VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : No Passing Fancy : David Parker of Saugus Is Proving His Junior Season Wasn’t a Fluke

Quick, name the last Saugus High quarterback to pass for 3,000 yards in a single season.

Brain locked up?

It should be because to the best of Coach Ron Hilton’s knowledge, no Saugus quarterback has ever come close to such a staggering feat in the school’s 25-year history. And he’s been at the school 23 years.

Yet if anyone is going to eclipse the mark before the next millennium, it’s going to be David Parker, who apparently set a school single-season record with 2,140 yards last year.

Parker, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior, is on pace to pass for 3,000 yards this year after outstanding performances against Royal and Simi Valley.

With 602 yards and nine touchdown passes, Parker is second in the region behind Kyle Matter of Hart with 624.

For the record, that’s ahead of Casey Clausen of Alemany, Zac Wasserman of Westlake, Matt Cassel of Chatsworth and Brandon Hance of Taft, all of whom have committed to Division I universities.

“I really like [Parker],” said Dean Herrington, Hart’s offensive coordinator. “He’s just a good athlete.

“[Saugus] was one of my sleeper picks. They’re making me look really good right now.”

Saugus (2-0) has looked unstoppable in two games, outscoring opponents, 81-28.

Parker is reason No. 1.

He moved to Saugus from Burbank after completing eighth grade, but is relatively unknown outside the Santa Clarita Valley.

It’s no mystery why college recruiters have shown little interest. Saugus hasn’t had a winning season since 1995 and has never been known for turning out quarterbacks.

“I think because he plays for Saugus, [he] doesn’t get as much recognition as Alemany and some of those other schools,” said Nathan Steele, a Centurion wide receiver who caught eight passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns last week against Simi Valley.

“You hear about people in the pros who throw the ball where only the receiver can catch it and you go, ‘Yeah, right,’ ” Hilton said. “But David does that.”

Parker has a knack for throwing the ball around defenders, dropping a pass behind a linebacker or around a cornerback, Hilton said.

In 261 passes last season, he had only six intercepted.

“He is tremendously talented,” Hilton said.

Pinpoint passes are only half of Parker’s capabilities.

Parker is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the region. He is Saugus’ second-leading rusher with 98 yards in 24 carries, mostly scrambles.

“He does feel pressure very well,” Hilton said. “If you flush him, he’ll move four or five steps and look again, or he’ll just go.

“I don’t know how I would defend him.”

Notre Dame (2-0), the top-ranked team in the region, might provide Hilton with the answer.

Parker and Co. travel to Notre Dame to face the defensive-minded Knights in a nonleague game Friday night.

A Travis Johnson-led pass rush seems sure to wreak havoc on Saugus’ passing game, as it did in a 31-14 Notre Dame victory last year.

“Travis introduced himself to [Parker] more than once,” Hilton said.

Parker remembers it well.

“He hit me a few times last year.” Parker said with a chuckle. “I’m kind of scared of him, actually.”

Johnson took the time to chat with the Centurions at a passing tournament during the summer and kept the fear alive.

“Travis made a point of asking if we still had the same quarterback, and David meekly answered, ‘Yes,’ ” Hilton said.

To be sure, Parker doesn’t hide behind any facades. He will never be called a loud-mouthed, egotistical quarterback, the kind of player Hilton wishes he was.

Parker is a quiet teenager whose timid nature took getting used to for Hilton, who thinks himself a yelling, screaming taskmaster.

“I demand excellence.” said Hilton, also Saugus’ successful softball coach. “I figure if I can do it with softball players I can do it with [football players].

“[But] we had to treat him a little differently. He wouldn’t respond to it. He would back away from it. He’s so hard on himself, so he doesn’t understand why you should yell at him.”

Parker “internalizes more than he should,” Hilton said, but has discovered ways other than yelling to ignite teammates.

“He brings the kids up to a different level of play just with his ability,” Hilton said.

And his ability is without limits.

While others might relish the opportunity to set passing records, Parker said his goal is quite simple.

“I don’t really care how I do, just as long as we put some points on the board,” Parker said.

“I’d like to at least equal what I did last year, but it really doesn’t matter as long as we win. Last year we went 3-8 and it wasn’t very fun.”