Brennan the Star in Western Victory

Western quarterback Brandon Brennan has gone from supporting character to leading man in two seasons. It has been a leap of faith--by his coach.

Brennan had another stress-free night Thursday. He threw three touchdown passes in the first half of the Pioneers’ 31-9 victory over Orange in a nonleague game at El Modena High School.

“Two years ago, all I did was hand off,” the senior said. “I could understand that. I was a sophomore.”

A sophomore in a program that didn’t exactly preach wide-open football. Coach Jim Howell seemed to employ a run and, shoot, run again offense.

But talent was hard to ignore. There was enough of that to turn Brennan loose.

And, lo-and-behold, the Pioneers have the top-rated passer in Orange County through three weeks.

“That might surprise a few people, I guess,” Howell said. “Potentially, Brandon could be the best quarterback we’ve ever had.”

Brennan lived up to that potential Thursday.

On the second play of the game, Brennan hit Josh Christensen on the fly. He split two defenders and went 70 yards for a touchdown. On the Pioneers’ next possession, Brennan tossed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jason Covarrubias.

Five plays, two touchdowns.

“We’ve always moved the ball on the ground,” Howell said. “But it’s sure nice to get those big plays.”

Brennan, who was nine of 18 for 189 yards, connected with Covarrubias on 16-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, as the Pioneers (3-1) led, 21-3, at halftime.

It gave Brennan 11 touchdown passes for the season. He threw 16 touchdown passes last season.

Covarrubias scored on a 23-yard run in the third quarter. He also kicked a 33-yard field goal and finished with 25 of Western’s points.

Orange (1-3) couldn’t match those big plays, especially after losing running back Jamie Worthem in the first quarter. Worthem, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher, sprained a knee on the last play of the first quarter.

The Panthers were also without Andy Lauridsen, who suffered a concussion in last week’s loss to Katella. His replacement, Raul Vital, completed 12 of 28 passes for 100 yards.