LAKEVILLE - LaVille High School quarterback Lucas Plummer is going to have stories to tell about the Caston game his senior year for the rest of his life. Plummer, a three-way player, set a pair of records - touchdown passes in a career and longest field goal - in a 36-6 Hoosier North victory at the Comet Crater. He also tied the touchdown passes in a single game record, though he said they were trying for five. The 6' 3" Lancer signal-caller admitted that he was aware that he was close on the career touchdown record. "I knew I was one away (from the school record)," said Plummer. "It felt good that I finally got it. I was a little surprised and excited. "The (coaches) recently put the stat sheet up in the locker room when they realized I was one away. We were actually going for five TD passes in a game, but just ran out of time." Brenton Fish held the former record of career touchdown passes when he tossed 35 from 1993-1996. As for the TD passes in a single game, he is now tied with Tony Yoder, who also threw for four touchdowns against Culver Community on September 4, 1987. LHS defeated the Cavaliers, 42-7. The Lancer QB has helped LaVille continue the recent success that former head coach Will Hostrawser helped establish some 10 years ago now. A bit more than halfway through the 2023 season we asked Plummer how his senior season is going. "The first couple of weeks was a slow start for us," said Plummer. "We are kind of getting in the groove. In the Pioneer game we finally started getting going. Since then it has kind of been on a roll offensively." Plummer has tossed seven touchdown passes in the last three games, sending him to 39 in his career. "Lucas Plummer breaking the record for career passing touchdowns is just a tribute to his consistency up to this point in his 4 year career," explained LaVille head football coach Jeff Kaiser. "That record has been here awhile and I know it means alot to not only him, but his past and present teammates, his coaches and his parents. Lucas should be proud but I will say he wants more!" We had the chance to chat with former LaVille head football coach Will Hostrawser about Plummer. "Lucas Plummer is an outstanding football player," said Hostrawser, who remains the LaVille Athletic Director. "He is willing to do whatever it takes to help our team win. He is an impact player in all 3 phases of the game. He is a quiet lead-by-example type who all other players respect. "I can remember coming back to practice following COVID - Lucas was originally our back-up QB as an incoming freshman. We were implementing a new offensive scheme called the "spin" and the footwork of the QB was vitally important to proper execution for timing purposes. Lucas took right to it and got it down right away. He has a lot of natural ability - and he is coachable - for success, having both those traits is important." Earlier this season, Plummer's backfield mate Cody Allen sat out the Pioneer game due to protocol and Plummer was right there to step up and fill the gap. "We found out that Cody was not going to be available that whole week," Plummer said regarding Pioneer week. "We had to change the game plan. We got other people more involved." That very same Pioneer game was also the week when the LaVille offense went to work to have a more balanced running game and passing game. "Maybe it was a little Cody being out," said Plummer. "And maybe some of us passing a little more would help balance it out - open up the passing game more. I was ready. I was a little more involved in the running, as well." He also knows about missing time due to injury. Last season, Plummer was doing what he does from the quarterback position in the North Judson-San Pierre game. Plummer ran a designed QB keeper against the Blue Jays and injured his shoulder as three NJSP defenders tackled him late in the third quarter. We asked the LaVille quarterback what he learned while missing the final three games of the 2022 season. "I learned how much I enjoyed football and I wanted to be a leader even though I wasn't playing," said Plummer. "I also wanted to help (back up quarterback) Collin (Czarnecki) and the guys out." Ever since an injury at quarterback his freshman season to teammate Aiden Doyle, Plummer has been a mainstay in the LaVille backfield. "It's been fun," said Plummer. "I have learned a lot just having Aiden my freshman year at practice. Also a credit to all the coaches, I have grown a lot since my freshman year. My confidence, my leadership, I feel like last year I was determined to have a year like last year. I'm just trying to repeat last year this year." As our conversation continued, we asked what his most memorable home and road games have been. Plummer responded, "At home my sophomore year we were sectional champions against Pioneer. We weren't expected to win. They beat us in the regular season so we were all really pumped for that one. On the road, I would say at Knox last year . . . that was one of the games toward the end of the season to win the conference. We ended up winning and it was a one-point game." We also talked about a crucial Hoosier North battle against Knox. Both LaVille and Knox are undefeated at 5-0 overall and both teams are unbeaten in HNAC play. The Lancers are 4-0, while the Redskins are 3-0. As we started to close our conversation, we talked about the upcoming Hoosier North game against Knox on September 22, and what he remembers about the Redskins. "Tough," Plummer said with a nod. "Last year it was close (21-20). The last two years we have won by two points (7-6 in 2021). It has always been close. They play hard. They have some big kids, we've watched film. We know this is a big game." Does Plummer think that playing at home is an advantage against Knox? "It definitely does," Plummer said smiling. "Last year there was a big crowd and it was noisy. When it's a big crowd and nosing, the players want to play harder" And as far as kicking the 47-yard field goal to establish a new school record, Plummer had plenty of leg as the ball sailed through the uprights. "It was very exciting," said Plummer to move ahead of Leyton Czarnecki's 46-yard career field goal effort. "I have kicked for a while. I used to play soccer and soccer really helped a lot. Also thanks to coach Roseland." He also attempted a 55-yard field goal with 10:03 left in the second quarter against Caston, but the ball came up a little short. "I know I can kick it from 55 yards," concluded Plummer. "I missed it because I kicked way under it." Hostrawser and the assistant coaches knew back when Plummer was a freshman that they had a gem. "Lucas had never really punted a football until his freshman year," explained Hostrawser. "I think his third punt in practice he "turned one over" (like the pro punters do all the time). So we knew he had tremendous potential. Through guidance and vigorous practice with Coach Roseland, being pushed by our back-up kicker Brandon Nettrouer and assistance from another LaVille kicker - IFCA North All-Star Leyton Czarnecki - Lucas has been able to reach his potential consistently. As one broadcaster put it, "it just sounds different when he kicks the ball. "As a coach, when an offensive drive stalls out between the 30 and 40 yard line, having a kicker with Lucas' ability allows you the ability to still put points on the board. Not many high school teams have that luxury. In tight games, those 3 points can be the difference between winning and losing a game. Coach Roseland is the best special teams coordinator I've ever coached with - his knowledge of the third phase of the game is tremendously valuable. He has a great ability to teach kickers technique - we all see it every Friday night on the field. Since he has come on our staff, we have had all-state kickers as a result - that is no mistake. He and Lucas have a great working relationship and that shows on the playing field." Who knows, maybe he'll get another crack at setting a new field goal record yet this season.