Football: There’s a four-man race for QB at San Marino

San Marino football has been spoiled with some very good quarterbacks as of late. First, it was Steven Wright making waves with his consistency, leadership and patience in the pocket. Three years ago, Wright threw for 1,179 yards and seven touchdown passes before his 2008 season was cut short because of injuries. In that injury-marred season, Wright threw for 597 yards and nine touchdowns against only two interceptions. He was poised for a breakout season before a separated shoulder derailed his senior season.

Joe Forgatch stepped in. The rocky start (Forgatch was intercepted in his first two passing attempts) soon after became an easy transition. He threw for 355 yards and six touchdowns in the latter part of the season. As a senior, Forgatch completed nearly 56 percent of his passes (135 of 241) for 1,748 yards and an astonishing 17 touchdowns against only four interceptions. He also led the Titans to a thrilling win over Temple City to finish second int he Rio Hondo League and a dominating 42-20 win over Rosemead in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division playoffs.

That there’s a four-man race to takeover the heralded Forgatch can be taken in one of two ways: Forgatch left some really big shoes to fill or afforded the opportunity for one of the four in the running to emerge and make a name for himself, just like Wright once did as well as Forgatch.

Here are the candidates:

Chris Faulkenbury, Sr. — The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder was a backup to Forgatch last season. He perhaps of any other candidate has the experience after watching Forgatch in action from the sidelines.

Kody Gerrick, Sr. — Gerrick is a transfer from Arcadia. The 6-foot, 150-pounder is also the nephew of San Marino baseball coach Mack Paciorek.

Garret Glazier, Jr. — The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has the frame and winning mentality to swoop in and take the spot. He was a proven winner as the JV starting quarterback.

Matt Wofford, So. — He was the place kicker during the Titans’ playoff run last season. But we’re talking quarterback now, and Wofford has the least experience of the four. The 5-foot-9, 150-pounder is only a sophomore, and that could play well for him, given that the Titans will now want to start thinking about grooming the quarterback for the future.

San Marino lost nine starters from last year’s playoff team. The majority of returning starters come from the defensive side, led by Oliver Campbell and Seve Woods. It’s no secret the Titans lost an explosive offense with the graduation of Forgatch and, of course, Mr. All-World, Stevie Yortsos (337 yards rushing, 707 yards receiving, nine interceptions, 14 touchdowns).

But if Titans coach Mike Mooney had his druthers, and could pick one returning starter from any position, Mooney without any hesitation said it would be a quarterback.

“A quarterback is an extension of the offensive coordinator,” Mooney said. “He’s like another coach on the field, coordinating the offense.”

So far, nobody has yet taken ownership of the position, Mooney said. Even then, Mooney said he wants to see how they look with pads on, which came on today. That will be a real gauge of where the QB’s stand, and whether they can weather the pressure that comes with being a quarterback.

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