Paraclete Attack Is Breech-Loaded

At 5 feet 9 and 150 pounds, Tommy Breech of Paraclete High is about as intimidating as a Sing n’ Snore Ernie doll.

“If I put a dozen players in front of you, Tommy would probably be the last guy you’d pick to be on your team,” Spirit Coach Steve Hagerty said. “But his size is deceiving.”

Breech’s grit and determination, not measured on the roster, have made him Paraclete’s big-play guy.

The junior’s two touchdown catches last week against defending Southern Section Division XI champion Yucca Valley helped vault the second-seeded Spirits (12-1) into tonight’s championship game against host Banning (9-4) at 7:30 p.m. at Nicolet Middle School.

It will be the school’s first appearance in a football final since 1967.

While All-Southern Section running back Dominic Washington and 6-7, 240-pound tight end-defensive end Josh Foster have claimed much of the attention this season, it has been the performance of Paraclete’s diminutive receiver-strong safety that has been pivotal.

Breech is the team’s top receiver and he has a team-best four interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns, and is among the Spirits’ hardest hitters.

“Size doesn’t really matter to me,” said Breech, a cousin of former NFL kicker Jim Breech. “I don’t care if a guy is 220 pounds. I’ll go after him full speed and not let up.”

Hagerty likens Breech’s hitting technique to that of an accomplished batter in baseball, a sport at which Breech also excels as a catcher.

“He brings everything together at the point of contact, just like a great hitter,” said Hagerty, who is Paraclete’s baseball coach. “He puts all that timing together, then ‘Kapow!’ ”

Breech leads the Spirits with 32 receptions for 648 yards and eight touchdowns. No teammate has more than 10 catches.

In 13 games, Breech has failed to hold only one catchable ball, according to Paraclete statisticians, who count the drops.

“He’s the first guy I look for in a passing situation,” said senior quarterback Sean Fraser.

Hagerty thinks that’s a pretty good strategy.

“If I’m a quarterback in a clutch situation, I sure know who I am going to,” he said. “He can take an average ball and turn it into a big play.”

And that’s no small feat.