One September afternoon, Sandburg’s Quinn Durkin watched his life move fast forward.

The freshman running back learned from coach Troy McAllister that he was making the leap from the lower levels to playing against Lockport in the Eagles’ conference opener.

“When the coach told me I was going up to varsity, I was really excited,” said Durkin, unfazed by the rapid promotion. “I was ready to get my chance and show what I could do.”

Durkin continued to show that Friday night, catching the first of three touchdown passes by junior quarterback Anthony Shelton in a 31-28 victory over Stagg in Orland Park.

Along with creating that TD in the first quarter on a nine-yard swing pass out of the backfield, Durkin also ran for 31 yards on five carries for Sandburg (6-3), which clinched its second playoff appearance in the last three seasons under McAllister.

Durkin ― who had a 2-yard TD run in his Sept. 15 varsity debut, a 30-28 win over Lockport — also helped seal the win over Stagg by recovering an onside kick in the closing seconds.

And remember, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Durkin is only a freshman.

“I just like to go through people and as many as possible,” he said. “Now, being part of the team, being a contributor and making the playoffs my first year is just awesome.”

Stagg (3-6) would cut a 17-point deficit to the final margin on late TD catches from junior wide receiver Dewitt Washington and senior running back Anthony Sukalo.

Durkin, meanwhile, has developed a natural, easy rapport with Shelton. A highly regarded prospect, Durkin was coached by Shelton’s father, Todd, with the Orland Park Pioneers.

“We have known each other for a long time,” Anthony Shelton said. “It’s kind of easy to get him comfortable with the game and start to get the hang of being on the varsity.

“Being the quarterback and leader, I just helped him out whenever he needed to know something and told him what to do here or there.”

Last year as an eighth grader, Durkin powered the Pioneers to an undefeated River Valley Youth Football League championship and was named the league’s MVP.

He considered several Catholic League powerhouse programs, making visits to Mount Carmel and St. Rita. The lure of playing for his hometown school appealed to his emotions.

“All the schools I looked at were really good ones, and it was a hard decision in a way,” Durkin said. “I’m really glad I’m here.”

McAllister saw many of Durkin’s youth games. He didn’t need an introduction.

“He’s obviously a dynamic player and has some good size for a freshman,” McAllister said. “We had him on the freshman team, and he was doing really well.

“He’s a special player. We hemmed and hawed a little bit, but we had some injuries at running back. We just knew he was physically and mentally ready to do it.”

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In six games with the varsity, Durkin has averaged 5.4 yards a carry. He has scored three TDs, including two on passes.

“Being a freshman, new to varsity, I am not trying to change the mindset or anything like that,” he said. “I’m not trying to break a big run every play.

“I want to turn those small plays into positive yardage and get first downs so we can keep the ball.”

The comfort factor is hard to overstate. Sophomore Luke Basiorka, Sandburg’s leading rusher, also played with Durkin on the Pioneers.

“He’s a great kid and a great player,” Shelton said of Durkin. “What he did is pretty wild, going from eighth grade to varsity football.

“When you come up and do the things he does, that is pretty unique.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.