Hilmar loses QB, but has another in the wings

Sophomore Olson will start; his JV team unbeaten at 9-0

By Richard T. Estrada
restrada@modbee.com

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HILMAR — Losing a quarterback to injury the week before the playoffs would be devastating to most teams, but Hilmar's Frank Marques believes his team can thrive in Quinton McCown's absence.

The senior suffered a broken collarbone last week, after being tackled following a 40-yard run on the third play.

It's the second time he has broken his collarbone. A year ago, McCown broke it on the right side in a scrimmage. He was able to return late in the season, leading Hilmar to the Sac-Joaquin Section crown.

Stanislaus Football Weekly - Week 10, 2009

McCown won't return this season — he's having surgery — so Marques says sophomore Andrew Olson will take the snaps in Friday's regular-season finale at Patterson.

"Andrew's been great with sophomore (team)," said Marques, noting the 6-foot-2, 170-pounder has led the sophomore team to a 9-0 record. "He's been our backup quarterback all year. We knew if something happened to Quinton, he'd be our guy."

Olson worked with the varsity much of the season, taking a quarter of the snaps in drills. The JV team uses the same offense as the varsity, so Olson knows all the plays.

"The speed of the game will probably be his biggest adjustment," said Marques, whose team has clinched its playoff berth. "We practice live, however, so he's had live bullets coming at him every day"

"Adrenaline will get him going. He's got great skills and he's very poised. Our kids know that because we're practicing against him each day."

It's no accident that Olson is prepared. Hilmar runs the same offense on all three levels, and the coaching staff scouts the freshmen team with the idea of identifying potential quarterbacks.

"We look for a kid in that class that has the best tools for quarterback, and we work hard from the freshman level on up to keep them improving," Marques said. "Andrew also sees (QB coaching guru) Roger Theder in the Bay Area on weekends; he's been doing it three years. He's serious about playing quarterback."

This is the last time Hilmar and Patterson will play for at least a few years, because Hilmar joins the TVL and Patterson will remain in the WAC next season.

"It's been a great rivalry for the coaches, kids and communities," Marques said. "We're both in the playoffs, so I think it will be a lot of fun Friday."

• TONIGHT'S ACTION — The final week of the regular season kicks off tonight with two games: Modesto Christian vs. Ripon Christian at Ripon and Davis faces Beyer at Downey. Both will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

Davis faces a must-win, and then needs help to reach the playoffs. The best Davis can do is 6-4, likely landing them in a mix of 6-4 teams, and a weak schedule could keep it from advancing. Strength of schedule is a criteria in the selection process, and Davis' five wins were over teams that are a combined 9-36.

Modesto Christian gets the No. 1 seed in Division 4B if it beats RC. That would mean MC would play on its field the first three games, so as long as it's winning. The Division 4B vs. 4A title game is Dec. 11 at Lincoln High in Stockton.

• MODESTO RECORDS — It's time to crack open the record book at Modesto High, as the Panthers could be on the verge of some historic feats.

If Arquel Rogers ushes for 16 yards in Friday's Modesto Metro Conference championship game against Enochs, it will give the Panthers a pair of 1,000-yard rushers to go along with their 1,000-yard passer. Tailback James Ingram has 1,083 yards and Klayton Miller has thrown for 1,103 yards.

Rogers had five consecutive games with at least 113 yards, and is averaging 135 yards a game during that stretch.