Like a Chameleon : Tucker Adapted and Became Newbury Park Star

Tears flow uncontrollably from Jason Tucker’s eyes as he bows his head and sits alone in the stands of a dark stadium at Newbury Park High in 1991.

The source of the sophomore running back’s pain is several letters that his best friend, Panther sophomore quarterback Keith Smith, received earlier that day. The letters are from college recruiters congratulating Smith on an excellent season.

His friend’s success pleases Tucker, but he wonders: “Why not me too?”

Both are in their first season on the varsity, but Tucker is struggling. The letters reinforce how much.

Traditionally relying on a running attack, Newbury Park’s coaches have redesigned the offense around Smith’s skills--which means few carries for Tucker. He is confused and angry.

For the first time, football is not fun. The Panthers are mired smack in the middle of a woeful 4-6 season and he cannot wait for it to end. Quitting even crosses his mind.

Tucker expresses his frustration to his father, Gordon, in a tearful conversation at home late that evening. Gordon suggests that because the Panthers are developing into a passing team, Jason might become a bigger part of the offense if he switches to receiver.

As it turned out, father knew best.

Today, Tucker (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) is among the state’s leading receivers and is one of the Panthers’ big-play threats with 1,176 yards and 66 catches. The senior has been a key performer in undefeated Newbury Park’s run to the Southern Section Division III championship game against Hawthorne tonight at Moorpark College.

All it took was more grief than he had ever known.

“My sophomore year was the most disappointing of my life, but it helped me become the player I am now,” Tucker said. “I wouldn’t change anything.”

Tucker entered the 1991 season with dreams of glory. He and Smith were two of four sophomore starters on the varsity (seniors Leodes Van Buren, a receiver, and linebacker Rich Adams were the others). Tucker planned on having a standout season.

Those plans were quickly dashed thanks to Smith, Tucker’s buddy and teammate since the third grade.

Smith--the state’s all-time leading passer--outperformed a senior to win the quarterback job. The Panther coaches quickly learned that their youthful signal-caller was better than they had initially thought. They scrambled to get the offense up to Smith’s speed.

“He grasped things faster than we could put them in,” Coach George Hurley said. “We were starting to think it wasn’t insanity to throw the ball 10 times in a game.

“We had to develop more of a passing offense.”

Not everyone was pleased about the change in philosophy.

“All of a sudden our offense changed to a passing offense because of Keith,” Tucker said. “If Keith had not been quarterback, I would have been the featured back in a running offense. The day he got those letters from the colleges, it hit me how much it bothered me.

“Now that I look back on it, I guess I was kind of jealous of him.”

And scared.

Tucker and Smith always had been among their youth football teams’ best players. Now Smith was moving ahead of him.

“I thought the coaches didn’t think I was any good,” Tucker said. “I just figured they didn’t want me carrying the ball.”

Not so, Hurley said.

What Tucker did not know was that his coach was taking heat for giving four sophomores such prominent roles. Several parents in the Panther booster club whose sons were seniors watching sophomores play ahead of them rode Hurley unmercifully.

Still, Tucker finished second on the Panthers in rushing behind Smith with 30 carries for 163 yards. He also made a big contribution at cornerback.

Tucker made a smooth transition to receiver as a junior.

He finished third on the team with 43 catches for 387 yards and six touchdowns in helping the Panthers win the Marmonte League title. He was selected to The Times’ All-Ventura County second team as a defensive back.

Encouraged by his strong showing in his first season at the position, Tucker dedicated himself to a rigorous off-season training program. His schedule included several miles of running and lifting weights daily.

The results have been excellent.

Tucker--who says he can bench-press 285 pounds and cover 40 yards in 4.6 seconds--averages 17.8 yards a catch and has 10 touchdowns as the Panthers (13-0) have raced to their second consecutive league championship and one of the best seasons in county history.

He was been selected all-league and all-county by The Times as a receiver. His numbers would lead most high school teams--but not at Newbury Park.

Tucker happens to play alongside Van Buren, the state’s all-time leader in receptions and yards receiving. Van Buren also tops the state in receiving this season with 96 catches for 1,597 yards and 19 touchdowns.

