When the 2012 season began, Blackfoot senior Alonzo Ramos had a lot of questions to answer.

Did he have the arm strength and accuracy to play quarterback? Was he big enough to survive an entire season of hits? Could he live up to the legacy of predecessors Trae Pilster, Anthony Clarke and Chase Monson, each of whom led Blackfoot to a state championship?

Ramos answered all the questions with a resounding “yes,” adding his own chapter to the Blackfoot dual-threat quarterback dynasty — one that now has produced four state championships and four 4A All-Idaho Players of the Year since 2007.

“Alonzo was confident in his ability,” Blackfoot coach Stan Buck said. “He also was anxious because he had never played quarterback at the varsity level. But Alonzo is a fierce competitor, and when you mix that with the talent he has and his willingness to accept coaching, I never doubted he would become a great player for us.”

At 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, Ramos accumulated his share of bumps and bruises while racking up 3,526 total yards and 35 TDs (25 passing, 10 rushing) for the Broncos’ explosive spread offense. But he overcame a postseason knee injury and played lights-out in the state title game, throwing for 253 yards and two TDs while adding 82 yards and a score on the ground as Blackfoot dismantled Middleton 48-19.

“It was a fun offense to play in,” Ramos said. “We had so many weapons, it kept defenses off-balance. Quarterback is a big role with big expectations, but my coaches trusted me to do the job, and we turned out to be a really good offense.”

Ramos played receiver for the Broncos’ 2011 championship squad, but he acknowledged this year’s title was even more rewarding.

“Having the opportunity to play quarterback for a state championship team, that was pretty special to me,” Ramos said.