Parker’s Pinpoint Passes Deflate Quartz Hill, 39-6

Quarterback David Parker of Saugus High wasn’t perfect Friday night against Quartz Hill.

But he came mighty close.

Parker completed 20 of 23 passes for 331 yards and five touchdowns for the Centurions in a 39-6 victory over the Rebels at College of the Canyons.

“The receivers were really tough,” he said. “They got off the ball well and that made it easier.”

But Coach Ron Hilton of Saugus said the Centurions (3-1), whose only loss was 28-13 to top-ranked Notre Dame last week, have grown to rely on Parker’s leadership.

He has passed for 1,110 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

“David’s just a good quarterback,” Hilton said. “He does the things he needs to do to win. He always throws the ball well and the receivers caught the ball [Friday night].”

That was especially true in the first half, when Parker completed 12 of 14 passes for 197 yards including his final 12 throws.

He threw touchdown passes of seven yards to Nathan Steele and Nels Jensen in the first quarter and hooked up with Steele on a 38-yard scoring pass in the second quarter.

That gave the Centurions a 19-0 lead late in the first half and pretty much put Quartz Hill (2-2) out of reach.

After Saugus took a 19-6 lead at the half, Parker ended any comeback hopes for Quartz Hill by throwing touchdown passes of 27 yards to Robert Gallegos and two yards to Jensen in the third quarter.

Steele finished with eight receptions for 157 yards and Jensen had six catches for 62 yards.

As impressed as he was with his team’s offense, Hilton was beaming about the Saugus defense.

The Centurions held the usually potent Quartz Hill offense to 115 yards.

They held running back Derrick Teal, who entered the game with 477 yards rushing, to 46 yards in 20 carries.

“We really shut them down tonight,” Hilton said. “That’s the kind of game we need to play.”