Holly Neher shows why she’s starting at QB for her high school football team
Holly Neher, quarterback for Hollywood Hills (Florida) High School, got her first varsity start Friday night and maybe the first girl to start a varsity high school game at quarterback.
However, Neher is used to firsts. Earlier in the season, she became the first girl in Broward Country, maybe in Florida history, to throw a touchdown pass.
After this historic moment, Neher was featured on several media outlets, including, ESPN, Good Morning America and USA Today.
Neher had another impressive Friday night as starting quarterback. She helped lead the Spartans to a 51-27 victory over the Pompano Beach Golden Tornadoes.
“Like everything else that me and my team has done on the practice field and then coming out here and showing what we could do,” she told the Sun-Sentinel.
Even after Neher's first touchdown pass, a short pass that turned into an 85-yard passing touchdown to receiver Alexander Shelton was called back due to a penalty. Neher didn't let that affect her.
Her coach, Brandon Graham, told the Sun-Sentinel, “No one hung their heads and we kept coming back. It is a really unique quality that she has. You saw that smile and the game is fun to her and that is one of the things you can always expect out of her.”
Neher threw another touchdown pass, this one a 67-yard touchdown connection to Shelton.
Holly’s mother, Paula Neher, told the Miami Herald, "She’s been an inspiration to her sister and now she and maybe other girls out there will start to believe and I think ‘I can do it.’ I think she’s going to bring very positive things to this world."
Perhaps Neher’s inspiration comes from her mother. When she was 7 years old, Paula Neher battled breast cancer.
Neher finished Friday night with five completions and threw for 120 yards, including her touchdown pass to Shelton.
Another great night for Florida football!! @HHHFootballTeam vs Pompano Beach high school! @hnn1215 getting her first high school start at QB pic.twitter.com/MKaP15LhKg
— HHSpartansAthletics (@HHSpartanSports) September 22, 2017