For Hervey, Playing Quarterback Is a Snap : Community colleges: The sophomore, who has guided Pasadena to a 2-0 start, uses his speed to make the most of broken plays.

There are times, especially when he is sprawled comfortably on a sofa, that Edward Hervey watches football games on television and imagines himself as a classic drop-back quarterback.

He takes a snap, confidently fades back into the pocket and waits patiently for a receiver to break free while offensive lineman protect him from mayhem. Images of Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman, his favorite player, fill Hervey’s head.

The fantasy ends abruptly every time Aikman or another would-be passer takes a blind-side hit. These are moments of truth for Hervey, a sophomore quarterback at Pasadena City College who is arguably among the fastest players in community college football.

“I’d rather be a drop-back passer,” Hervey said. “but the way things are going now in football, you have to be able to get out of there.

“I can put pressure on a defense because speed kills. You pick me up on a rollout and I’ll pass. You let me go, I’ll run.”

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Hervey has been running the Pasadena offense with aplomb this season. The Lancers are unbeaten after come-from-behind victories over Fresno City College and San Diego Mesa. They play Rancho Santiago Saturday night in Santa Ana.

Hervey has completed 23 of 40 passes for 265 yards. He has rushed for 148 yards in 42 carries and generally made life miserable for defenses designed to stop a quarterback that can run or pass, but not both.

“Everything we do is geared around his ability to run and throw the football,” said Pasadena Coach Dennis Gossard, who is in his sixth season with the Lancers. “There aren’t many quarterbacks that can run and throw like he can. He’s the best I’ve had since I’ve been here, no doubt about it.”

Hervey has been particularly troublesome to opponents on broken plays. Just when it seems the Lancers have been thwarted, Hervey escapes and creates new problems.

“The quarterback has to make up for what goes wrong,” he said. “If there is a breakdown, you have to get the glue and fix it.”

Hervey did not begin playing quarterback full time until he was a senior at Compton High. Last fall, as a backup for Pasadena, he completed 12 of 28 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. During the spring, he ran for the Lancers’ track team and finished second in the state in the 400 and third in the 200.

“I could have gone to Harbor or Compton (colleges), but I wanted to go to a new place where I could concentrate on becoming a better quarterback,” Hervey said. “There were coaches from my area who said, ‘He’s not going to play a down,’ but I wasn’t really worried about it.

“I knew after being a backup that I would have a chance to compete for the starting job this season. That’s all I wanted.”

Hervey got a dose of pressure last season when an injury to the starting quarterback forced him into action during a game against Mt. San Antonio College.

“It was raining, cold, slippery and there was mud everywhere,” Hervey said. ‘I was sitting on the sideline with a big jacket and gloves on my hands.

“My coach had said my day would come, but I have to be honest--I didn’t think that was going to be the day.”

Hervey responded by engineering a conservative, error-free attack that resulted in 31-29 victory for the Lancers.

Last week against Mesa, Hervey again demonstrated his cool under pressure when he overcame an off-day passing and led Pasadena to victory.

The Lancers were behind, 19-7, in the fourth quarter when Hervey rolled to his right on an option play, advanced three yards beyond the line of scrimmage, then pitched to Jason Lowe, who ran 45 yards for a touchdown with 11 minutes left.

Four minutes later, the Pasadena got the ball on its own 15. Hervey drove the Lancers down the field, providing four runs totaling 30 yards. On third and one with a minute left, Hervey gained five yards to the Mesa eight. Lowe followed with an eight-yard run for a touchdown that gave the Lancers the victory.

“It wasn’t one of Herv’s better overall games,” Gossard said. “But when it came down to it, he really responded and showed tremendous leadership and great poise.”

Hervey, who plans to be a teacher and a coach, said he is confident the Lancers will be able to sustain their momentum throughout the season. He is looking forward to a recruiting visit to Kansas and for other opportunities that await with continued success.

“(Community colleges) are for learning and that’s what I’m here for,” Hervey said. “I’m 100% better than I was last year and, at this time next year, I think I’ll be 100% better than I am now.

“I’m glad I decided to come to here. For me, I couldn’t have made a better choice.”