Teams Take Twisting Roads to Eight-Man Rematch : Schneider Glad Francis Parker Gets Chance

Francis Parker quarterback Scott Schneider sat alone in the team bus, awaiting the long haul home and contemplating what might have been after his team lost to Julian, 37-20, Friday in Julian.

“The stars weren’t in the right position or something,” said Schneider, eight-man football’s most prolific passer. “It would have been nice to play in the championship. But I don’t have a single regret about the season.”

Schneider, with ample reasoning, believed at that moment his season was over.

Francis Parker, because it lost to Julian in the season finale, needed Bishop’s to upset La Jolla Country Day for the Lancers to advance to the eight-man championship. Bishop’s did its part, winning big, 47-6, but Schneider didn’t get the word until early Saturday morning.

“I still didn’t believe it when I read the (Saturday) paper,” Schneider said. “I thought they got the scores mixed up.”

This experience paralleled Schneider’s assessment of his entire life.

“Everything’s taken weird turns,” Schneider said, “but everything’s always ended up in the right place.”

The right place for Francis Parker is Ramona, where the Lancers (5-5) will meet Julian (8-1) again, this time in the eight-man championship Friday at 7 p.m.

The right place for Schneider was Francis Parker.

After moving from Kansas City, Schneider attended Stanley Junior High for eighth grade, then University City, where he was the junior varsity quarterback his freshman year and ineligible because of grades his sophomore year.

“I was getting into a lot of fights at UC,” Schneider said. “Basically, I wasn’t getting along with anyone.”

Having attended a private school in Kansas City, Schneider transferred to Francis Parker for his junior year.

In his first five games at Parker, he played defensive end, linebacker and receiver until Matt Garrett, the Lancers’ starting quarterback, sustained a separated shoulder. Schneider took over but says he wasn’t received too well.

“The head coach did not really have faith in me,” Schneider said, “and neither did the players.”

Said Dan Kuiper, the coach then and now: “It’s like any kid coming into a new program. Confidence is earned. Respect is earned.”

In four games last season and 10 this year, Schneider accomplished those tasks, and he could wind up earning a college scholarship as well. Of the numerous letters he has received thus far, Big Eight schools such as Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State, as well as Arizona and Arizona State, have shown the most interest.

At 6-feet-3 and 195 pounds, Schneider has the size most college coaches want in a quarterback, and his statistics are mind-boggling even for eight-man standards.

* He has completed 175 of 380 attempts for 2,840 yards, an average of 284 yards per outing in a game played on an 80-yard field.

* The San Diego Section record for touchdowns in a season had been 32, but Schneider rubbed that out weeks ago and now has 45.

* Having thrown for a section record 504 yards and eight touchdown passes in a game last year against Bishop’s, Schneider had two more eight-touchdown games this season.

* With 63 career touchdown passes in only 14 games, Schneider is seven shy of that section record set by Jim Plum of Helix in 34 games.

Funny, Schneider says, “I never thought I was good enough to play football in college. I always saw myself playing college basketball until I stopped growing.”

Thom Williams, Parker’s offensive coordinator, says Schneider will excel in college.

“Put a few pounds on him, and you can build a program around him,” said Williams, who played under Don Coryell at San Diego State and has implemented many of Coryell’s passing schemes into Parker’s system.

Schneider is quick to credit Williams for having taken the time to develop his skills and has equal praise for his receivers.

“Charles (Pope) and Matt (Garrett) are two of the best receivers in the county,” Schneider said. “We’d be nowhere without them.”

Garrett has 80 catches this season for 1,245 yards and 23 touchdowns; Pope 70 for 1,206 and 19 touchdowns.

Both probably would make fine college receivers, but Garrett, an outstanding soccer player, and Pope, a promising baseball player, might opt for those sports in college.

Said Schneider: “Matt wants to play soccer, Charles wants to play baseball, and I want to stick with football.

“But you never know what might happen.”