When Columbia’s Dylan Maychack started playing football as a kid, quarterback was not his first option.

“I never actually wanted to. I always wanted to be a running back,” Maychack said. “But my dad influenced me on the quarterback.”

In fact, last year as a junior, he did not begin the season as the signal caller. He went under center only after teammate Chris Carter Jr., suffered a season-ending injury.

“It’s about we and it's about doing what is best for the team to get where we want to go, and our kids have done a really good job keeping that in perspective,” said Jake Preston, head coach for Columbia.

Maychack embraced the opportunity, and led Columbia to the Class A sectional quarterfinals. Now back as a senior and starting quarterback, he has helped guide the Blue Devils to a 4-0 record – their best start in 43 years.

“We’ve been putting in the work. We've been doing more than anyone else has. So it's finally paying off,” said Maychack, who also starts at defensive back.

So far this year, Maychack has completed 60% of his passes for 455 yards and five touchdowns. He has also carried the ball 14 times for nearly 200 rushing yards and two scores.

“The two words I use, I use the word 'competitor' and I use the word 'stubborn,'” said Preston, describing the quarterback. “And I don't mean stubborn in a bad way. He's stubborn in his work ethic. He's stubborn in wanting to be a playmaker and stubborn in wanting to be the best he can be.”

Preston and the Blue Devils will look for their playmaker to continue performing at a high level when they take on rival Averill Park this Friday night at home. The two teams will battle for the Spear-Trident Trophy, which was started a few years ago by Preston and Averill Park head coach Zach Gobel.

“We're really lucky that in our division we have got a couple of geographical rivals,” Gobel said. “Columbia is certainly one of those, and playing for the [Spear-Trident] trophy just kind of jacks that up a little bit. There's no doubt about it.”

“Definitely energetic, definitely want to beat that team,” said Jacob Phelps, a senior running back and defensive back for the Warriors. “So I feel like it adds a little bit more to the game.”

It’s a big opportunity for the Blue Devils to bring the trophy back to Columbia for the first time, and keep the historic season moving forward.

“We're always locked in. We've been we've been doing this since I mean we've been working on this same team since three years ago,” Maychack said.

“Starts up front for us. We built this team around the offensive and defensive lines,” Preston said. “We're fortunate to have some really good athletes around them. But without those guys up front, we can't go make plays. It starts there and then we have to execute.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday on Spectrum News 1.