Cruel, cruel summer

For the third time in four years, senior Tygue Howland’s football season is over before it has hardly begun. On Monday afternoon, Howland suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, ending his season.

Howland’s previous season-ending injuries include a broken bone in his foot and the same torn ligament in his left knee. He came back from these injuries last season to share starting quarterback duties with then sophomore Drew Hubel.

If he can continue to be resilient and bounce back from his injuries like he has done in the past, Howland may be able to play for the Vikings again next year, pending approval from the NCAA. Anyone who has seen his beautifully thrown spiral can’t help but cross his or her fingers that he is able to do so.

Howland was projected to be the back-up quarterback behind Hubel for this upcoming season. In his absence, the Vikings coaching staff will be looking for sophomores Connor Kavanaugh and Nick Green to fill the void.

The Vikings are seeking to improve upon their 4-7 overall mark from last year, but now they will have to do it without a solid piece of their offense.