By VYPE Media's Amanda Lattimer

Smithson Valley senior quarterback Luke Gombert is officially on the field, after growing up with the Rangers since his childhood. He made it clear when he was just four years old that he wanted to play quarterback when he was older, and wanted to be just like Colt McCoy after he watched him.

Gombert has been no stranger to the Smithson Valley Rangers. With his mom, Liana Tyler, being the school's former volleyball coach and the current Comal ISD athletic director, he watched every play from the field as a ball boy. He still remembers every quarterback that has played for the team and even had a few secret handshakes with some of the star players, like Garrett Smith, a former player and current graduate assistant at The University of Louisiana Monroe.

Patience was key for Gombert. After watching current Wyoming quarterback Levi Williams lead Smithson Valley in 2018, he left it all out on the Rangers' field last year and knew it was his time.

"I was just ready," said Gombert. "It was just the time. Last year, I played on special teams and I did what I could for the team and I supported Levi and I got in and played when I could."

This season, the 3-2 Rangers hope to keep winning until the playoffs. Gombert said he is confident in the team and its brotherhood has been stronger this year.

"This year, it's different, he said. "You can feel it. We're always doing stuff together and we are always supportive."

As far as the college recruitment process goes, Gombert has kept in touch with several schools and plans to use this season to show colleges what he's got.

"This year is my year to show myself," he said.

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