Telegraph file photo by TOM KING HB's Marc-Andre Thermitus will be a player to watch in tonight's Division II quarterfinal between the Cavs and unbeaten Souhegan Sabers in Amherst.

HOLLIS – Everyone needed patience.

For his part, Hollis Brookline High School football coach Chris Lones had to wait for current Cavaliers senior running back Marc-Andre Thermitus to reach high school age ever since he arrived from Pittsburgh eight years ago.

“I’ve been watching him since he was a fourth grader,” Lones said. “When he first got here, he was playing in the Junior Cavs program, and I was coaching there. I was watching him as he was coming up.

“I knew a long time ago he was going to be special. And he is.”

Thermitus, who will be on display when the 3-2 defending champion Cavaliers return to Amherst to take on 5-0 Souhegan in the Division II quarterfinals at 6:30 tonight, certainly has proven that. He opened eyes rushing for over 800 yards in just five games, including an incredible 318 yard effort in the second game of the season vs. Milford. It’s a testament to the defensive job Souhegan did in the season opener to record a 20-0 win with Thermitus in the HB backfield.

But as a Cavalier, he had to wait his turn to be the key to the offense. Last year the Cavs won the Division II title with the great brother QB-receiver combo of the Wimmer twins.

“We had a much different offense last year,” Thermitus said. “They were a highlight reel, pretty good. We had a good offense, and I wasn’t asked to do as much as I’ve had to do this year. We were a totally different offense, more pass. This year we rush, more responsibility on me and the (offensive) line. I think we’re doing a pretty good job.”

You don’t have to convince Souhegan coach Robin Bowkett.

“Thermitus can take it the distance every time he touches it,” Bowkett said. “You have your hands full with him.”

Thermitus was itching for that chance.

“It’s my last year,” he said, “and I want to prove what I can do.”

He certainly showed that the second game of the season against the Spartans. He never expected to rush for over 300 yards.

“Oh, no, no,” he said. “Even when they told me I was surprised, I didn’t think it was that much. I never think about it when I play. As soon as they told me, I was very surprised.

“I credit the O’line. They block hard, make it easy for me. I just have to make my cuts and see what I can do.”

Thermitus went to a lot of off-season camps over the years, and has special drills in practice to get that quick first step. “We work on getting a fast start,” he said.

Thermitus watches the NFL a lot to try to get some type of tip, anything, to enhance his game. His favorite back ever is the retired Barry Sanders, but currently he’s watching Dallas’ Ezekiel Ellott or Dalvin Cook.

“They always have a fast start, so I try to have a fast start myself,” Thermitus said. “It’s a work in progress, but I think I’m doing pretty well.”

Thermitus arrived on the local scene in the fourth grade when his father got a new job in Massachusetts.

And Lones is glad he did.

“Sometimes he drives me crazy, but he’s a great, great kid,” he said. “We have our moments during the week, but it’s all good. Game day he’s a different kid.”

Game day he’s spectacular.

“He doesn’t get caught from behind,” Lones said. “Deceptively, he’s quick. You watch him and he doesn’t look that fast. But nobody catches him. When he’s outside, he gets the corner, he gets the edge, forget it. Nobody’s catching him.”

Thermitus used to play lacrosse but decided to focus solely on football. He has had his film and info on a recruiting web site for the last couple of weeks and will see what happens.

He hesitated, wondering what his chances would be. “It’s so competitive, you might not get in,” he said. “But since the season’s been going pretty well, I figured I could get in.”

Lones said there’s no doubt Thermitus could play at the next level.

“Oh yes,” Lones said. “It’s just a matter of where. He’s got the grades to go anywhere. We’ll see. Time will tell.”

Just like it did for the time until Thermitus became an HB Cavalier.

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Souhegan had its playoff game with Manchester West cancelled last weekend so the Sabers have had some lag time.

“We’ve actually had a fun and competitive week of practice,” Bowkett said. “The extra days off allowed our players to rest, recharge and get juiced up for the week.

“I feel great about this team. I love these guys.”

And Bowkett knows this won’t be the same Cavs team his Sabers faced in the opener. On that night, Souhegan back Riley Lawhorn rushed for over 200 yards.

“HB is a much improved team since Week One,” he aid. “Defensively, they are tough and make you earn it.”