Lancaster Quarterback a Victim of Mistaken Identity

Quarterback Jason Jacobs was practicing all afternoon Tuesday with his Lancaster High teammates, more than 50 miles from Chatsworth, where a deadly shooting took place.

Authorities and at least two newspapers (not this one), though, identified the alleged shooter as Jason Jacobs of Lancaster.

That’s when the phone started ringing at the quarterback’s house.

“We’ve received more than 20 calls,” said Fitzgerald Jacobs, Jason’s father.

The 17-year-old who was arrested in the shooting later admitted that he had falsely given the quarterback’s name.

“My son doesn’t even know where [Chatsworth] is,” Fitzgerald Jacobs said.

“The only times he has ever been outside of Lancaster was with his momma and daddy.”

Jacobs is a standout for Lancaster both at quarterback and cornerback.

His father said Jason has received recruiting letters from several colleges, including San Diego State, Utah and Oregon.

“We still don’t know what damage this has done to my son’s reputation,” said Fitzgerald Jacobs, who attempted to clear Jason’s name Wednesday night by appearing on several local television news shows. “We’re hoping this doesn’t scare anybody away.”