It might seem like Lockport senior Brady Pfeiffer was born to play quarterback.

His father, Jim, was St. Rita’s quarterback in the early 1990s and played against the likes of Mount Carmel’s Donovan McNabb, who became a star in the NFL. Pfeiffer’s older brother Riley was Lockport’s quarterback in fall 2019 and spring 2021. Even his younger brother Conley, a Lockport sophomore, is a quarterback.

“We all were passing the ball all the time since we were younger,” Brady Pfeiffer said. “I feel like we’ve been playing quarterback our whole lives.”

Pfeiffer has been given the keys to the car that is defending Class 8A state champion Lockport’s offense this season, and it has been a wild ride in the first four weeks.

Pfeiffer injured his left shoulder during the Porters’ 28-6 win against Joliet West in the opener. He sat out the second half of that game and Lockport’s 44-10 win against Metea Valley the following week.

“I could have played the next game,” Pfeiffer said. “But the coaches didn’t want to risk anything.”

Then came a 23-22 win against Bradley-Bourbonnais. The Porters trailed 14-3 and rallied in the second half. Pfeiffer’s 37-yard touchdown pass to Hyatt Timosciek with 5:12 left proved to be the winning score.

But on Friday night, the Porters (3-1, 0-1) dug a hole that was too deep in their SouthWest Suburban Blue opener. Homewood-Flossmoor led 27-0 at halftime and won 35-20.

Pfeiffer threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

“We had opportunities the first half, and we just didn’t execute,” he said. “The second half we came out hungry, but it was too little, too late.

“We came out slow in the first half, and we paid for it.”

Pfeiffer said it’s good to have a father who has gone through similar ups and downs.

“It’s nice because he knows what it’s like to play quarterback,” Pfeiffer said. “He likes to give us our space. He steps in once in a while because he’s been through it. But for the most part he lets us do our own thing and trusts the coaches.”

Jim Pfeiffer was an assistant alongside George Czart under coach Bret Kooi when the Porters won 8A state championships in 2002 and 2003. Brady Pfeiffer was a backup quarterback last season, with Czart as coach, so the Pfeiffer family has been part of all three of Lockport’s state titles.

The Porters’ health is a concern in their pursuit of a fourth title. Starting running back Giovani Zarazoga, whose 194 rushing yards led the team through three games, missed the game against Homewood-Flossmoor. His replacement, Aiden Preciado, ran for 118 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter with an injury.

Czart, who noted there were a few drops in the first half Friday, said he likes the team’s passing game with Pfeiffer throwing to Timosciek and Michael Doneske.

“I like everything about him,” Czart said of Pfeiffer. “I like his poise. I like his leadership. I like that he can make plays under pressure.

“And he comes from a good family of quarterbacks.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

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