THE GAZETTE
Page B-4
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 p
RM quarterback takes responsibility under center Richard Montgomery quarterback didn’t play football until eighth grade n
BY JOHN
HARRIS III
SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
Every football team — at any level of competition — would probably love to have an experienced quarterback to lead it. Depending on a team’s circumstances and personnel, however, there are times when an athlete with minimal experience may have to rise up and take over the reins as the signal caller for what many consider the most important position on the field. Richard Montgomery High School junior Renzo Farfan didn’t grow up as a quarterback groomed in any type of little league football organization. Just one brief stint as an eighth grader served as an introduction to tackle football. And by his freshman year, Farfan found himself as the quarterback of the Rockets’ junior varsity squad. Fortunately, the JV level
served as a solid preparatory vehicle, as he now finds himself starting in his first year of varsity competition. And for a rookie varsity player, Farfan has put up some pretty impressive offensive numbers. After Friday’s 20-14 loss at Poolesville, the 5-foot-11 inch, 165-pound junior has completed 92-of163 passes for 967 yards, 10 touchdowns and just four interceptions. The Rockets, however, have just a 1-5 record this fall. “I think Renzo has seen himself as a basketball kid, but for the last couple of months, he has really developed lots of confidence [in football],” Richard Montgomery coach Josh Klotz said. “Our quarterbacks coach Bob Eagleson has really done a good job helping Renzo with the fundamentals and with his footwork. I think we see the results of their hard work on the field.” Said Farfan: “I think we just need to keep working hard in practice, We had a good week of practice this past week but obviously we need to keep working and focus more in practice to the little details so that we can finish games like [Friday].” Farfan’s insight into his team shows
a level of knowledge and leadership of a player who is accustomed to his chosen position. From the first time he hit the field for his junior varsity team through his latest game on the muddy turf in Poolesville, Farfan has thoroughly embraced his role — driving an offense that has had its fair share of ups and downs throughout the season. “Playing quarterback is lot of responsibility, but it’s been good,” Farfan said. “I like being a leader of the team and I like always having the ball in my hands and being able to make plays when I want to. “JV helped me physically because before high school, I didn’t really play football. I got used to being hit and it prepared me pretty well for this year.” The former junior varsity basketball shooting guard also credits his other sport for helping his overall athleticism. Farfan is light on his feet, has a quick throwing release, and shows toughness carrying the football, as he exhibited on a 1-yard touchdown plunge into the belly of Poolesville’s defense last week. He also earned the praises of Poolesville coach Will Gant.
“I think he’s a good quarterback. He throws a nice ball, he runs his system, he’s ready for the speed-up stuff,” Gant said. “He drew us off with some hard counts which you don’t see any high school kids doing that, let alone college guys and that’s a mature kid. You can tell he’s been well coached and Josh does a great job with him. ” Klotz is also impressed with his quarterback’s ability to lead as well as absorb extra-hard hits from defenders and continue to keep the Rockets in games. “We have a bunch of sophomores and junior starting on varsity for the first time, so Renzo has to take over the leadership role and he has done a really good job with that,” Klotz said. “He’s really gaining a lot of confidence and you can tell the kids really look up to him. He’s taken some big hits in the past few games, but it didn’t stop him from stepping into some throws and getting hit again. He’s been able to take the punishment, and for that he’s also gotten a lot of respect [from teammates].”
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Richard Montgomery High School quarterback Renzo Farfan looks for his receiver against Poolesville on Friday.
Damascus receiver plays with maturity beyond his years DAN FELDMAN STAFF WRITER
Damascus High School junior receiver/defensive back Jalen Christian carries himself with a noticeable aura. His body language, the way he interacts with teammates and how he understands his responsibilities all contribute. Most of all, it shows during games. “He’s playing as a senior, for sure, if not college level of confidence where he knows he’s the best player on the field most times when he’s out there,” Damascus football coach Eric Wallich said.
FILE PHOTO
Damascus High School’s Jalen Christian.
But Christian sure hopes not. “I never want to feel comfortable,” Christian said. “I never want to settle.”
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faced a defensive back like Christian. For the previous two years, Christian has sometimes been overshadowed by his talented older teammates. But as much as Christian strives to keep the edge he developed as an underclassmen, Rockville and other opponents are surely game planning for him because he at least appears comfortable, and a comfortable-looking Christian is highly effective. “Jalen was kind of able to be the undercover guy,” Wallich said. “Now, it’s Jalen’s turn to be the main guy, and I think he’s clearly on everybody’s radar.”
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Wallich said. “There are lots of kids with that same athletic ability — not lots, but there’s a handful. But what separates him is putting it all together with the intelligence that he has, too.” Christian has already assembled a lengthy list of scholarship offers: Clemson University, Connecticut, Duke, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Temple, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Or as he describes it, “just a lot mail.” For now, he’s focused on Damascus’ season, including this week’s game against Rockville. The Rams average 315 passing yards per game, but have not yet
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That mindset dates back two years, when Christian joined the high school program after a standout youth career. Wallich, not wanting to put a freshman on varsity but also needing secondary depth, was conflicted about how to handle Christian. Christian was not. He wanted to play junior varsity with his friends. Varsity could wait a year as far as he considered. But Christian says he benefited from the spending two years prior to the current season on varsity, and Wallich agrees, seeing how much Christian has improved each year. “He’s very intelligent. He understand how to bait a receiver on defense, understands how to set people with routes,”
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Blue chip college recruit strives not to become content n