El Camino Real Running Back Has Wright Stuff

Running back Quincy Wright of El Camino Real High has had a flair for drama this season, even if it hasn’t always worked out.

In the Conquistadores’ opening game against North Hollywood, Wright almost single-handedly brought El Camino Real back from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter. He started with a 63-yard scoring run and finished with a 78-yard punt return with under a minute remaining.

Only a clipping penalty on the return prevented the improbable comeback.

However, the long runs have stood up lately. In the last two weeks, Wright has gained 458 yards in 36 carries and scored 10 touchdowns, barely playing a full game against Cleveland and Granada Hills.

Wright is fifth among area City Section runners this season with 1,252 yards in 183 carries and has scored 17 touchdowns. He is 66 yards away from the El Camino Real school record, set by Chris Shinnick in 1993.

Big things were expected. Coming off a sophomore season where he rushed for 1,048 yards in 152 carries, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior seemed to be one of the most explosive players in the Northwest Valley Conference this season.

But the Conquistadore coaches might have been a little too aware of Wright’s game-breaking potential.

“We wanted to put him into a position where he would pop big plays and score touchdowns,” El Camino Real Coach Bob Ganssle said.

Against the Huskies and Chaminade, whenever Wright took a handoff, the defense followed.

After two games, Wright had just 10 carries for 84 yards.

“It was frustrating and at the same time it wasn’t,” Wright said. “I wanted the ball, but we were trying to do other things on offense.”

The breakthrough came against Canoga Park the following week. Wright gained 173 yards in 24 carries and scored three times.

The Conquistadores are in the City Section 4-A Division playoffs for the first time since 1993, completing a two-year transformation from a 1-9 squad to a team that can compete with anyone.

But their first-round test won’t be easy. The Conquistadores play top-seeded San Pedro on Friday night at Daniels Field.

“We have to play No. 1 sometime,” Wright said. “We can still make a good season better.”

Who knows, something dramatic could happen.