It’s his turn now.

There’s no doubt Ian Luyando-Penski loves this game.

The story of how the native of Mexico came to earn the starting quarterback job for coach Don Beebe at Aurora University, however, is a pretty wild ride.

Three weeks into the 2023 season, Luyando-Penski has thrown for 776 yards with 10 touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s also run for 220 yards, leading the Spartans to wins over Hope, Franklin and Benedictine.

“He’s special,” Beebe said. “Ian is the first quarterback I’ve had play for me since Anthony Maddie at Aurora Christian who can hurt you with his legs as much as his arm.”

Watching Luyando-Penski power through a North Central College on a 3-yard TD run for the winning score late in the fourth quarter of a JV game was the clincher for Beebe, if he needed one.

“Now, I have to remind him it’s OK to slide or go out of bounds,” Beebe chuckled.

The Spartans (3-0, 1-0), who have a bye this week, return to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action at 1 p.m. on Sept. 30 at Vago Field on campus, not at Spartan Athletic Park in nearby Montgomery.

“It’s the first time we’ve started conference play at 3-0 in my four seasons,” Beebe said. “The kids love the atmosphere on campus. It’s a zoo with grills out, tents, music, trustees and alumni back and a standing-room-only crowd.”

The journey hasn’t been as simple and easy for the 21-year-old Luyando-Penski. He was introduced to football by his father, Arturo Luyando, at their home in Guadalajara.

“Back in the day, my dad turned the TV on, and the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers were playing,” Luyando-Penski said. “He liked the Cowboys’ colors and wondered if there was a football team close by.”

Arturo found one, joined the team and played until he was 19, when he tore his ACL. He gave up playing but continued to follow the sport.

“I started playing when I was 8 years old, and about my ninth birthday, we started going to a Cowboys game every year,” Luyando-Penski said. “Ever since, I’ve been in love with it.”

Luyando-Penski played quarterback through Pop Warner and beyond, including two years of high school in Mexico, and then finished with two years in Buffalo Grove after his father engineered a job transfer to America by the Austrian steel company that employed him.

Although Luyando-Penski tore his ACL in April of his sophomore year in Mexico before the move, he returned to the field for a JV game that fall in the suburbs. His season ended when he tore meniscus cartilage in his knee.

The Beacon-News

Twice-weekly

News updates from the Aurora area delivered every Monday and Wednesday

The pandemic struck that winter, and his high school career finale as a senior was a shortened six-game season in spring 2021. He passed for 1,300 yards and 17 TDs.

“I wasn’t getting recruited because I hadn’t played much in the U.S.” Luyando-Penski said.

Beebe, though, found him. Pete Metzelaars saw the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Luyando-Penski at an NFL-sponsored camp in Mexico and was impressed enough to give Beebe, his former teammate with the Buffalo Bills, a call.

“What sold me on AU was coach Beebe,” Luyando-Penski said. “The person he is, the offense he runs. Once I talked to him, I knew I wanted to come here.”

Still, the waiting continued, playing behind Gavin Zimbelman for one year and NCAA Division II transfer Josh Swanson last season.

“It was hard not playing because that’s what I love to do, but I was behind two great quarterbacks putting up crazy numbers,” Luyando-Penski said. “I decided to learn from them, learn more from coach Beebe and just be ready whenever my number was called.”

It appears his wait was worth it.