Column: Fast-rising San Juan Hills and QB Patrick O’Brien enjoy protected status
In Orange County, there’s a group of private and public high schools that have been the football teams to beat for years — Santa Ana Mater Dei, Mission Viejo, Santa Margarita, Huntington Beach Edison, Los Alamitos, Tesoro . . .
Now there’s a school trying to break into the crowd — San Juan Hills High in San Juan Capistrano. The Stallions are 5-0, led by Nebraska-bound quarterback Patrick O’Brien, and their 54-26 rout of Los Alamitos on Friday night shows they will be a big factor in a South Coast League that also includes Mission Viejo (6-0) and Tesoro (4-1).
O’Brien completed 20 of 26 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Aiding his development is an offensive line filled with experience.
There are seniors Nathan Carlson (6 feet 5, 267 pounds), Zac Oblea (6-4, 270), Jared Aviles (6-2, 240) and Tommy Gaisford (6-4, 250), plus junior Jason Glass (6-0, 250).
“It’s like a security blanket for a coach when your quarterback is going to feel protected and you control the line of scrimmage on offense,” Coach Aaron Flowers said.
O’Brien, a 6-foot-4 senior, has been impressive. “The part he’s really progressing is the mental part of the game,” Flowers said.
Bonds-Clausen ties
When La Cañada St. Francis (4-0) faces Calabasas (5-0) on Friday, the head coaches will know each other very well.
In 1997, ’98 and 1999, the starting quarterback at Mission Hills Alemany was Casey Clausen. The head coach was Jim Bonds. The ball boy was 10-year-old Jimmy Clausen. Now Bonds is head coach at St. Francis, Casey Clausen is head coach at Calabasas and Jimmy Clausen is the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
“It definitely makes me feel old,” Bonds said.
Said Casey Clausen: “It’s awesome. Coach Bonds is a great guy. He’s been a mentor for me.”
A big question for Calabasas is the availability of quarterback Tristan Gebbia, who was held out of a 13-10 win over Oxnard Rio Mesa because of a shoulder injury.
Win in New Jersey
Bellflower St. John Bosco improved to 5-0 with a 56-14 victory over St. Peter’s Prep in New Jersey on Saturday. Quarterback Quentin Davis passed for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Sean McGrew rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
Big-play weapon
Jack Jones of Long Beach Poly caught eight passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns in a 67-30 win over Long Beach Wilson.
Coliseum action
In doubleheader at the Coliseum on Saturday, Los Angeles defeated Hamilton, 34-30. Huntington Park defeated Roosevelt, 23-14.
Twitter: @LATSondheimer
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