Two-year starting quarterback Cole Jacobsen will head into the Thanksgiving Day football game knowing that it will be the final game in his record-breaking varsity career.

The senior led Dartmouth into a 16-game winning streak that stretched back into last season, and only recently ended with a semi-final loss to North Attleboro on November 4. Jacobsen oversaw the team’s 2015 Super Bowl championship win with more than 1,000 rushing yards, 800 throwing yards, and a total of 21 touchdowns.

“He’ll finish his career as the leading rusher for quarterbacks at Dartmouth High School,” said Head Football Coach Rick White. “In that regard he’s put his mark in the history books here.”

For Jacobsen, he couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out his high school football career.

“It’s an awesome achievement to be able to say I’ve broken a record,” Jacobsen said. “It’s gratifying to see all the hard work I’ve put in and all the hard work my teammates put in to make it all possible.”

Jacobsen premiered as the Indians’ starting quarterback in a matchup against Middleboro last year. He still vividly remembers it.

“I was really nervous,” Jacobsen said. “Going into the game against Middleboro, I wasn’t too familiar with the offense, and the whole speed that varsity football plays at, and how everything runs.”

The Indians suffered a loss in that game. But after a few more varsity games, Jacobsen settled into his role, as well as the before-game ritual of taking an hour-long nap to improve his focus.

Under Jacobsen’s leadership, the team only faced two more losses from that point forward. Once to league rival Bridgewater-Raynham – which Dartmouth beat for the first time since 2008 this season – and this year’s semi-final loss, which weighed heavily on Jacobsen as the toughest moment of his varsity career.

“When I looked up at the scoreboard and saw that we weren’t going to come out with a victory, it was really tough,” Jacobsen said.

Despite his record-breaking football performance, Jacobsen will attend Southern New Hampshire University next fall and pursue his true love, lacrosse. He started playing lacrosse at 11-years-old, and has played on the varsity lacrosse team since freshman year.

“My heart has always been set on lacrosse, but I’ve always had a huge interest in football as well,” Jacobsen said. “I enjoy playing lacrosse more. It’s a faster sport with nonstop running.”

Off the field, Jacobsen will study business, but he hasn’t decided on a specific concentration. One day, he hopes to open his own restaurant.

“It’s something that I’ve recently decided it’s what I want to do,” Jacobsen said. “I don’t cook a ton, but I would like to have more of a culinary background.”

While Jacobsen’s departure will be tough for the team, White already has plans to elevate junior Nate Ellis to starting quarterback next season. Last season, Ellis played as quarterback alongside Jacobsen and learned a great deal from him.

“Nate backed me up last year, so he knows exactly what he’s getting into,” Jacobsen said. “He’s been able to watch me play, so he’s going to settle into his role pretty well next year.”