Schweer Has Fun in Pressure Situation

Rick Gibson, Woodbridge High School football coach, forgets that it’s not always going to be this easy. He has to remember there won’t always be a Fred Schweer at quarterback.

“Sometimes we take him for granted,” Gibson said. “We’ll have a great pass completion and we’ll all congratulate the receiver, but no one will congratulate Fred. We’re just used to him doing great things.”

Spoiled as Gibson is, he certainly realized how lucky he was to have Schweer last Friday in the Warriors’ Southern Section Division VIII semifinal game against Agoura.

In the span of 5 minutes, Woodbridge’s tailback (Scott Seymour), fullback (Mike Yurkovich) and tight end (Gary Gibson) were injured. About all the Warriors had left was Schweer. And that was plenty.

Schweer, The Times’ athlete of the week, completed 12 of 26 passes for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Warriors advanced to the Division VIII final with a 21-0 victory.

“Some of the kids came off the field saying, ‘Oh coach, what do we do now?’ ” Gibson said. “Fred just took over. That’s the type of kid you want in a pressure situation.”

Schweer himself was delighted with the situation. Not that three of his teammates were injured, mind you, but getting a chance to do what he does best--throw the ball.

“When you’re a quarterback, you don’t like to spend your time handing off,” Schweer said. “With Scott and Mike hurt, I knew we were going to throw more. That’s when it got fun.”

Schweer, a senior, is a lot more confident this season after guiding the Warriors to the Desert-Mountain Conference championship (now Division VIII) in 1987.

A year ago, he was thrust into the starting lineup when senior quarterback Eric Brougher was injured in the third game of the season. Under Schweer, the Warriors went 9-1 and defeated Chaminade, 13-10, in the championship game--on a touchdown pass by Schweer.

“I’m more mature this season, physically and mentally,” Schweer said. “With age, comes knowledge.”

For one thing, there’s the knowledge that no one is indispensable.

“Eric was injured last year and we still won. I missed a game last year (with a bruised kidney) and we still won,” Schweer said. “We have a lot of talented players on this team. I have confidence in any of them.”

Said Gibson: “I think Fred has built his senior year on repeating as champions. I don’t doubt one bit that he will perform.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Pat Bagatourian of Orange Lutheran scored 56 points in 3 games as the Lancers won their basketball tournament last week. Bagatourian had 28 points and 10 rebounds in the Lancers’ 73-59 victory in the championship game and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Stewart Bradshaw of San Clemente scored three goals as the Tritons defeated University, 3-2, in the first round of the Irvine soccer tournament Saturday.

Derek Brown of Servite rushed for 186 yards in 24 carries and scored 1 touchdown, but the Friars lost to Fountain Valley, 10-7, in the semifinals of the Division I playoffs Friday.

David Lowery of Trabuco Hills completed 32 of 44 passes for 380 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Mustangs defeated Atascadero, 42-6, in the Division VIII semifinals Friday.

Ty Price of Corona del Mar completed 9 of 11 passes for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Sea Kings defeated Pacifica, 14-7, in the Division VI semifinals Friday.

Fred Schweer

Woodbridge High

Position: Quarterback

Height, Weight, Class: 6-3, 190, Senior

Last Week: Schweer completed 12 of 26 passes for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Warriors defeated Agoura, 21-0, in the semifinals of the Division VIII playoffs.

Season: Schweer has completed 189 of 348 passes for 2,364 yards and 15 touchdowns.