Spend a few minutes talking with Fountain Hills High School quarterback Luke McDermott, and it becomes clear that the guy plans to play football as long as humanly possible.

He started playing as a youngster and, today, he leads the local squad with record-breaking stats carrying him through the past two seasons.

Playing starting QB for the varsity squad during his junior year in 2013, McDermott had a standout season that resulted in a first team all-state position.

It was deserved, as McDermott managed to finish second in Division IV with 2,630 total passing yards, shattering FHHS’s previous record by nearly 1,000 yards. He also threw for 26 touchdowns in 2013, blowing the previous school record of 15 out of the water.

While all-state honors for the 2014 season are still several weeks away, it’s clear that McDermott has had an equally successful season in 2014.

It was a tough year for the Falcons as a whole, going 5-5 in section play. But a big upset over Blue Ridge last week means that the team is heading to the state tournament.

While the team battled injury and sickness this season, McDermott managed to do his job well from behind the line, finding open receivers and relying on his own two legs when necessary these past few months.

Not including post-season play for this season, McDermott threw the ball for 5,065 in his varsity career, breaking the school record. Depending on how state goes, he may also break his own single season record for total yards.

His passing touchdowns are at 45 in two years, also a school record, with a top completion percentage of .658 for 2013. So far, he’s averaging 243.5 passing yards per game in 2014.

So, McDermott is good. But that’s what happens when you’ve been dedicated to a sport for most of his 17 years.

“My dad introduced me to football and I started playing when I was six,” McDermott said.

“I started playing flag for two years and started tackle when I was eight. I’ve been playing ever since.”

Even before he started playing, McDermott said he was in love with the sport, so it was only natural that he took to it like a falcon to the air.

“I loved watching it, I loved playing it,” McDermott said.

“There’s just something about it. I do like the contact aspect of it, but I also like how it’s such a team sport, and everybody has to be on the same page to make sure that everything works out.”

McDermott said that the sense of camaraderie is another big draw for him, as he’s made many lasting friendships out on the gridiron.

Starting his football career at running back, McDermott suffered his first and only major injury back in Pop Warner, when he was nine.

“I lost the end of my left pinkie,” McDermott said, showing off the now-healed finger.

“It was during our second to last game and I was on a run. Falling down, my finger got stuck in a helmet and it ripped off.”

But even that didn’t slow down a young McDermott.

Finger re-attached and bandages wrapped around his hand, the running back returned to the field two weeks later to score three touchdowns in the post-season bowl game.

McDermott finally made the transition to quarterback in the seventh grade and, since then, has not lost any more limbs out on the field.

“We needed a quarterback and our coach decided to try me out at the position,” he added.

“I loved it, so I stuck with it.”

McDermott played QB for the Falcons at the JV level during part of his freshman year, moving on to full time at the position as a sophomore.

“Junior year is when I really started to pick it up, which is when I started breaking records and everything,” McDermott added.

“I moved up to varsity during sophomore years as a backup, but I took over as a junior.”

Looking back over his career, McDermott said that one of his best memories came during the end of his freshman year.

Down by two touchdowns, McDermott was sent in to play the second half, helping lead the Falcons to a come-from-behind victory.

“That was also our first win of the season, so it’s a good memory. My first varsity touchdown was also a great memory.”

Looking ahead, though, it’s no surprise that McDermott’s mindset still revolves around football.

“Right now, I’m weighing options and seeing what happens,” he said.

“Hopefully I’ll get an offer to play. That’s what I want to do. I’m also looking to go into sports management or, if that’s not offered, go into business and then transition into sports management later.”