SOLID QB IN PLACE FOR SAUGUS.Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer SAUGUS -- It appears Saugus High's football team has a dependable quarterback. Nick Gauthier, a virtually unknown senior who completed just six passes as a backup last year, has come through with three solid performances to help the surprising Centurions to a 2-1 record. That makes them the only Foothill League team better than .500 heading into Friday's 7:30 p.m. nonleague matchup at high-powered Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. Gauthier never was better than during a 20-6 victory Friday over annual power Chino Chino (chē`nō), city (1990 pop. 59,682), San Bernardino co., S Calif.; founded 1887, inc. 1910. It is the business and processing center of a diversified farming (notably dairying) area. , completing 17 of 23 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns, plus 48 yards rushing. Not since the pre-millennium glory days of David Parker David Parker is the name of:
For the moment, Saugus is being mentioned in the same breath as neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. powers Canyon, Hart and Valencia, and the presence of Gauthier is a big reason why. Will Gauthier's and Saugus' success continue? That remains to be seen. But the Centurions seemingly are on the right track. ``I think we're legit le·git adj. Slang Legitimate. . If we keep working hard, good things will happen,'' Gauthier said. Success has come in layers for Gauthier, who moved to Saugus from Ohio prior to his sophomore year. Following a relatively anonymous JV season, Gauthier barely was heard from last season. When starting quarterback Zach Summers injured his shoulder in the final regular-season game, Gauthier's big chance came when he was appointed the starter for a first-round playoff game Noun 1. playoff game - one game in the series of games constituting a playoff game - a single play of a sport or other contest; "the game lasted two hours" playoff - any final competition to determine a championship at top-seeded Mission Viejo Mission Vi·e·jo A community of southern California southeast of Irvine. It is mainly residential. Population: 96,300. . But after getting knocked out with a concussion concussion Period of nervous-function impairment that results from relatively mild brain injury, often with no bleeding in the cerebral cortex. It causes brief unconsciousness, followed by mental confusion and physical difficulties. in the first quarter of an eventual 56-0 loss, Gauthier immediately began focusing on the new season -- and he's making the best of one last year to prove himself. ``I remember the play: I was sprinting left and got hit by a linebacker who I didn't see until the last second,'' Gauthier said. ``The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth.'' A sub-par summer passing season, during which Saugus managed just a few victories despite a busy schedule, reduced Gauthier to an afterthought af·ter·thought n. An idea, response, or explanation that occurs to one after an event or decision. afterthought Noun 1. once the regular season was ready to begin. ``The summer wasn't really a good indication of who we were because we were kind of getting a feel for a new offense, and a lot of guys were coming in and out,'' Gauthier said. ``I knew things would start to gel once the season came around.'' Meanwhile, Gauthier secretly was working out on Sundays with noted private quarterback coach Steve Clarkson, a former NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga player, at Clarkson's Air 7 camp -- trading reps with Oaks Christian of Westlake Village star Jimmy Clausen James Richard "Jimmy" Clausen (born September 21, 1987, in Thousand Oaks, California[3]) is an American football player. He is a quarterback at the University of Notre Dame. , Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks' Dayne Crist and Valencia's Graham Wilbert, among other prominent names. ``I didn't even know about it,'' Saugus coach Jason Bornn said. The Air 7 sessions are expensive, and Gauthier pleaded with his father to help give him an edge. ``I was the lesser-known quarterback there, so I wanted to prove myself,'' he said. Gauthier's dedication and hard work has made a difference for the Centurions, who prior to this season had defeated just one .500 opponent in Bornn's first three years. ``I just think Nick is a student of the game, and he's very, very competitive,'' Bornn said. ``He's trying to do everything he can to improve and do better every week, and he's doing that. He is getting better every week.'' What Bornn really likes about Gauthier is the quarterback's feel for the game and natural instincts. Specifically, Gauthier doesn't try to force things -- usually a prime mistake with high school quarterbacks. ``He's huge for us because everything we do on offense is predicated on the quarterback, but Nick also is not trying to do anything above and beyond what he needs to do,'' Bornn said. ``I like the way he manages the team and manages the game. Plus, he's really embraced his role as a leader on this team. Each week he's more confident in both his ability and his role as a leader.'' ``Plus, we've got great chemistry on this team,'' Gauthier said. ``It just seems like everyone is developing a great feel for what they're doing. We're definitely a better team this year.'' gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5218 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Saugus high quarterback Nick Gauthier has been piling up yardage yard·age 1 n. 1. An amount or length measured in yards. 2. Cloth sold by the yard. Noun 1. in the air. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
|
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion