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The face of local high school football teams changes every year as students graduate and move on. LaFayette will have a brand new face of the team this season as Kemare Harrington is set to lead the charge. 

Harrington is going to be a junior this season, but he does not have a ton of experience at the high school level. He spent time playing some on defense last season and has also been one of the stars on the junior varsity squad in the past. 

That all changed this summer as Harrington was handed a new role, starting quarterback. He had played quarterback for several years growing up, but he really had no expectation of playing the position. 

“It was surprising because I didn’t even know I would be at quarterback this year,” Harrington said. “I was at safety when I first started playing.” 

Harrington competed with Jordan Johnson for the starting job over the summer and eventually won the position. That is a lot on Harrington’s plate after he did not even spend much time on the field last season in any facet. 

The coaches have been impressed with Harrington’s work ethic and natural leadership qualities this summer. It was his work ethic that allowed Harrington to take the position by the horns and be declared the starter this early in the process. 

“We had to put in all the hard work in the weight room this morning and for the rest of the summer,” Harrington said. “I’ve made my left arm stronger so I can be ready to throw the ball this season.” 

Harrington is still learning how to be a high school quarterback, but he has had a lot of mentorship along the way. Tae Towles led the position last season and has been a mentor to the new quarterback room. 

Towles had to win a quarterback competition last summer to earn the starting job. The team as a whole struggled last season, but Towles flashed his talent in several games. After graduating, Towles has come back to push Harrington and help him through the process. 

“The quarterback from last year, he taught me everything I know,” Harrington said. “I knew he could do it. When he graduated, he came back and pushed me to work harder.” 

The offensive line was one struggle for the Bulldogs last season. The group was fairly young, and the quarterback spent a lot of time scrambling away from pressure. 

Harrington believes that the group has seen a lot of growth mentally and in the weight room. The group has also gravitated to him as the leader of the offense. 

“Our linemen have gotten bigger and stronger,” Harrington said. “The first day in the weight room I told the linemen we had to get stronger.” 

The new face of the football team will be Harrington, but he will not just be making an impact on the gridiron. LaFayette basketball coach Chase Lewis believes that Harrington will be one of the key guys to watch on the hardwood. 

Basketball is a sport that can help football players in many ways. Harrington has seen his conditioning grow in each sport because of the way Lewis pushes the players in every practice. 

“It helps me with my cardio,” Harrington said. “Coach Lewis is a good guy because he pushes us and runs every day to make us mentally tough.” 

As a skill player, Harrington has already built a natural connection with his wide receivers. He and Johnson have already built a connection as the two competed against each other at quarterback. 

JR Robinson has quickly become Harrington’s go-to receiver this offseason, and the two expect to make big plays this season. 

“I’ve built a connection with JR Robinson,” Harrington said. “He just goes and gets the ball when I throw it to him.” 

The past two seasons at LaFayette have not been anything to write home about. The Bulldogs have won just three games and have struggled to find any sort of stability. That being said, the program is not tempering their expectations or goals. 

Harrington has heard the doubters from outside of the program, and he wants to prove them all wrong. He believes that the Bulldogs should be striving towards the goal of winning a state championship. 

“Win every game,” Harrington said. “It’s going to be important because everybody thinks we’re going to lose this season. We’re getting a whole lot better and stronger. My whole team, they believe in me. They think we can win it all.” 

“It takes hard work, conditioning, coaching and you have to be mentally tough,” Harrington added.” 

Harrington grew up in LaFayette and has always loved the program. He wants to make an impact this season in the rivalry game against Lanett. 

There have been several players from LaFayette and surrounding areas to go play football at the next level. Harrington looked up to those guys growing up, and he wants to continue that legacy. 

“The Lanett game, we have to come with it,” Harrington said. “I looked up to Vinay Singh, Joshua Combs, Ty Daniel and Jordan Walker. It inspired me because I have to be great and get to the next level with them.”