Fort Walton Beach QB Barnes out for season

FORT WALTON BEACH — One of the area’s storied prep careers has come to a sudden and abrupt end.

Fort Walton Beach senior quarterback Luke Barnes, who earlier this season surpassed former Viking and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel as the school’s all-time career leader in touchdowns and passing yards, has been lost for the season. Barnes suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Friday’s loss to Niceville.

“It’s been pretty tough walking around on crutches,” Barnes said. “I’m just going to try to be a big cheerleader on the sidelines and coach up all the other quarterbacks.”

The injury occurred during the second quarter of Fort Walton Beach’s 36-13 loss to Niceville at Steve Riggs Stadium. After running around the left end of the Vikings’ offensive line for a big gain, Barnes said he suffered the tear while attempting to make a cut to elude a defensive back.

As soon as he hit the turf near the Eagles’ sideline, Barnes, a Troy commitment, knew something was terribly wrong.

“(I thought) this can’t be happening,” Barnes said.

He had only minimal swelling Friday night, but his condition worsened on Saturday. Following a doctor’s visit on Monday, Barnes received the news early Tuesday morning that he had suffered a tear.

“It was really no surprise,” Barnes said. “From the very beginning, that’s what I thought it was going to be.”

Through seven games this season, Barnes passed for 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns, bringing his career totals to 5,801 yards and 51 touchdowns.

Faced with trying to capture a school-record third straight district crown without its most dynamic player and unquestioned leader, Fort Walton Beach coach Mike Owens said his staff would spend the Vikings’ bye week formulating a plan.

“It’s a good thing we have to regroup and kind of refocus,” Owens said. “Offensively we have to revamp what we’ve been doing, get a plan and try to win this next game and try to make the playoffs.”

Fort Walton Beach will turn to current varsity backups William Fowler or Drew Smith, or junior varsity quarterback Ryan Thompson.

Barnes will begin a three-week rehabilitation in which he will try to strengthen his leg before undergoing surgery in an attempt to shorten the amount of recovery time. Although the next several months are expected to be painful, Barnes received assurances from doctors that if rehabbed properly, he can return to full strength sooner rather than later.

“(The doctor) said it will turn out good,” Barnes said. “Just expect a long rehab and I should be just like I was before” the injury.

For now, Barnes said he will turn his attention to rehab and offering his insight to the Vikings’ other quarterbacks.

“I’ve worked with this team so much, we’re basically family,” Barnes said. “You want to see them succeed. Even though you’re not playing with them, you’re still family with them.

“I just want everybody to finish on a good note.”