Bryan Dorsey back in the mix again at South Kitsap | Prep Football

Knee surgery slowed his progress, but now he’s getting playing time at QB for Wolves

Sometimes, the best-laid plans go awry.

Just ask Bryan Dorsey.

After growing up in the South Kitsap football program and watching as Chip Pierson and Aaron Smothers claimed the starting job when he was a sophomore, followed by Chad Tester last year, Dorsey, now a senior, waited patiently for his opportunity.

It seemed to come during summer workouts and into fall, when coach D.J. Sigurdson anointed him as starting quarterback.

He isn’t sure what happened next. There was the right knee that was too painful to play on. Then surgery to repair torn meniscus. And finally, watching junior Gordy Anderson claim the job he had waited so long for.

That’s not exactly how Dorsey envisioned his senior year, and it was difficult to miss the first two games of the season. But he also knows how to put the injury into perspective.

“I love football and I just want to be back with my teammates,” he said. “Stuff happens. You have to play every down as if it’s your last.”

It’s a mentality that Dorsey learned through life experience. His grandfather, Earl Dorsey, was a state patrolman who died of cancer before he was born. The younger Dorsey hasn’t decided on a college, but plans to pursue criminal justice in hopes of becoming a state patrolman to honor his grandfather — and for the excitement that comes with the job.

“It’s just a guy thing,” he said. “We want the authority and want to be the hero.”

That also fits the description of quarterback — the authority to make an audible when he sees a potential breakdown in the defense; the hero whose pass lofts into a wide receiver’s hands for the game-winning touchdown.

Or helping Anderson to do the same.

Against Gig Harbor and Shelton, both quarterbacks rotated series. Sigurdson, who regularly used two quarterbacks as recently as 2006, said he likes the setup because both Anderson and Dorsey are able to analyze the game from a coaching perspective when they’re on the sideline.

He expects both to communicate their thoughts with each other after every possession.

“They’ve done an exemplary job of that,” Sigurdson said. “For the foreseeable future, that’s how it’s going to be. It’s working well right now.”

Both quarterbacks said they support Sigurdson regardless of the roles they play. They also are complementary of each other’s skills, and spend time together studying game tape and watching TV.

Dorsey said he developed a strong work ethic from his mother, who raised both him and his older sister, 2008 South graduate and Olympic College volleyball player Lauren Dorsey, after their parents divorced.

“My mom has been there for me my whole life,” he said. “She pushes me a lot.”

Janey Dorsey performs administrative duties at Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, but finds time to run routes if her son wants to hone his skills.

Family extends to the football field for Dorsey. In addition to Anderson, he enjoys the camaraderie he’s developed with several teammates.

“We bonded really well,” Dorsey said. “It’s a great group of seniors and we’ve played together for all three years through this system. We’re a big group of brothers.”

As important as that is, Dorsey knows the expectations at South always are high. After setting a state record with 23 consecutive state-playoff appearances, the Wolves advanced to the Class 4A tournament for the first time in five seasons last year.

South started this season with a 3-2 record, and Dorsey knows the team has plenty of work ahead to make it back.

“I’m excited for the rest of the season,” he said. “It’s hard to talk the talk. We have to walk the walk.”

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