When Kolby Solomon pushes open the locker room doors and speeds onto the field — with the lights shining down and a raucous crowd on hand — he’s living the dream.

The Inglemoor High sophomore quarterback looks forward to what’s possible on the Pop Keeney Stadium field — and any gridiron that’s on the docket — when the Vikings prepare for battle with their foes.

His eyes lit up at age 8 and they’re still gleaming these days.

“Ever since I’ve been to one of my first Pop games when I was little, I always wanted to be out there on the field. It looked like the best thing that could ever possibly be — the crowd, the energy, it’s just amazing down there,” said the 5-foot-11, 140-pound signal caller.

Solomon has helped breathe new life into the Vikings’ football scene and at press time, the team gripped onto a 2-1 record in 4A KingCo action and 5-2 overall mark.

“It’s been amazing for the turn-around. It’s also just really fun playing with a great group of guys that know what they’re doing when they go out to play. They never give up. It’s just our mentality,” said Solomon, who got in a bit of varsity playing time during Inglemoor’s one-win season last year.

Solomon gives high praise to the seniors for busting forth with a never-give-up attitude that has been a crucial part of the Viks’ improvement.

He’s young, but also wise beyond his years.

“This year I feel very confident. Going into this year, I got a feel for the speed of the game, how tough our opponents are,” Solomon said. “Coming up as being young, I haven’t thought about it a lot. During the offseason, I’ve been with most of the older guys the entire time and we’ve created a chemistry together.”

The hard-working veterans have placed their trust in Solomon, who noted that they’re reliable in helping make him a better player.

One of those team leaders is senior Quentin Moore, a 6-6, 245-pound tight end, who is one of Solomon’s many sure-handed receivers and scored a pair of touchdowns in the Viks’ epic 42-41 comeback victory over Newport on Oct. 5 at the Pop. In a triumph over North Creek on homecoming night, Moore snagged a pass and hurdled a defender for a huge gain and a thunderous roar from the Inglemoor faithful.

“He’s a great guy for one-on-one matchups, ‘cause of his body size, and he does a lot of damage in open space,” Solomon said of Moore. “Off the field personality wise and on the field, he gets on you when you’re slacking, so he’s like a wake-up call. He’s a great voice for the team.”

Speaking of the Newport game, the Viks rallied from a 20-point deficit with five minutes left in the game to notch the win. Solomon’s individual stats were staggering: three touchdown passes and two scoring runs, and he was 8-of-12 for 141 yards passing and had 14 carries for 130 yards. Receiver Michael Keating tallied on a short pass and rusher Trevor Thurman found the end zone from 5 yards out.

“We all still had hope, no one was down on the sideline. We all still had belief that we could possibly come back and win that game,” Solomon said. “We all told each other, we will do whatever it takes to get down the field, score every time.”

With each touchdown, the Viks clawed the momentum and their hopes rose even higher. Solomon said that victory provided a shot of confidence that can drive the Viks toward further success.

The Reporter asked Solomon a series of questions for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life:

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Watch other good players play.

What do you appreciate most in life?

My friends and teammates in all my sports.

What’s your main goal in life?

Keep getting better.

What’s a special skill that you’d like to learn?

Throw left handed. To be ambidextrous.

What superhero would you like to be?

Captain America.

What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?

The Guest House.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Not having milk in the refrigerator.

What’s something unique about yourself?

I’m not afraid to get hit. I can take a blow, let’s say you have a 220-pound linebacker against me, I am not afraid to run into him (laughs).

Where did you get that confidence from?

From my dad. He’s shown me that I can do more than what I think I can.

What’s your dream vacation spot?

The Bahamas.

Who’s your idol growing up?

Russell Wilson.

What’s your favorite kind of music?

Bush and Nirvana.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

“Remember the Titans.”

What’s your favorite subject in school?

Math.