Quarterback Josh Thompson led the Colony Titans to a CIF championship last year. Making the feat even more impressive was that he did it only a week removed from returning from a broken collarbone that sideline him a month.

One would think that would help land the attention from major colleges. Well that hasn’t exactly been the case.

Colony coach Steve Randall chalks that up to Thompson’s size. He’s 6-foot, 180 pounds. Thompson has all the physical attributes that go into making a good quarterback as well as other intangibles such as composure and toughness but nowadays they’re looking for physical stature as much of more than anything else.

“It’s all about passing the eye test,” Randall said. “I don’t understand it because he’s a batter quarterback than some of the guys that are getting all the attention.”

Thompson probably needed a good senior season to help draw more attention. Randall says his star player has been every bit at solid as in years past. It just doesn’t look like it on paper.

He threw for 4,465 yards with 37 touchdowns and 9 interceptions the previous two seasons. He is at 1,326 so far this season.

The problem – Colony’s schedule.

The Titans played a difficult schedule, with the first four games against elite teams in Southern California. The Titans were 2-3 over the first five games and four had running clock so Thompson’s stats were modest.

Then the Titans started league play with a 41-7 win over Montclair and a 46-0 thrashing of Ontario. He didn’t have great numbers in those games either because those were running clock too and Randall pulled back the reigns on the passing game so as not to run up the score. He didn’t have overwhelming numbers there to balance out the tougher games.

Thompson is also a good student and thought of highly by his teachers and peers so a college would be getting an athlete with great character as well.

Colony is also running a different offense, one that Randall was hoping would play in Thompson’s favor.

“He’s running the ball a little more and we’re doing some read option,” he said. “We thought that would show his versatility and that might help him. We’ll see. I really hope someone gives him a chance, They wouldn’t be sorry.”

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Some say it’s harder to stay at the top than get to the top. Count Colony High School football coach Steve Randall among those who agrees.

“You’re on everyone’s radar when you’re the defending champion,” he said. “We’re not going to sneak up on anyone.”

Well the Titans (12-2) are confronting the challenge of defending head on. They’re playing as tough a non-league schedule as you’ll see so they should be prepared by the time Mt.Baldy League play rolls around.

The Titans graduated 30 or so seniors, with a dozen of those being significant impact players.

Leading the returning cast is senior quarterback Josh Thompson, who has thrown for 4,465 yards and 37 touchdowns in the last two years. He separated his shoulder later in the regular season and was thought to be lost for the season only to return for the title game against Los Altos.

“He worked really hard in the off-season to get stronger,” Randall said. “He has looked good. We’re looking for more good things out of him this season.”

Some of the other vital cogs in the offense are gone. Look for Fred Harrison to shoulder some of the load carried by the departed Ryan Kinard with Tyrone Hatchett pitching in as well. Senior Tre Bland and sophomroe newcomer Oscar Noyola will be among the big bodies up front clearing the way.

Hugo Malana and Marcos Valencia headline the receiving core.

The offense will be a bit different this season. Chalk that up to the departure of offensive coordinator Kevin Davis who left for the head position at Etiwanda.

Randall says his team will not go up-tempo all the time as it did last year. Instead it will pick and choose its spots. Thompson will also be more over center as opposed to in shotgun formation.

“I like going up-tempo but it hurt as at times,” Randall said. “So we’ll be more conventional at times.”

Randall singles out the defensive line as the team’s strong suit. Returner Tyrique Faatiglia will head the effort along with a couple of newcomers in junior Jacob Chagolla.

Other key defenders include defensive back Khalil Dorsey, who had 11 interceptions last year, as well as newcomer Dallas Trena and linebacker Elijah Arellano.

The Titans begin defense of their title on Aug. 28 with an opener at West Covina, a foe that made it to the second round of the playoffs a year ago.

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