Player of the Week : Hannemann’s Marks Aren’t Safe With French Around

Two years ago, Canyon High School quarterback Dave Hannemann was in the midst of an outstanding senior season, setting nearly every school record for passing. Meanwhile, he was also teaching the intricacies of his position to sophomore Todd French.

Apparently, Hannemann taught French well. Maybe too well.

Last week against Orange, French broke two of his mentor’s school marks and tied a third, leading the Comanches to a 44-7 win. The 6-foot 3-inch, 180-pound senior threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns to break and tie those respective records. One of the touchdowns, which went for 79 yards, set another mark for the longest score through the air. He accomplished all of that in just less than three periods of play. For his performance, French has been named The Times’ Player of the Week.

French holds or shares four passing marks that were previously held by Hannemann, a former Times Player of the Week. The week before, against Chaffey, French set a record by completing 24 passes. And after just four weeks, he has 10 touchdown passes, which is one shy of Hannemann’s season mark.

French hasn’t forgotten how Hannemann helped him learn the mechanical and mental aspects of playing quarterback.

“He was a great quarterback,” French said. “He helped me a lot as a sophomore. I mean, when I didn’t know anything.”

Since French has been breaking Hannemann’s records, many observers have naturally drawn the comparison between the two. And as Canyon Coach Ron Hust points out, the comparison extends beyond mere statistics.

“They’re very similar in many ways,” Hust said. “In physical stature, in attitude, in their approach to the game, they’re similar in academic achievement--they both (have high school grade-point averages of) 4.0.”

In particular, Hust said it is French’s attitude and approach to the game which has enabled him to become so skilled at his position despite his relatively limited experience. French didn’t become the starting Comanche quarterback last year until the latter part of the season.

“He’s very poised and confident,” Hust said. “He doesn’t do a lot of talking. He leads more by example. Nothing upsets him too much. He shakes off the mistakes real well.”

Hust added, however, that French possesses two assests that Hannemann never had.

“Todd’s advantage is that he is a little more mobile, and has a little better ability to go deep. These two things make a tremendous difference,” he said.

And that difference may be enough to earn French something Hannemann never received--a scholarship at a major college. Hust has little doubt in his quarterback’s ability to achieve that, but French doesn’t like to concern himself with such thoughts. In fact, he says he doesn’t pay much attention at all to the records he has broken, or any others which may lie ahead.

“I don’t really think too much about that,” French said. “I just try to score out there. I just want to make the playoffs. That’s my main goal.”

But in pursuing that goal, it is almost certain that Todd French will become the finest passer in the history of Canyon High School.