In seventh and eighth grades, Kendrick Washington was a running back who played in the Wildcat formation for the Robbins Cal Park Eagles.

So, when Shepard coach John Rone decided to turn the reigning South Suburban Red Player of the Year into a quarterback, Washington at least had a point of reference.

But this is not quite the same.

“It’s a different level,” he said. “It takes a whole lot of patience. Everything’s not going to be there all of the time. You have to make the right read. You make to make sure you aren’t overlooking anybody. It has really taught me a whole lot about patience.

“The hardest thing is keeping the team in order. They have to know everything is fine no matter what the situation is.”

Shepard was facing a tough situation when Rone made the switch, with the Astros staring down an 0-4 record. While there has been less passing, there has been more winning.

With Washington behind center, Shepard (4-4, 4-1) is undefeated heading into Friday night’s game against Argo (3-5, 1-4). A win would make the Astros playoff eligible.

If Shepard qualifies for the postseason, it will be the Astros’ sixth straight appearance. That would match the program’s run from 1989 to 1994 under Don Webster as coach.

Four consecutive losses to Kankakee, Plainfield East, Lemont and Richards caused Rone to go into playoff mode in the fifth week. Putting Washington in control was key.

“We made the move with him going to quarterback and we haven’t looked back,” Rone said of Washington, who has scored three or more touchdowns in all four games. “I’m proud of what he’s done for the team, and we see no reason for him to not continue to do this.”

Washington said he doesn’t like losing, but he has looked back on each of the first four games as “lessons learned, that’s all.”

He added while the team didn’t let doubts creep into the process when the Astros were 0-4, he realized there were people who doubted him. And that was OK.

“I love proving doubters wrong,” he said. “That gives me the fuel and the fire.”

Most of that fuel and fire has been on the ground. Washington has completed 9 of 15 passes for 192 yards and two TDs. He has rushed for 968 yards and 15 TDs on 121 carries.

Don’t forget special teams and defense, however.

Washington also has produced a TD on an 87-yard kickoff return this season. Defensively, he has a 108-yard interception return for a TD and a 55-yard fumble recovery for another TD.

That gives him a whopping total of 20 TDs in the three phases of the game.

With Washington scoring, Shepard has been winning, defeating Eisenhower, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn and Reavis. It has given the Astros’ morale a big boost.

“The confidence is definitely high right now and the kids have earned the right to be confident,” Rone said. “I love to see it. They are hungry and want to get into the playoffs and see what kind of noise they can make.”

Washington, who has taken an unofficial visit to Northern Illinois and has drawn interest from other Division I schools, is looking forward to the possible chance of playing in the state playoffs.

Last fall, the regular season was postponed to the spring and the Illinois High School Association canceled the playoffs.

“This is very important to me,” Washington said. “This is my senior season, so I want to go out with a bang.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.