Folsom (Calif.) head football coach Kris Richardson told MaxPreps today that he wasn't shocked when sophomore quarterback
Jake Browning tied a national record with 10 touchdown passes in his varsity debut.
"I wasn't shocked at all," he insisted. "I've seen him grow through our junior program. He's always been the cool, calm customer. His dad (Ed Browning) was a quarterback at Oregon State. He understands football inside and out. He's one of the most accurate quarterbacks we've ever had and understands this offense."
The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder now shares the national touchdown record with six players following Friday's 68-28 rout of Woodcreek (Roseville, Calif.). He gained three yards today after coaches checked the game film. He completed 34 of 51 passes for 689 yards - No. 2 nationally behind David Koral's 764 for Pacific Palisades (Calif.) in 1999.
The soft-spoken Browning handled the pressure with ease, probably because of his laid-back personality and having played football steadily since he was eight years old.
He said: "I woke up Friday morning and thought, 'Oh, gosh, I'm going to be so nervous.' But I was prepared. I was just ready to play."
Browning had started on a powerful, unbeaten freshman team and was locked in a fight for the starting varsity position with a returning senior. When he was named the starter on Monday, he had no experienced back-up because the senior quit the team. That's one reason why he played most of Friday's game. Another talented sophomore,
Josiah Deguara, is being groomed as the No. 2 signal caller. He originally was slotted to play wide receiver.
Currently in his eighth year as head coach and 18th overall at Folsom,
Richardson currently has former standout quarterbacks playing at
Northern Arizona, Hawaii and Air Force. They return each summer and help
mentor the younger players.
The Bulldogs' great success is part system and part talent, Richardson says.
He
explained, "We are a high-tempo, spread offensive team. Our mentality
is to wear out the defense - make them defend everything. We spread you
out five-wide. We run a great system and our kids love it. On the flip
side, if you don't have the guy to pull the trigger, you're not going to
go anywhere."
Richardson estimates about 150 boys in elementary
school through eighth grade compete in a very effective feeder system,
called the Junior Bulldog Program. He added proudly that the junior
program "has some great quarterbacks."
The Folsom coach is
especially proud of his coaching staff. Troy Taylor, for example, is his
best friend and co-head coach. He runs a very productive quarterback
academy on the side.
"Anticipation and accuracy are always what
we preach," Richardson stressed. "If we throw 50 times a game, we want
to complete 70 percent."
Surprisingly, Richardson encourages
football players to try other sports. The only thing he is adamant about
is that they continue to participate in the year-around weight program.
A lot of football work also gets done during sixth-hour physical
education classes.
Browning puts everything in perspective when
he points out, "It's all there for you to have, to like it and to do it.
I was in love with it and it's pretty much what I do year-around. "
Concerning
his startling varsity debut, he says, "I feel blessed and ready for San
Ramon Valley (the next opponent). After the season, I'll probably go
back (and think about it). You can't get too high or too low. I try not
to pay attention (to pressure). You've just to come out and play."
Continuing to show maturity beyond his age (16), Browning said he has not yet thought much about college.
"I'm just ready to win. That's too far ahead," he said in his business-like manner.
Browning follows in the footsteps of two record-breaking quarterbacks.
Dano Graves was the MaxPreps 2010 National Player of the Year after throwing for 3,702 yards and 62 touchdowns - he also rushed for 994 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading Folsom to a State Division II Bowl title.
Last season Tanner Trosin broke a Northern California record by passing for 5,185 yards and 49 touchdowns. Trosin also rushed for 1.179 yards and 20 more scores.