But Tucker has meant as much to the Panthers’ record-breaking season as anyone.

“I don’t know where we would be without Tuck,” Smith said. “We have a lot of good receivers, but he comes up with so many huge plays.

“He also takes the pressure off Lee.”

Tucker was at his best against Bell Gardens in the semifinals last week.

The visiting Panthers trailed, 14-0, less than three minutes into the game. With Bell Gardens double-teaming Van Buren, one of Newbury Park’s other receivers had to make a major contribution.

Tucker was up to the task.

He caught 12 passes for a season-high 164 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers rallied to an emotional 43-26 victory. “I take my hat off to Jason,” Van Buren said. “Nobody thought he would be as good as (graduated standout receiver Jason) Toohey, but he’s proved how good he is.”

Said Hurley: “He’s been a giant for us.”

Tucker’s college plans are uncertain.

He has received a qualifying score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and welcomes a chance to play at an NCAA Division I school. College recruiters, however, are not banging down his door.

As of now he is considering playing next season at a junior college. No matter what happens in the championship game or next season, Tucker said his athletic career has been gratifying.

“I’ve matured so much as a person because of the things that have happened,” Tucker said. “This season has been the biggest highlight of my life.”

Southern Section Division III Championship

Matchup: Newbury Park vs. Hawthorne

Kickoff: 7:30 tonight at Moorpark College

TV/Radio: KNJO-FM (92.7).

Outlook: This is the matchup many anticipated. Newbury Park is the division’s top-ranked team, and defending champion Hawthorne is second. “We’ve denied them a No. 1 ranking for most of the year,” Panther Coach George Hurley said. “We know they’ve been looking forward to this.” The game’s outcome could hinge on Hawthorne’s secondary. Hawthorne might win if it can shut down Panther quarterback Keith Smith--something no team has done this season. Smith--the state’s all-time leading passer--must have a strong game to give the Panthers a chance at victory. “They have a lot of speed,” Smith said. “We’re just going to come out in our regular offense and hope that things work.” Hawthorne has one of the best groups of defensive backs in Southern California. The Cougars do not believe there is any question. “We’ve shut down so many great players,” free safety Omarr Morgan said. “We want Smith. We can’t wait to get him.” Said Cougar Coach Dan Robbins: “We’ve got the speed that (Newbury Park) has not seen all year.” Both teams have played Buena, Westlake and Leuzinger. Newbury Park defeated Buena, 43-28, Leuzinger, 39-6, and Westlake, 42-21. Hawthorne beat Buena, 44-20, Leuzinger, 21-14, and Westlake, 24-22. “I know we can score on them,” Robbins said. “Everybody scored on them.”

Seasons at a Glance

Newbury Park (13-0):

73: Hueneme: 6

43: San Marcos: 7

43: Buena: 28

41: Camarillo: 8

36: Channel Islands: 0

41: Simi Valley: 0

14: Thousand Oaks: 9

37: Royal: 16

40: Agoura: 14

42: Westlake: 21

Playoffs

39: Leuzinger: 6

41: Montebello: 20

43: Bell Gardens: 26

Comparing the Numbers

Newbury Park

Rushing Att Yds TD K. Smith 89 615 10 T. Robertson 67 430 5

Passing PA PC Yds TD K. Smith 379 254 3,988 38

Receiving No. Yds TD L. Van Buren 96 1,597 19

Team Totals Avg Offense 431 Defense 249

Hawthorne (12-1)

13: Loyola: 20

59: Morningside: 0

32: South Torrance: 3

31: Culver City: 21

34: Torrance: 12

45: Santa Monica: 7

42: Beverly Hills: 24

20: Peninsula: 12

42: Inglewood: 0

21: Leuzinger: 14

Playoffs

59: Baldwin Park: 17

24: Westlake: 22

44: Buena: 20

Comparing the Numbers

Hawthorne

Rushing Att Yds TD E. Chaney 199 1,430 22 K. Moala 94 740 11

Passing PA PC Yds TD K. Tatum 171 85 1,540 9

Receiving No. Yds TD J. Stallings 23 316 2

Team Totals Avg Offense 350 Defense 197