SOUTHINGTON — As Southington High football coach Bill Mella tried to explain what allowed quarterback Connor Butkiewicz to succeed so phenomenally in his first two varsity starts, he found the perfect word: moxie.

The definition of moxie seems to fit the 16-year-old junior: the ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage; aggressive energy; initiative; skill; know-how.

Perhaps that best explains how a kid who wasn’t even the primary junior varsity quarterback last season could become the varsity starter this year and throw for 866 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 70 percent of his passes (56 of 80) in just two games.

This past winter during an offseason workout in the weight room, Mella approached Butkiewicz and barked at him. The coach questioned if Butkiewicz had it in him to start at quarterback for two years.

Something inside him clicked.

“I just realized that I could have two chances at winning a state championship,” Butkiewicz said. “He showed great confidence in me. I felt like he wanted me to be the quarterback. That motivated me.”