More El Camino Real Success Comes to Pass

Off the field, the members of the El Camino Real High football team are still making the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Many are not old enough to vote, some don’t have a driver’s license and they certainly can’t buy alcohol.

But on the field, they appear to have come of age.

The Conquistadores continued a surprising and impressive summer on Saturday at the Valley College passing tournament with victories over highly touted teams from Notre Dame and Westlake.

It took two overtimes and some outstanding plays by a potent passing team from Franklin to halt El Camino Real in the semifinals.

“Everybody is different this year,” El Camino Real quarterback Aaron Fredette said. “We’re a lot more motivated in the weight room and on the field. We’re more mature. There’s no more joking around.”

Two weeks ago in the Cal State Northridge tournament, the Conquistadores advanced to the final before losing to Westlake.

In one regard, the Conquistadores’ recent success is not surprising.

El Camino Real finished last season with a 7-4 record and placed third in the Northwest Valley Conference behind Taft and Kennedy. Twelve starters return from that team, including seven who go both ways.

But considering the Conquistadores’ penchant for running the ball in recent years, El Camino Real success in passing tournaments is raising some eyebrows.

Last season El Camino Real, with junior Quincy Wright running for 1,306 yards, rushed on 375 plays and passed on 122. Teams from the pass-happy Marmonte League, which traditionally fare well in passing tournaments, averaged 280 passes last season.

“Teams won’t be able to play nine-man fronts against us this year,” said El Camino Real Coach Rick Hayashida. “Our running game has been strong in the past and now we have an offensive complement.”

Much of the reason is Fredette.

He looked sharp on Saturday, routinely firing balls into tight spaces and taking whatever the defenses would give him.

“I feel more mature back there,” said Fredette, who attended the UCLA quarterback camp last month. “I feel more poised and it’s helping me see the field and my receivers.”

The defense, which has eight of 11 starters slated to return, has been equally impressive.

The Conquistadores allowed only two touchdowns in four games of the Valley College tournament before their 4-3 overtime victory over Westlake in the quarterfinals.

Wright, Adebola Jimoh, Damond Daniels and Fredette make up a secondary that works well together, is smart and most importantly, is fast.

Jarrod Maiden, a starter in the secondary last season, did not play Saturday because of a minor nose injury.

New to the mix are receiver DeVontre Hayes, who transferred from Long Beach Wilson, and DeAngelo Nedd, a fullback promoted from the junior varsity.

“We have all kinds of weapons,” Fredette said. “We’re ready to make a lot of noise in the City.”

But Hayashida, who admitted he is a little surprised by all of the success, warned not to get hopes too high.

“It’s a lot different when you put the pads on,” he said. “The 11-man game is a lot different than seven-man.”