looking for. That will help us.
“Obviously, we want to get some rest and make sure everyone is healthy and the bumps and bruises go away. But we also still have to keep them in game shape.”
Likewise, Nicholson can’t wait to get started in the postseason.
“It’s definitely going to be different,” he said. “There are not going to be any pushovers in the playoffs. Everybody wants to win.
“It’s win or go home, but I like the way we are playing right now,”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.