Maybe anonymity is not such a bad thing for the football program at Timber Creek High School. Once fashionable picks to make noise among the local scene, the Wolves have been largely overlooked entering the 2009 season.

But that might actually be the best thing for them. On Friday night they entered the season opener at Freedom High School considered the night’s likely upset victim by some. Throughout the game they wore that badge like it might be the last time they’d ever take the field in a rousing 31-6 win.

Senior quarterback Tyler Marincov was nearly perfect through less than three quarters of work.

TCHS senior quarterback Tyler Marincov (Photo by Scott McCall)

“He threw the ball really well out there,” said Timber Creek Head Coach Jimmy Buckridge of his senior signal caller. “This is only one game. But he made some good decisions tonight.”

So much so that he started the night perfect on his first eight passes, two of which went for touchdown strikes of 17 and 33 yards. He would finish the night going 13 of 18 for 186 yards and three touchdowns.

Factor in just how precise his throws were delivered, and the four dropped passes by his receivers, and the night had all the makings of a career-best day for any TCHS quarterback. That was before he was pulled after taking a hard shot by a Freedom defender.

If this one outing is any indication, the maturation of Marincov has proven to be on the upswing as his calmness and confidence continues to build.

“Every year the game kind of slows down a little bit,” said Marincov. “You get older, you get stronger, you get bigger, and it makes it a little easier.”

The tall task for such a reserved individual such as himself is to carry an offensive unit that features the three-year starting quarterback as the only returning piece from last year’s district championship team.

On Friday night Timber Creek’s offensive line gave Marincov plenty of time to operate, while a shifty Isiah Bolden maneuvered his way around defenders from out of the backfield and seven different receivers hauled in passes.

TCHS wide receiver Kyle Plaugher (Photo by Scott McCall)

Marincov hooked up with Kyle Plaugher four times for 71 yards (2 TDs) and Jalil Byrd four times for 33 yards (1 TD) in the win.

“It’s been real easy to get moved along with these guys because we have such a good bond and we all trust each other,” said Marincov of his new surrounding cast.

Those new starters alongside him likely helped catapult Marincov, who is also an exceptional talent in baseball, into the discussion among the many other quarterbacks being talked about around the area this high school football season.

They have also been thrust into the position of helping a senior class take care of some unfinished business at TCHS should they advance to the postseason.

“We want to move forward every year,” said Marincov. “We got knocked out the past couple years in the first round and it kind of leaves a bitter taste in my mouth and I want to get rid of that. Our goal is to not just win one but win a couple playoff games this year.”