Let’s rewind time back to the beginning of camp for the Lindenwood Lion football team and the one question that was on everybody’s mind, who is going to take over for all-conference quarterback Ben Kisner?
Kisner, was a four year starter under center and rewrote the Lindenwood record books. So the incoming quarterback had some big shoes to fill, running the Lindenwood spread offense that piled up the points in 2008.
Enter junior college transfer,
Philip Staback who came to St. Charles from San Diego Mesa Junior College. During his time at Mesa Junior College he compiled 2,166 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Even though the Lindenwood offense was one of the most prolific in NAIA history, late in the summer head coach Patrick Ross still wasn’t sure who was going to take over.
“Late in the summer we as coaches were looking at each other asking what we were going to do because Phil hadn’t stepped up yet and taken the position,” coach Ross said. “Phil and David Ortega were neck and neck and back and forth and we weren’t sure what was going to happen in that first game. We finally got to the Wash U scrimmage and I kind of figured Phil just needed a chance to make some plays in live situations and grow from there. The further he goes in this offense you can see how comfortable he is.”
After Staback played well in live action he was given the reigns to the Lion offense and from game one he led them like he had been in the offense for years.
Making his first start as the Lindenwood signal caller he threw for over 200 yards and three touchdowns in a Lindenwood win over Evangel. Not a bad way to start off his Lion career.
“There was definitely a lot of pressure going in to that game just because I have to compete with Ben’s legacy and that’s how it was for the first couple of games,” the junior quarterback said. “I just had to go out and prove myself and everybody helped me get comfortable.”
Staback would throw at least one touchdown in every single game in 2009 and threw at least three in nine games. The junior from Oceanside, California would go onto set the school record for touchdown passes with 34, which was set a year ago by Kisner.
“Is good as this offense is having a good o-line, good receivers and a good running back, I really don’t think it is me in particular,” Staback said about the records he has broken. “The o-line blocking and the receivers catching passes just makes me look good. The records are nice but I owe a lot of it to the rest of the offense.”
Not only can Staback hurt you with his arm, he can run the ball and hurt you on the ground. On the year he compiled 225 yards rushing and six scores and would make numerous plays escaping sacks, then turning them into scores or big gains.
“I love having the ball in my hands that is just the type of person I am,” the Oceanside, California native said. “In all the reads we have sometimes I forget that the running backs are better runners than me but sometimes I think I can outrun the defense and just keep it myself.”
Since the opening game of the season the team has hopped on Phil’s back and he has taken them to the promise land.
“When I refer to Phil, I refer to him as a warrior, he is so tough out there on the field,” Ross said. “When you have a quarterback out there on the field that has that toughness factor it is easy for a team to follow him.”
Fast forward to today and Staback has written his own chapter in Lindenwod football history and when Staback graduates after next season, the incoming quarterback will also have big shoes to fill.