Late in the first half of a game against the IMG Academy Ascenders, Chandler quarterback Billy Bolger’s season changed dramatically.

Chandler starting quarterback Jacob Conover injured his throwing shoulder and Bolger took over the then No. 1 ranked team in the state.

Chandler fell to the IMG Academy but since then Bolger has compiled a 3-1 record with 789 yards and six touchdowns. The lone loss came to now No. 1 Mountain Pointe, 24-21.

These events have been the light at the end of the tunnel for Bolger.

With the injury to Conover, Bolger was thrown right into the Chandler offense. Coach Shaun Aguano was confident in Bolger’s ability to lead the Wolves. “He (Bolger) understands the offense as good as anybody so we just plugged him in. We told Billy, ‘At any time you need to be ready,’” Aguano said.

On the sideline, Bolger has stepped right into the leadership role that comes with being the starting quarterback. “(He’s) always pushing players on both sides of the ball at practice and in games,” running back Drake Anderson said.

Bolger plans on majoring in engineering or business in hope of starting his own business, while playing football at the next level.

After the change in playing time Bolger’s plans have not changed. “Hopefully this opportunity has made these goals closer to becoming a reality,” Bolger said.

With the new role, Bolger has more film of him playing and hopes this will result in a boost to the number of schools that show interest in him.

Bolger began playing football in sixth grade and became serious about the sport when he was coached at the quarterback position by Ron Reed, a local youth coach in Chandler. His head coach on that team, Galen Flynn, taught him a lot about life and helped him maintain a level head on the field.

Bolger started on the freshman team before fracturing his wrist against arch-rival Hamilton. As a sophomore, he backed up senior quarterback Mason Moran, who now attends Oregon State University as a safety.

Last year as a junior, Bolger was put into the backup role in favor of the then sophomore Conover, who is the second ranked quarterback in Arizona, according to Rivals.com.

Away from the field, Bolger has a 4.67 weighted GPA maintaining straight A’s throughout high school. He is enrolled in four Advanced Placement classes as well as an honors class in addition to football weights.

Jacob Conover was throwing before the last game against Mountain Ridge and could start the next game for the Wolves.

Either way, Bolger has made his impact through half of the season.