Ever since Adrian Combs started playing football with the Montgomery County youth program in third grade, quarterback has been a specialty for him.

“It’s all eyes on you,” the Montgomery County senior said. “I like having the pressure on me. I like making plays.”

So far, Combs is enjoying another strong season as the Wildcats’ quarterback. After four weeks, he scored four touchdowns, including two in the MCHS’ 46-6 win over the South Callaway Bulldogs in a home game on Sept. 19 at Jim Blacklock Field.

Combs scored both of his touchdowns in the second half – a two-yard run with 5:58 left in the third quarter and a nine-yard run with 11:13 to go in the fourth.

“He’s been lights out,” MCHS senior wide receiver Wyatt March said. “He runs the ball good and throws it good. He’s just a great player and a great leader.”

Now, Combs is looking to help the Wildcats celebrate a winning season after going 3-7 last year. MCHS improved to 2-2 with the win over South Callaway and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Mokane school.

“We’re going to keep showing up, keep working hard and we’ll be alright,” Combs said. “I think the best football is ahead of us.”

The Wildcats enjoyed their best performance of the season on both sides of the ball against South Callaway. MCHS scored 50 points in its first three games and nearly matched that total against the Bulldogs. The six points allowed marked a season-low.

“We had a good week of practice,” MCHS coach Matt Smith said. “We ran a lot. We tried to get in shape and we tried to put them into some situations where they got to think and run.”

MCHS will play Van-Far in a Week 5 game at home on Sept. 26. Last year, the Wildcats lost to the Indians 34-7 on the road.

Van-Far improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in Eastern Missouri Conference play with a 40-0 win over Mark Twain on Sept. 19.

The Wildcats snapped a two-game losing streak with the win over South Callaway. MCHS lost its last two games to Monroe City and North Callaway by a combined total of 76-24.

“It’s been tough, but we have a hard working group of guys and we’re not going to give up,” Combs said. “We just want people to keep doubting us and we’re going to come back and show them what we got.”

The Wildcats also got two touchdowns by Chase Queathem and one each by Dallas Hans and Jackson Benney.

MCHS led 32-6 at halftime. It went on to beat South Callaway for the first time since Sept. 18, 2020.

“This is big for the seniors,” March said. “Last year, we didn’t want to be like we were last year. We wanted to have a winning record. We wanted to go out on top. So getting another win is big for us.”

In his first full year as varsity quarterback last fall, Combs threw for 1,932 yards with 15 touchdowns and rushed for 499 yards with six touchdowns. His best performance was in a Week 8 game against Wright City, throwing for 373 yards with a touchdown and rushing for 59 yards with two TDs.

“Last year, I didn’t play as well as I would like, so I got a little bit to prove this year,” Combs said. “I got a little chip on my shoulder and I have to show people what I got.”

Combs began his senior year on Aug. 29 by helping the Wildcats pull off a 26-18 win over Hermann on the road. He scored a 1-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion that broke a 6-6 tie in the second quarter.

Combs has set goals for himself as quarterback for the next five weeks of the season.

“I have to keep working on my footwork, keep making good throws, make good decisions with the football and don’t turn it over,” the senior said.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Combs is playing in his fourth year with the MCHS football team. He is one of 10 seniors on this year’s team. He was one of 18 freshmen on the varsity roster in the 2022 season.

“It’s special,” Combs said. “There’s nothing that beats it. I love these guys to death. I wouldn’t play for anyone else.”