The Beacon learned earlier this week that Roswell High School starting quarterback, Brian Hickman (14, pictured above), has quit the team. Hornet head coach Leo Barker confirmed the departure after his team’s practice Tuesday. Barker said that he was disappointed to be losing his senior quarterback, however, the coach chose not to elaborate about the circumstances regarding Hickman’s decision to leave.

Although there was no official reason given for Hickman’s sudden departure, two Beacon correspondents who were at last Friday’s Lassiter-Roswell game, said that the senior signal caller was not happy about being pulled in the fourth quarter of Roswell’s 42-25 loss to the Trojans.

After throwing an interception that was returned for a fourth quarter touchdown, Hickman was pulled in favor of junior J.P. Douglas. The appearance of Douglas wasn’t unusual as Barker had been splitting time between the two quarterbacks all season, with Hickman taking about 75 percent of the snaps.

The two Beacon correspondents at the game both agreed that Hickman looked perturbed by the quarterback change.

Barker’s strategy of playing two quarterbacks has worked out for the team this year as the Hornet’s finished the regular season with a 9-1 record that ended up being good enough for second place in Region 6-AAAAA.

Douglas, who finished the regular season with 384 yards passing and seven touchdown passes, will get his first start of the season this Friday when Roswell hosts Collins Hill in first round playoff action.

Hickman’s senior season will end with this stat line: 936 yards passing, 55 percent completion percentage, nine touchdown passes and only three interceptions.

Hickman's dad Roy, who was a community coach with the program, has also left the team.