Falcons QB Jeremy Springer October 11,2006
LOS FRESNOS — Jeremy Springer is the prototypical high school quarterback. Rather, Springer is the prototypical quarterback many coaches dream of having under center on Friday nights. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior signal-caller has had an exceptional season for The Monitor’s second-ranked Los Fresnos Falcons. Springer has thrown for 1,359 yards on 96-of-165 passing with five interceptions and 15 touchdowns. With his arm leading the offensive show, the Falcons are averaging 468.2 yards per game, and 42.4 points each week. If the Falcons want to continue their undefeated trek, they’ll need Springer to continue the offensive trend this week when the Falcons (5-0 overall, 2-0 in District 32-5A) take on the No. 3 San Benito Greyhounds (4-1, 2-0) in The Monitor’s Game of the Week on Friday in San Benito. The San Benito school board was to determine the game’s site Tuesday night. Construction is still ongoing at Bobby Morrow Stadium, which is located on school grounds. While coaches were hopeful Friday’s game will be played at Morrow Stadium, complete with a halftime dedication to the San Benito legend, there were alternate plans to play at Greyhound Stadium. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. Springer definitely is a large part of the Falcons’ offense. Aside from his arm, Springer has rushed for 417 yards on 20 carries and scored five touchdowns. "He’s a great thrower, he’s a great runner and a great leader," Los Fresnos coach Scott Ford said of Springer. "We couldn’t ask for much more of Jeremy." While Springer has excelled at QB, it’s his first full season under center. Last year, the standout was one of Brandon Kretz’s targets at wide receiver. Springer hauled in 28 catches for 421 yards and five touchdowns during Los Fresnos’ 8-2 season, the Falcons’ first playoff venture as a Class 5A school. He also went 6-11-1 passing for 92 yards in spot duty in 2005. But now Springer returns to the position he’s most comfortable with full time. "I’ve always been a quarterback," Springer said, noting that since he started playing in youth games he was lined up under center. "I played receiver because we had a better quarterback (last year)." Of course, Springer was being modest. He’s already building his reputation among the best QBs in Los Fresnos history alongside names like Kretz, Matt Garza and Leonel Garza. "He’s a little better athlete than Brandon (32-5A Offensive Player of the Year in 2005)," Ford said of Springer in the preseason. "He’s a little bit stronger, and he’s a better runner. I don’t think we’ll miss a beat, to be honest with you. "I think he’s that good." That statement may have surprised a few, but putting five games worth of stats side by side, and Ford wasn’t stretching the truth one bit. By this time last year Kretz had passed for 1,025 yards and nine TDs, 334 yards and six TDs less than Springer. Still, Springer conceded that Kretz was the better QB of the two. "I learned from the best," Springer said. "I learned a lot from Brandon." Springer’s humble disposition is part of his ability to lead the club. He won’t say who or if he has a favorite receiving target to avoid upsetting anyone, and nearly every sentence ends with "sir." His polite nature stops, however, when prodded about the Falcons’ offensive output to date. "That’s what I expected," Springer said. "We have the team to do it." "I think offensively we’re at where we should be," Springer said, even though he admitted the Falcons have some issues holding onto the ball. "We had four turnovers against Hanna. We can’t keep having turnovers," Springer said. "If we eliminate the turnovers we could have a lot more points." ——— Oscar Gonzalez Jr. covers District 32-5A for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4443. |
