Orange County Player of the Week : Confidence No Mere Passing Fancy

John Kimball, Laguna Beach High School quarterback, knows when to take charge of a game.

With the Artists leading Corona del Mar by 14 points early in the fourth quarter Friday night, and the Sea Kings threatening to close to within six points, Kimball went to work. He teamed with wide receiver Jeff Cummings on scoring pass plays of 22 and 70 yards to help the Artists to a 41-21 victory.

Kimball, The Times’ Player of the Week, passed for 280 yards and three touchdowns and ran for one score as the Artists improved to 3-6. (Laguna Beach had to forfeit three games because of an ineligible player.)

Kimball, a senior, admits he did not have the confidence last year to take control of a game. But he credits Cedrick Hardman, first-year coach, and Eric Johnson, assistant coach, for helping him boost his self-confidence.

“They made me feel like I could throw with anybody,” Kimball said.

Hardman said he saw that Kimball had the ability to be a good quarterback, but needed some refinement.

“He’s a young, inexperienced quarterback,” Hardman said. “He has played the position before, but he’s gotten the proper guidance in only one year. He’s a drop-back, pro-style player with a good arm.

“He can stand back and throw with anybody. He can hit any pass he wants to hit. I have not seen him once this season not hit a pass he wants to hit.”

Some of the credit for Kimball’s success must go to Cummings, who has caught 44 passes for more than 600 yards. Kimball and Cummings have been good friends since they first played together in the fifth grade.

“He (Cummings) makes most of it possible,” Hardman said. “We really only have maybe one or two wide receivers. And you really have to appreciate (Kimball) when you see our offensive line. I’m not knocking them, but they’ve played up to their ability. They’re not big guys.”

Said Kimball: “The offensive line really played great, they gave me plenty of time to throw. There have been some games where they didn’t block that well, but they put it all together last week. It was a whole team effort.”

Kimball has an excellent future in football, according to Hardman, because he has room to improve.

“If you steadily improve, instead of reaching the top early, the future is more exciting,” Hardman said. “Where John is now is perfect. His future is very bright.”