Having played quarterback for 10 years, Homewood-Flossmoor senior Cameron Oglesby knows the position gets put under the spotlight like no other.
He’s seen the good and bad of that. After the Vikings had their streak of 10 straight playoff appearances end last year in a 4-5 season, Oglesby is looking for redemption.
“Playing quarterback has shown me through every adversity I’ve gone through in my life,” Oglesby said. “As the quarterback, you’re going to get all the credit. You’re going to get the most blame.
“You just have to stay focused on winning the game and take it one step at a time.”
Oglesby admitted he felt some of the blame thrown on his shoulders for last year. It was just more reason to work hard to prepare for his senior season.
“I felt it, but I don’t let that stuff bother me,” he said. “I try to brush it off and focus on this season.”
Oglesby sees one big reason why he will have more success this fall and why he is ready to lead H-F back to the postseason.
“It’s my growth in confidence,” he said. “Sometimes, I make mental mistakes and I’m working on that, but when I’m rolling, I’m rolling and can’t nobody stop us.”
Oglesby was certainly rolling Saturday in the Vikings’ 53-12 rout of Cahokia.
He completed 11 of 14 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for two TDs.
All his skills were on display — in the air and on the ground.
“I love to be the guy who can throw, run,” Oglesby said. “When I’ve got the O-line blocking for me and receivers blocking for me, I can make good things happen.”
The Vikings (1-1) bounced back from a 40-21 season-opening loss at Naperville North.
“This was big because we felt coming in that (Cahokia) was a very good team and we still think that,” H-F coach Terrell Alexander said. “But we came in and we persevered and we got a bit of a gauge of where we are.
“We’re not where we want to be but we’re making progress. We’re not a bad football team.”
Alexander sees a more confident quarterback this season in Oglesby.
“When the O-line can give Cam that comfortability to make reads and make plays, that’s huge,” Alexander said. “He doesn’t have to rush out of the pocket. When he gets out of the pocket now, you can see it’s more calculated.
“Cam’s been poised all summer. We’re happy with how he’s been doing, and he’s going to keep improving. That’s just the kind of kid he is.”
Oglesby has been honing his craft at quarterback since he was 6 years old.
“I’ve played quarterback my whole life, from Little League to now,” he said. “I still remember my first day, I didn’t want to go out there. I wanted to quit. My mom called my dad and he told me, ‘Go back out there and try it.’
“I’ve loved it ever since.”
Two of Oglesby’s TD passes Saturday went to fellow senior John Gore, including a 90-yarder that sparked the Vikings’ offense after a scoreless first quarter.
H-F scored 26 points in the second quarter.
“Cameron is slinging it,” Gore said. “The first practice of summer camp, I saw him throwing it like 60, 70 yards down the field and I was like, ‘Whoa.’ I believe in him. We believe in ourselves and each other.”
That sense of belief means everything to Oglesby.
“I just trust the system,” Oglesby said. “My O-line, my teammates, my coaches, the Homewood and Flossmoor communities — when they come behind you, it feels good. We just have to all lock in.
“We’re good now. We’re rolling.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.