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11/17/2021 11:00 PMWhen it comes to impact players on the Haddam- Killingworth football team, junior Tate Callender is at the top of that list. Tate, a junior, has been making some big plays as a quarterback, wide receiver, and a defensive back for the Cougars during the 2021 season.
Tate missed a few games at the beginning of the year due to an injury, but has been quite effective since returning. In four games of action, Tate has put up 150 passing yards and 70 rushing yards to go with 16 receptions for 170 yards, while throwing for a touchdown and rushing for a touchdown. On defense, Tate has made 20 tackles to go with one forced fumble and an interception for H-K.
“It was tough missing games, not being able to help out the team out the beginning of the year,” says Tate. “Returning was very scary, but once I started playing again, all my doubting thoughts diminished.”
Tate started playing football when he was seven years old. Tate’s brothers played the sport and loved it, so he decided to try it out. While he loves all aspects of the sport, Tate’s favorite aspect of football is competing on offense and having the ability to score a touchdown at any given time.
“I love it on offense when you have momentum and your team is driving it down the field. There is no better feeling when you end it with a score,” Tate says. “Hearing the crowd cheer for the team and amping everyone up motivates me to play well and help lead the team any way I can.”
Tate and several of his current H-K teammates have been playing football together since the youth level. Tate fondly remembers when his youth team won its league championship in his 7th-grade season.
“In youth, we went undefeated when we were on the B squad in 7th grade,” says Tate. “A core group of us are currently playing for H-K. We want to continue that success we had in youth up here at the high school level.”
Although H-K only has two wins thus far, Tate feels happy that the Cougars are playing football this year after seeing the 2020 season get canceled due to COVID-19. It means a lot to Tate that H-K’s seniors get to play their final campaigns in a Cougars’ uniform.
“I was worried about the seniors not being able to play their last year. I wasn’t worried about my personal wellbeing, but I understood the impact it had on the lost season,” Tate says. “Our team was affected by it earlier this season, and it’s something teams still have to prepare for throughout this year. Unfortunately, it hasn’t gone away, but hopefully, individuals are taking the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe.”
First-year Head Coach Tyler Wilcox views Tate as an impact player on both sides of the ball for H-K. Wilcox acknowledges how Tate’s absence was detrimental to the team after the junior got injured, but he’s glad to see Tate back in action for the home stretch of the season.
“Tate started the year at quarterback and accumulated 125 yards of offense in the first quarter against Old Saybrook-Westbrook, but broke his wrist and missed the following six weeks. With injuries to a few of our starting wide receivers, he stepped up and filled the void upon his return. He is currently leading the team in receptions,” says Wilcox. “Tate is a team player in every regard and is willing to do whatever is needed of him. The players rally around him, and he’s one of the leaders on our team.”
In addition to playing football, Tate is also a member of the H-K boys’ basketball team. As the winter season draws closer, Tate wants to finish the football season by helping the Cougars claim victory in their last two games of the campaign.
“We won’t be able to get back to .500, but we need to go 1-0 every week. That’s always the goal,” Tate says. “That is our only expectation for the rest of the season. We just want to play hard and have fun.”