No Mixed Signals at Torrey Pines: Lynch is the Quarterback : Football: He’s more respected as a safety, but the Falcons will rely on his senior leadership.

His understudy’s heroics last weekend are largely responsible for putting his team in the San Diego Section Division 2-A title game. Opposing coaches have said they fear his backup more than him. Major colleges are recruiting him as a safety, not as a quarterback.

But senior Ryan Lynch, who has started all but one game this season, will be Torrey Pines’ starting quarterback Saturday night against El Camino at Jack Murphy Stadium. And junior Gavin Hamels will take his usual position in the bullpen.

“Ryan’s the man,” Hamels said. “This is a big game and if the game is close, Coach (Ed Burke) will stick with Ryan. The guys respect him and he’s our leader.”

Lynch didn’t feel like much of a leader last week against San Pasqual when he had his worst game of the season--throwing two interceptions and fumbling once while scrambling.

“It was just one of those nights,” Lynch said. “I was trying to force things. Trying to make too many big plays happen. I wasn’t reading the coverages. (San Pasqual) really confused me. I give them credit.”

He also gave credit to Hamels, who came off the bench to lead the Falcons on three scoring drives in the last eight minutes of Torrey Pines’ 27-21 comeback victory. Hamels completed eight of 12 passes for 127 yards, including a game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Campbell with 42 seconds left.

Lynch originally was replaced at quarterback after he injured his knee while playing safety. But once Hamels caught fire, Lynch, even though he was healthy enough to return, stayed on the sidelines.

“I had no objections,” Lynch said. “I wasn’t playing that well. When (Gavin) was in there, he got it going. I didn’t even bother asking coach if I was coming back the way Gavin was playing.”

Said Hamels, who in nine games has completed 24 of 48 passes for 410 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception this season: “It was really something special. I didn’t want it to end.”

Lynch was not surprised by Hamels’ performance.

“The players knew Gavin could do that,” Lynch said. “If he was at most other schools, he’d probably be the starting quarterback. But I had to wait my chance last year. He knows his will come. That’s just the way the coin flips.”

San Pasqual Coach Mike Dolan, only partly in jest, said after the game that Torrey Pines would be better off if the coin had flipped the other way.

“We told our kids not to injure Lynch,” Dolan said. “(Hamels) is the better quarterback. That’s not taking anything away from Lynch, he’s a better defensive back. (Hamels) is a pure passer and Ryan’s a great defensive back. You look at all the tapes and you can see that.”

Lynch read the comments and was not particularly amused.

“I was ticked off,” Lynch said. “I consider myself to be a good quarterback. I’m a good safety. But I was insulted by the what he said. It really bothered me. Anyone who is human would be.

“I had a bad game, but John Unitas had his bad games. The only three interceptions I’ve thrown all year have been against San Pasqual.”

On the season, Lynch has thrown 97 passes and completed 45 of them for 937 yards and nine touchdowns.

But no college coach is looking at Lynch to run an offense. Stanford, California, Washington and Colorado have all expressed interest in Lynch as a safety.

Lynch said Stanford and Notre Dame would like him to play baseball.

“I’m really confused right now,” he said. “I’m not sure what I want to do.”

Lynch, a first baseman, could play both. His brother John does. John was a third-team All-American safety this season for Stanford and also a pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization.

For now, Ryan would like to show Dolan and any other coach who questions his ability to play quarterback, that he can play the position.

“I need to get back in my drop a little quicker,” Lynch said. “I think I was a little too intense against San Pasqual. I’ve got to come out and be more relaxed.”

Lynch knows that won’t be easy to do.

“It really hasn’t hit me yet that we’re in the stadium,” Lynch said. “Coach (Burke) is going to take us down there (today) to get that gleam out of our eye. We’re kind of the newcomers. El Camino is used to being there.”

Burke said there was never a doubt that Lynch would be there Saturday night as his starting quarterback.

“Sometimes there’s more to playing quarterback than completing passes,” Burke said. “Ryan is an exceptional leader and he has been since most of these kids were in kindergarten.”