San Diego High School football coach Syd Reed has tagged his offense with a nickname: Team Jayden.
The quarterback is freshman Jayden Harris. The lead running back is sophomore Jayden Johnson. And the go-to wide receiver is senior Jayden Wade.
Three Jaydens, spelled the same, tasked with putting the football in the end zone.
“I used to holler, ‘Hey Jayden,’” said Reed. “That got confusing. They’d all turn around. Now we call them by their last name.”
“The name thing’s pretty cool,” said Johnson. “When I’m in protection, it’s Jayden, blocking for Jayden, so Jayden can throw a deep ball to Jayden.”
The Cavers, who have played varsity football since the late 1800s, are enjoying a successful season. San Diego is 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the City League heading into Friday night’s showdown with Christian (6-2, 2-0) in a game that figures to determine the league champion.
That Team Jayden-led offense is a big reason for the Cavers’ success. San Diego is averaging 32.2 points a game. The attack begins with the trigger man, Harris, the quarterback. A freshman quarterback playing at the varsity level is unusual. A freshman quarterback starting and playing a leadership role is nearly unfathomable.
“He doesn’t play like a freshman,” said Wade, who has caught 21 es for 399 yards, eight for touchdowns. “He’s very mature, like a natural leader. From Day 1, I could tell he was going to be a real good fit for the team and the culture.”
Reed said Harris wasn’t allowed on campus until the day after high school graduation last June. That day, the Cavers practiced in shorts, preparing for summer 7-on-7 competition.
Asked when it was apparent Harris would be the starter at football’s most important position, Reed said, “Immediately. It was the talent and effort. They want to be here and perform.”
At 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, Harris is blessed with good size for a freshman. He’s a talented baseball player, predominantly as a catcher. He throws the ball on a line.
“I’d call him a gunslinger,” said Reed. “He can make any throw on the field, but he’s also smart. He pre-reads the defense before he makes any throw. He’s highly confident in himself and his abilities. He just wants to win and wants to be better every day.”
Harris has completed 62.8% of his es for 1,217 yards. His TD-to-interception ratio is an excellent 13-to-4. He has rushed for 149 yards and two scores.
“He’s very accurate,” said Wade, who also starts at safety. “He can throw the ball like a mile. But the biggest thing for him is how smart he is and how he reads the game.”
Johnson is the biggest personality of the trio. He pulls off impersonations of the coaching staff that Reed says are “spot on.”
He played on the varsity at St. Augustine as a freshman, intercepting a in the playoffs. He plays about 25% of the time on defense for the Cavers at linebacker.
Johnson underwent knee surgery last June to repair a meniscus tear and now is, by his estimation, at 85%. His stat line reads: 596 yards rushing, 7.1 yards per carry, five TDs, plus three catches for 67 yards and a score.
Johnson goes 5-foot-9 and 180-pounds and is a mixture of power and speed, running a leg on Saints’ 4×100 relay team last spring. His two favorite all-time running backs are Marshawn Lynch and Le’Veon Bell.
“He’s a banger, likes to hit between the tackles,” said Reed. “But if he gets in space, good luck catching him.”
At 6-4 and 205 pounds, Wade is a standout basketball player with hops. Understandably, he’s a nightmare matchup for smallish defenders.
“He can get jammed off the line,” said Reed, “But he’s going to win every jump ball.”
Provided Harris doesn’t get wooed by another school, the Cavers figure to be good for some time. Only five seniors start. Arguably the team’s best player is sophomore Kye Cooper, son of Cavers defensive coordinator and ex-Charger Stephen Cooper.
The high-octane offense is anchored by an offensive line Reed calls “the best in the city.”
“The City League?” he was asked.
“No, the entire city,” said Reed, fully aware that Lincoln is ranked No. 1 in the section.
From left tackle to right tackle, that line goes Sebastian Nuno, Peter Williams, Sebastian Conde, Stephen Conde and Valentino Arenas.
“They’re some dogs,” Harris said of his protective front. “They’re dedicated to what they do.”
As to his program’s future, the freshman quarterback said, “I can’t wait to see how we grow this school, how far we can take this the next couple of years.”
