Frankford’s James Quiles
is fit to hit

By Joe Mason
For the Times

James Quiles never played organized football until he arrived at Frankford High School.
When he was a freshman, Quiles, now a senior, was placed on the offensive line. It was a little surprising, considering that he stands just 5-feet-7 and weighs 190 pounds, but it has been the perfect fit.
Quiles, you see, loves to hit.
"A lot of people don’t like the line because they think it’s boring or whatever," the Feltonville resident said. "But not me. When I got put there, I wanted to be the best lineman I could be.
"I just wanted to be a football player, but I love hitting," Quiles added. "I love playing the line, especially here because we run a lot and that gives you a chance to hit."
Last year, Quiles was a first-team All-Public selection and a second-team All-City selection at offensive guard. He also helped the Pioneers run their way to their second consecutive Public League football championship.
Many of Frankford’s heroes from a season ago have graduated, but Quiles has returned to anchor the offensive line.
Although Frankford dropped its first game of the season, the Pioneers have won their last two, including a 41-8 spanking of Dobbins on Sept. 28 in the Public League Red Division opener for both teams.
Frankford enjoyed a 41-0 lead at halftime, a margin so comfy that the team’s starters spent nearly the entire second half watching from the sidelines.
Overall, the Pioneers rushed for 118 yards and threw for 134. Their totals would have been more impressive but the second half was played with the clock running, thanks to the league’s "mercy" rule.
Quarterback Kalif Walker was the offensive stud, throwing for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for another score.
The victory was a nice start, but Frankford still has work to do if it wants to make Public League history. Quiles’ goal is a third consecutive championship.
"We have the best coaching staff here and we want to help them get three in a row," he said. "They make us run a lot, they make us work really hard, but they do that because they want us to win. Now we want to win for them."
The Pioneers’ next goal will be knocking off rival George Washington on Saturday night at Northeast High’s field.
Both teams come into the game with 1-0 records in the Red Division, and the fourth game of a long season hardly qualifies as a must-win game. But the winner of this regular-season game has also won the Public League championship in each of the past six seasons.
This game is pretty important.
But Quiles is only worried about the Eagles because they’re the next game on the schedule.
"We work hard every week, we don’t work hard because we have a tough game," Quiles said. "We’re focused on getting better, that’s all we’re looking at. We’re playing to make Frankford better."
Quiles is just as eager to make himself better, both on and off the field. He’d like to get All-Public once again and earn a scholarship. He wants to be a lawyer.
"We have a thing called ‘King Court’ in Frankford where we send kids who get in trouble," he said. "I’m usually the defense lawyer . . . I try to help the kids get off with lighter sentences. If they’re found guilty, they get detention, suspensions or sometimes they write essays.
"It’s fun, but it’s also good because it keeps kids from messing up," he continued. "We have a prosecutor, a judge and a jury, so people get treated fairly."
Quiles figures he has the credentials to be a good lawyer.
"I like to argue," he said with a laugh. "Usually with my mom or girlfriend. Nothing too serious, but I love to argue."
Now, as he goes through his final year at Frankford, Quiles has hopes for a special season that’ll be one to remember.
"Football is my sport," he said. "I might try to wrestle this year, but the only sport I’ve ever played here is football. There’s something special about playing for Frankford. We won the championship my sophomore and junior years. If we could win three in a row, that would be the perfect way to graduate."
No argument here. ••
Joe Mason can be reached at joemason70@hotmail.com