HOLLY POND — The Broncos are turning to a new quarterback to end their 17-game drought.

It isn’t by choice.

The school of hard knocks hand-delivered its latest lesson plan to an already embattled Holly Pond program on Monday, dropping the bombshell that Michael Lambert is out for the season. The second-year signal-caller suffered a broken collarbone on the second possession of last week’s game at Vinemont and was replaced by fellow sophomore Caleb Jones, who’ll resume duties and make his first start this Friday at Hanceville.

As if the Cullman County clash wasn’t intriguing enough simply because it features two tough-luck teams hungry for their first wins, the Green and White’s change of the guard behind center only thickens the plot.

“It’s tough, but we tell our kids all the time, ‘Somebody goes down, the next guy’s got to step up,’” coach Mike Bates said.

Jones has been the Broncos’ primary tailback this fall but said he’s been a backup quarterback pretty much his entire life and played the position some in 2013 on the junior varsity level. After spelling Lambert last week, Jones completed 20 passes for 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran for 35 yards and another score.

“I feel pretty confident,” Jones said. “It’s pretty fun. Just a lot harder mentally than it is physically.”

Lambert was understandably crushed by Monday’s grim news. He said he “just wanted to finish,” especially after breaking the school’s single-game passing record (429 yards) earlier this month at Winston County.

Through six full games and one series of a seventh, Lambert had 1,097 passing yards and seven touchdowns. He also showed marked improvement as a runner, finding the end zone four times with his feet.

“I know these guys need me just as much as I need them,” he said.

Should Jones need any advice, he won’t hesitate to ask Lambert. The latter said the two have been buddies since the fourth grade and that he has the utmost respect for his replacement’s abilities.

“He’s a heckuva player and athlete,” Lambert said. “I don’t know how comfortable he feels back there, but he’ll do his best. I know that much.”

The lefty’s sling on his throwing shoulder stuck out like a sore thumb at Tuesday’s practice, which he attended in street clothes. Lambert would obviously like to do more than just help out with offensive drills, but he said he’s willing to do whatever possible to support his football brothers.

If that involves briefly converting from quarterback to the Broncos’ biggest cheerleader, then so be it.

“I’m going to be behind them, that’s for sure,” Lambert said. “I think they’ll play their best, period. Since Oakman, they’ve played their best every game, and they just keep getting better.”

Jones inherits a reliable herd of receivers that includes Chris Richards, Matt Doyle, John Phillips, Tony Vazquez and Zac Naler, among others. Bates pointed out that Jones is generally an option out of the backfield, too. The only problem? “He can’t throw the ball to himself,” the coach joked.

With Jones switching roles, Bates said he’ll now go with a running back by committee. Alex Diaz, Doyle and Jones will all see carries, as will Jordan Graves and Trey Hill, who the coach commended for their recent progressions.

Notice the common denominator in the aforementioned units? Doyle, who’s adding backup quarterback to his many hats.

“He’s probably the best pure football player we’ve got,” Bates said. “He’s been a leader for us since he got here.”

Though he’s one of the team’s select seniors, Doyle doesn’t actually have any recollection of Holly Pond’s last win, a decisive 33-14 final over Class 1A Appalachian in the 2012 regular season finale. That’s because he was still a student-athlete at J.B. Pennington, where he transferred from the following year.

Seventeen straight losses or even just the seven he’s been a part of has been too many for Doyle. He knows Hanceville is in the same boat, however, sporting an identical 0-7 record after notching two region titles and only three losses over the last three seasons.

“We want it a lot. I can tell,” Doyle said. “We can’t look at it as a certain win. We’ve got to go in with the same attitude every week — just whoever works harder is going to get it.”

Bates has continued to see his squad put in hard work, on the practice field and under the Friday night lights. He’d love nothing more for this week’s grind to end in celebration rather than just another heartbreakingly close contest.

“I think we’ve proven that we want to win,” Bates said. “We just haven’t found a way to do it yet. Hopefully we can find a way, and I know they’re doing the same thing.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Danny (Miller). Danny and I were on the same staff at Cullman when I was down there. He does a really super job, and I know he’ll have his guys ready, too.”