Column: Narbonne’s coach and quarterback have lively exchanges

Watching Manuel Douglas, the Harbor City Narbonne High football coach, try to teach junior quarterback Roman Ale right from wrong during a practice session is so entertaining that a TV network should consider signing them to a deal.

“I’m not going to allow buffoonery,” Douglas said.

When Douglas sees something amiss, Ale hears about it. It’s not like a drill sergeant putting his nose into a recruit’s face to express an opinion, but Ale feels the heat.

“He pushes me real hard,” Ale said. “Since I was a freshman, he told me what I was capable of doing. I just need to listen to him and take his constructive criticism.”

The 6-foot-1 left-hander has responded with 1,803 yards passing and 20 touchdowns for the Gauchos (5-3, 3-0 Marine League), who are considered the City Section Division I title favorites.

“When he does well, I’m the loudest guy praising him,” Douglas said. “When he makes a mistake, I’m just as hard. I want consistency and I want him to not make the same mistake over and over.”

The Ale name is football royalty in the South Bay. His uncle, Arnold, was one of the best football players at Carson in the 1980s. He went on to play for Notre Dame and UCLA and in the NFL. Another uncle, Reuben, played at Carson and San Francisco State before becoming a junior college coach. His father, Leroy, played at Carson and Oregon.

So understand what it means for Ale to be playing against Carson on Friday night in a league showdown.

“It’s green and gold now,” Ale said.

Since 2009, when Narbonne switched to a no-huddle offense and began to emphasize the ability to pass when needed, the quarterback position has taken on increasing importance.

Ale has already guided Narbonne to four come-from-behind victories, something Troy Williams, the former City Section player of the year from Narbonne, didn’t accomplish. It was last year in the season opener against Palos Verdes when Ale was forced to come off the bench with little experience because of an injury and led Narbonne to victory, throwing a touchdown pass as time expired.

“I had no idea I would get in,” Ale said. “I didn’t even have my mouthpiece. I was called in and just had the confidence I could do it.”

Ale has become an expert running Narbonne’s no-huddle offense. It seems chaotic as plays are signaled in and players hurry to their spots, but Ale knows exactly what’s happening.

“He understands our no-huddle scheme and our concept,” Douglas said. “He has to get them in the right formation. He has to make the right protection calls. There’s a rhythm Roman keeps us in.”

Douglas has learned that his improving quarterback always needs to be counseled.

“I tell him when he does well, but I don’t want him to rest on that, because every time I’ve ever done that, he’ll then ease up and do a lot of foolish things in practice,” Douglas said. “We’re trying to eliminate those. And we talk what you do in practice you’re going to do in the game.”

So feel free to drop by a Narbonne practice and watch the no-holds-barred exchanges between coach and quarterback. They are lively, animated, blunt and helping the Gauchos thrive.