So much for easing in his returning quarterback.

After sitting out the first four games of the season, recovering from a serious ankle injury incurred in June during the PIAA Class A baseball semifinal game, Carmichaels standout senior quarterback Joby Lapkowicz returned under center for the Mikes for the fifth game of the season.

Lapkowicz got to test his recently healed right ankle, which had six screws and plate inserted into it during the surgery, on his first play of the season. Carmichaels coach Mike Bosnic called an option to the right and Lapkowicz made a read, tucked the ball went outside and ran for 15 yards on his first football play in nearly 11 months.

"I was nervous at first," Lapkowicz admitted. "I said 'If you play not to get hurt, then you are going to get hurt.' After that first play we ran, the option, I felt fine. I wasn't expecting that run, I thought they would ease me into it, so I could get a feel of the game better,but I am happy that they called that run right away.

"I think [Bosnic] probably wanted me to give it to the running back [on the option run], but I read the defender and just kept it."

After a pair of tough non-conference games against Fort Cherry and Chartiers-Houston and then a game against conference leader Beth-Center, the Mikes found themselves 0-3.

They rebounded with a 31-0 win against Mapletown before Lapkowicz's return. The senior quarterback has helped lead a resurgent Carmichaels team to a 3-1 record in the Tri-County South Conference before this past Friday's scheduled game against Geibel.

After four conference games Carmichaels was tied with California and Monessen for second place behind conference unbeaten Beth-Center.

After Lapzkowicz's injury, the initial prognosis for the senior quarterback was that he would not be back to his normal self until November, basically ruling out the final football season of his high school career. Even with what the doctors had said, Bosnic still felt confident that Lapkowicz would find a way to play this season.

In an interview before the start of the season, Bosnic said: "I really don't know when he will be back but if it is up to him, he will be there. He wants to be there for his senior year."

And he has made quite the impact. In his first game back, against Jefferson-Morgan, Lapkowicz competed 15 of 21 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns in a 30-26 win.

Bosnic was surprised at how effective Lapkowicz was in his first game back after taking only limited reps in practice the week before the Jefferson-Morgan game.

"I'm amazed especially at the Jefferson-Morgan game," Bosnic said. "He just stepped into a game like that without getting a lot of reps in practice and played at that level. It meant everything to the other guys on the team seeing how much it meant to Joby to be out there."

In his second game back against California, a team that was previously unbeaten in the conference, Lapkowicz was 11 of 12 for 239 yards and four more passing touchdowns, but he decided the game with his feet. He broke a 34-34 tie with a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He had yet to throw an interception this season after 33 pass attempts.

His favorite targets have been Josh Greene and Bill Hyatt. In two games after Lapkowicz's return, Greene had 10 catches for 247 yards and Hyatt had nine for 162 yards.

Lapkowicz described the rehab as painful, long and tiring but he never gave up hope in playing his final season at Carmichaels. He continued to lift weights while he had a boot around his right ankle and threw footballs while sitting in a chair.

"He is actually playing better [than before his injury]," Bosnic said. "I don't think it has slowed him down at all. He has matured and become a better player."

The Mikes will close the season with an away game at Monessen then the regular-season finale at West Greene. Last season Carmichaels finished 4-2 in the conference before losing to Monaca, 35-12, in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.