Senior Year: Luks helping Souhegan pick up where it left off

Mike Luks has had plenty of others to learn from as a member of the Souhegan High School football team.

There was his older brother, Jameson, who was the starting center as a senior when the Sabers won the Division III championship two years ago.

There was also last year’s quarterback, DJ Petropulous, an all-state performer who helped Souhegan make it back-to-back titles and who Luks backed up for the last two years.

Now a senior, Luks is stepping out of those two big shadows and making a name for himself in what will be his own full season as Souhegan’s starting quarterback. A quarterback since the third grade, Luks has known for a while that this year would be his one shot and when the offseason began, he didn’t hesitate in getting ready.

“It’s meant everything to me since last season ended,” he said. “I lifted all offseason. I did passing scrimmages and I’ve been working really hard with coach (Mike Beliveau). It is my chance and I want to make the most of my one year to do it.”

Luks is off to a great start, completing 60 percent of his passes for 859 yards and seven touchdowns through the first four games of the season.

Included in that total is a record-setting performance at Portsmouth in Week 2, in which Luks set single-game records for Souhegan in pass completions (29), pass attempts (45) and passing yards (403).

“It was really cool,” Luks said. “I had no idea until a few days after it happened. I didn’t think I threw 45 passes, but it just turned out that way. You just keep track of the score. That’s all you can do.”

Until this year, all Luks could do was watch and wait his turn. He got opportunities to play last season, but typically once games were already in well in Souhegan’s favor.

Still, he spent as much time as he could observing what Petropulos was doing on and off the field.

“He had a lot of natural leadership qualities,” Luks said. “Just to see him in front of the team and to see the way he acts on the field helped. I try to be as much of a leader for my teammates, but at the same time have a sense of humor.”

While opposing Division III coaches saw Luks play a year ago, those outside the division, along with a number of fans, were likely surprised at Souhegan’s early success.

“As far as sneaking up on other teams, I think we could be,” Luks said. “We graduated seven or eight college football players. They were a really skilled class, but I think the guys on the roster now just maybe haven’t had the chance to show their potential. We have a lot of good athletes, especially at receiver, which is great for me.”