Saugus’ Jared Carbajal: Give it a run
Still learning the position, Carbajal is Saugus’ latest mobile quarterback
By Cary Osborne
Signal Sports Editor
Saugus junior Jared Carbajal had never played quarterback before he got to high school. But his explosiveness makes him a perfect fit for the Centurions, who have had their fair share of running quarterbacks over the years.
The fact that Jared Carbajal has little experience throwing the football is not a big concern.
At Saugus High, quarterbacks run.
Every year since 2004 under head coach Jason Bornn, the Centurions’ quarterback has rushed for at least 400 yards.
But how many kids has he had like this?
Carbajal is 16 years old — a junior — and prior to high school had never been a quarterback.
“I’d throw the ball around and stuff, but never on a team,” Carbajal admits.
Carbajal has been competing for the starting quarterback job with senior Evan Steen and through late August appeared to have the edge.
How — despite the learning curve?
“He’s fast — very explosive,” Bornn says. “Cuts on a dime.”
Plus, getting Carbajal the experience now could only lead to good things in the future.
Carbajal would be the third two-year quarterback in Bornn’s eight years if he takes the job this year and keeps it next year.
Zach Summers (2005, 2006) had mixed results. Desi Rodriguez (2007, 2008) was a star and is now playing football at the Air Force Academy.
Just to see if he was up to the task of being a varsity quarterback, after starting quarterback Zack Gauthier was lost for the season with a back injury late, Carbajal was brought up from the junior varsity and given the start in the Centurions’ regular season finale.
No pressure, right?
Saugus quarterback Jared Carbajal started the Centurions’ last game in 2009 and is primed for success in 2010.
If Saugus won the game, it would reach the CIF-Southern Section Northern Division playoffs,
“Whew,” Carbajal breathes, “I was too nervous. I should have taken control of my emotions. It was only my second year as quarterback and a lot of thoughts went through my head. I wish I would have relaxed and taken it play by play.”
Carbajal only threw the ball six times, completing three passes for 14 yards with an interception.
But Saugus stayed in the game and the quarterback ran for 89 yards on 12 carries.
Yet Saugus lost 17-10.
Bornn says at that point, though, with the Centurions not meeting expectations set for them before the season, many of his players were ready for the season to be over.
But it gave him an opportunity to see what Carbajal could do.
It also gave Carbajal an opportunity to see what he could do.
Bornn says he could tell the thought of being a starting varsity quarterback was intimidating to Carbajal as late as spring practice.
Carbajal had been a wide receiver in youth football.
To this day, his favorite football player is NFL star receiver Chad Ochocinco.
As a freshman, Carbajal was throwing the ball around in practice when one of Saugus’ coaches noticed.
He was put behind center and never looked back.
Though the offenses on the freshman and JV teams required him to pass very little, he still showed that he could handle the position.
“He’s a great quarterback under pressure — always makes the plays. … He definitely has the ability,” says Saugus sophomore tight end Denley Rodriguez, who played with Carbajal on the JV team last season. “He made a lot of great plays, but against Westlake (last season), he faked it to me and ran as fast as he could 80 yards for a touchdown. He broke a couple of tackles then he put on his speed. It was off to the races.”
Denley is the younger brother of Desi Rodriguez, who may be the best running quarterback in this valley’s history.
Denley says Carbajal would call him up when his brother was in town from Air Force and want to pick Desi’s brain.
The three of them would practice together and watch film.
Carbajal’s confidence grew and by the time summer practice started, Bornn says Carbajal was barking out orders and taking charge of the position.
“Once I realized the pads come on (in the summer), you have to do that as a quarterback,” Carbajal says. “It all changed when the pads came on.”
He’s only 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds, but says opponents may be bigger, but he may be faster.
He is throwing the ball more and does have the ability to get off a 50-yard pass.
Carbajal also gives Saugus something familiar.
He may be a different brand of bread and butter, but what he does is the team’s bread and butter.
“As a defensive coach, and I classify myself as that, I don’t want to see a running quarterback,” Bornn says. “It’s funny with the advent of the Wildcat formation, when you have a guy like Carbajal, you’re in Wildcat every play.”
