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BEMIDJI – Quinten Yeung is relatively new to varsity football.
The Bemidji High School football team’s senior wide receiver toyed with the sport early in his prep career, participating through his sophomore season. But then, he took a break, and was not on the Lumberjacks’ roster last season.
He’s made up for lost time this year, though. Emerging as an early contributor to the offense with a two-touchdown effort in the season opener against Rogers, Yeung has been a steady force for new starting quarterback Peyton Neadeau.
“I played up until sophomore year, but I played different positions,” Yeung said. “And I kind of hit a growth spurt and then started going and lifting weights. So I was like, ‘I might as well join back.’”
His return has given Neadeau a lengthy and speedy offensive complement to star hybrid player Ethan Biehn, helping the Jacks diversify their scoring attack.
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“He's a great athlete,” BHS head coach Bryan Stoffel said of Yeung. “We wish he had another year. I think he's just finding his rhythm as a football player. We're going to try to get him the ball some more and highlight him on offense, as well as what he does on defense.”
Yeung has also played outside linebacker/defensive end for Bemidji, notching a sack against St. Cloud Tech last Friday. Combined with his 51-yard rushing touchdown that got the scoring underway in that game, he has emerged as an integral piece of the puzzle for the Lumberjacks on both sides of the ball.
“He's got the speed to do some damage, and he did a great job tonight,” Stoffel said after that game. “He’s a big guy to tackle.”
In addition to producing on the field, Yeung has enjoyed spending his senior year alongside his classmates, with whom he has continued to strengthen bonds initially forged earlier in his youth.
“It's so fun,” Yeung said. “I mean, it's just all (of us) friends finally. Most of us are seniors and most of us have grown up playing together, and it's just really fun to finally be on the field, back on the field. I really regretted quitting last year.”
Biehn remains the go-to player on offense, demonstrated by his three-TD effort against Buffalo two weeks ago. Having Yeung and other complementary players star in their roles adds to the offense’s complexity, but BHS knows where its best bread is buttered.
“He's our superstar,” Stoffel said of Biehn. “That's what superstars do when the situation is needing a big play. Those kids on your teams are the ones that you’ve got to get the ball to, and they make those big plays. And that's what he's done all year. The only time he doesn't is when I don't give him the ball. So all I got to do is make sure I'm not dumb enough to keep the ball out of his hands.”
Yeung also had high praise for his classmate.
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“Ethan's really our main guy on offense,” Yeung said. “It's so fun watching him just zip around the field. He's so quick and fast. It's just crazy.”
The pairing of Biehn and Yeung will play a key role as the fifth-seeded Jacks (2-6) prepare to open the Section 8-5A Tournament by matching up with fourth-seeded Sartell-St. Stephen (3-5).
Bemidji lost 46-7 to the Sabres in Sartell during Wednesday’s regular season finale, but BHS will get a rematch at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, back in Sartell.
