Loyola QB Nicolas Cotton finds a comfort zone

Late last football season, Los Angeles Loyola was desperate. A concussion to starting quarterback Jerry Neuheisel had left the Cubs struggling to find a replacement.

“Believe me, we were going through quarterbacks like tissue,” Coach Mike Christensen said. “We were hemorrhaging badly and looking for somebody.”

In week eight, Loyola turned to backup receiver Nicolas Cotton, who had never taken a snap from center in his life.

“I thought, ‘This is ridiculous, this is crazy,’” Cotton said.

Cotton could run, which meant he could try to elude the pass rushers breaking through the line and at least give the Cubs a fighting chance with his athleticism.

In his first snap, Cotton ran 35 yards on a draw play against Bishop Amat, then lost the ball on a fumble.

“I was holding the ball loose, and that’s what happens: you fumble,” Cotton said. “It was my first time playing. I was running up the field excited and not thinking fully.”

Loyola ended up losing its final three games, but Cotton showed promise as a quarterback.

This season, he has led the Cubs to a 5-1 record while completing 71% of his passes for 612 yards and six touchdowns going into the team’s Serra League opener Friday against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

“I’m getting a little more comfortable,” Cotton said. “I have a lot of targets to throw to, so it’s not too difficult. I like being able to get the ball to different playmakers on the team.”

Cotton, a senior, spent the off-season working on his fundamentals. He’s making good decisions even though he’s probably the least experienced quarterback in the Pac-5 Division.

“Hopefully, me being young at the position doesn’t affect our ability to win,” Cotton said.

Christensen has been pleased with Cotton’s progress.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Christensen said. “He’s taken a leadership role and stepped up. He’s done a remarkable job.”

Much in demand

There’s a stampede of college recruiters trying to land Vista Murrieta junior Su’a Cravens. USC last week was the latest school to offer him a scholarship to be an H-back. Others want him to play on defense as a linebacker or safety. And what a player he is.

He had touchdown reception, returned an interception 27 yards for a touchdown, recovered a fumble and had seven tackles in Vista Murrieta’s 27-10 Southwestern League victory over Temecula Chaparral on Friday.

Big man at Mater Dei

There are lots of great athletes on the campus of Santa Ana Mater Dei, and 6-foot-3, 225-pound junior Thomas Duarte ranks in the top five. He plays receiver and linebacker so well that it leaves people wondering what will be his best position at the college level.

“Honestly, he’s a wide receiver,” Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “He’s so athletic we just have to get him on the football field because he finds ways to make plays. He’s just getting acclimated to the rigors of going both ways. I know he can motor. He’s just a great kid and loves to compete.”

City showdown

Get ready for lots of chest bumping and swaggering. Host Harbor City Narbonne takes on Carson in a Marine League showdown Friday that could determine the No. 1 seeding for the City Section Division I playoffs.

Both teams still have to play unbeaten San Pedro, but the winner is expected to compete with Dorsey and Crenshaw for top seeding in the playoffs.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

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