Inside the Lumberjacks' decision to swap positions at quarterback
Oct. 8—BEMIDJI — Josh Arel got a phone call that changed the trajectory of his football season. The only thing was, he wasn't anywhere near his phone. It was Sunday, Sept. 27, and Arel was busy at a conference when he saw multiple missed calls from Bemidji High School football head coach Kyle McMartin. "Call me when you have a chance," a text read. When Arel called him back, McMartin had a ...
On October 8, Bemidji High School football coach Kyle McMartin made a surprising proposal to junior Josh Arel: would the athletic junior be willing to swap positions with senior quarterback Owen Vandermeer? Arel, who had been serving as one of the Jacks' wide receivers and the backup quarterback, agreed to the switch. The decision came after the offense struggled early in the 2026 season, losing four of their first five games.
McMartin believed that Vandermeer's athleticism would be better utilized as a receiver/running back, while Arel could develop his skills as the starting quarterback, who still had a senior season ahead of him. The move paid off as Arel proved to be calm and efficient under center, going 9-for-13 with 132 passing yards and a touchdown.
Vandermeer also excelled, collecting over 100 total yards on offense, catching a touchdown, and recording an interception while playing safety on defense. Despite a 28-27 victory against Brainerd, the season remained a challenging one for Bemidji, as they had started the year with a 0-5 record. However, the bold decision to swap positions had yielded positive results, and McMartin believed it could change the trajectory of the Lumberjacks' season.
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