HS FOOTBALL: QB can be lonely position at Desert Christian

The quarterback position is a lonely job at Desert Christian. Lucas Chatman has completed a total of 23 passes this season - none over the past two games - heading into the Northeast Division championship at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Rio Hondo Prep.

Mostly, Chatman hands the ball off to Chance Gusbeth and Kiel Alcarez in Desert Christian's wing-T attack, as the senior quarterback does a lot more lead blocking than passing.

Yet Chatman is not complaining one bit. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has Desert Christian on the brink of its first football championship since opening its doors in 1988.

"It's good to be the quarterback. We have a solid team," Chatman said.

Alcarez has rushed for 1,286 yards (9.2 avg.) and scored 23 touchdowns and five two-point conversions, and Gusbeth has rushed for 1,261 (8.4 avg.) with 19 touchdowns and nine two-point conversions.

Desert Christian's top defensive players are linebacker Kurt Jolin (112 tackles, two fumble recoveries) and Cameron Larson (97 tackles, nine sacks).

Rio Hondo Prep has 88 students, by far the fewest among Southern Section 11-man programs, yet the Arcadia private school has a rich football tradition. The Kares have won 13 section titles in 20 appearances, the last in 2009.