TRUE STUDENT-ATHLETE—In addition to his role as quarterback for the Grace Brethren football team, Max Leffler will serve as junior vice president this year. He carries a 4.1 grade-point average. Max Leffler is making a big change, transitioning from top receiver to starting quarterback.

The Grace Brethren football team hopes that’s a good thing.

A year ago, Leffler led the Lancers with 694 yards at wide receiver.

This season, the junior-to-be will serve as Grace Brethren’s new leader behind center.

“I just need to step up and lead the team,” Leffler said.

The 6foot2, 195pound quarterback is replacing Kevin Ramay, who graduated in the spring. Ramay led the potent Grace Brethren offense with 2,922 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions in 2008.

Head coach Terry Gourley, the players and the entire school believe in Leffler.

LET IT RIP—Quarterback Max Leffler replaces Kevin Ramay at GBHS. “Ramay was a better student of the game of football overall, but Max is a great athlete,” Gourley said. “I don’t think we’re going to miss anything.

“I think we’re right where we want to be on offense. With our receiving corps, I think he’s going to have a tremendous amount of success.”

Middle linebacker Jesse Buel, who lifted weights with Leffler in the school workout room on Monday, also thinks highly of the Lancers’ new leader.

“He’s the best teammate to have,” said Buel, who will also play right tackle.

“If you have something going on, he’s there to pick you up and give you wisdom and advice. He’s a good friend.”

Buel said he thinks Leffler, 17, has transitioned well to his new position.

“He’ll pick it up easily,” the middle linebacker said. “He can run and throw a spiral for 50 yards. He’s quite the athlete. And he’s a big guy, so he’s tough to take down.”

Buel recalled how Leffler dragged four Fillmore defenders after a catch, astounding teammates on the sidelines during a November 2008 game.

Leffler, who also starts at safety, said the key to leading Grace Brethren will be maintaining his composure after a bad series or a turnover.

“It’s about attitude,” the righthanded gunslinger said.

The senior-to-be has grasped the spread offense with a promising summer.

Grace Brethren went 8-2 in passing tournaments, with losses to Westlake and Agoura, but victories against Simi Valley, Newbury Park and Calabasas.

Gourley said Leffler had a strong summer because he played within the offensive system.

“The offense is designed for a guy who knows what he wants and has the physical ability to do it,” the coach said.

“His willingness to follow the system and not try to be the hero on every play is critical.”

Leffler, who calls the offense exciting and explosive, said he will have 1.8 seconds to throw the ball out of the pocket or roll out and run or pitch the ball to a runner.

Leffler is looking forward to throwing to receivers Conner Adlhoch, Jack Gilliland, Quinn Ellis and Blake Schafer, who is also the backup quarterback.

Schafer’s twin brother, Pat, is a running back.

Life in the pocket hasn’t always been easy.

The quarterback was thrown into the fire early in his career. Leffler made an emergency start against Oak Park as a freshman.

“I was not very good,” he said. “It was one of the worst experiences ever.”

In the first quarter, Leffler was sacked four times and had one fumble, he said. Oak Park’s Sean Westgate, now a linebacker at UCLA, blitzed every time from the secondary.

“It was awful,” Leffler said. “But you have to have at least a couple bad experiences before you go out there. Now, I’ll be used to it.

“Last year was better. Hopefully this year will be 10 times better.”

The quarterback is one of four Lancers who’ve been deemed Knights, the equivalent of team captains. The other Knights are linebacker Deacon Dobbs, center/ defensive end Michael Spafford and Buel.

Leffler, who has played hockey since he was 8, won a Western regional championship with the U-16 California Heat ice hockey team as the club’s topnotch goalie last year.

“The Lord has blessed him with an abundance of athletic ability,” said Leffler’s father, Larry. “He handles it very well. He needs to learn how to be a leader.”

Leffler, who carries a 4.1 grade-point average, is Grace Brethren’s incoming junior class vice president. Leffler’s mother is Kathy, and his older brother, Sam, graduated GBHS in 2007.

Sam Leffler played center for the Lancers.

The quarterback relishes his new role with Grace Brethren.

“I like the pressure and being the guy,” he said. “I can’t be the guy without the offensive line or people catching.

“Either everyone hates you or loves you. You’re either the hero or the goat.”

Leffler also puts football in perspective.

“I’m going to give it my best,” he said. “It’s mostly about having fun. I definitely want to go out to win. But if you’re not having fun, there’s no point to it.”