Football: New quarterbacks take charge in the Mission League
2013 was the year of the quarterback for teams now in the Mission League. Brad Kaaya (Chaminade), Jalen Greene (Serra), Grant Kraemer (Sherman Oaks Notre Dame), Alif Grayes (Alemany), Koa Haynes (Bishop Amat) were among the senior standouts.
In 2014, former backups will be asked to take charge of the offenses, and if one emerges as a breakout star, their team could win the league title.
Several schools haven’t even decided on their starting quarterbacks going into fall practice.
Among the quarterback newcomers taking control of the offense are Blake Green at Alemany, Ed Sias at Chaminade, Khalil Tate and Caleb Wilson at Serra and Wes Massett at Crespi (he was injured last season). Tre Polamalu of Loyola returns for his junior season. Junior Cole Klayman, up from JVs, is the leading candidate to start at Notre Dame. Bishop Amat still has QB competition.
“It’s not like you don’t have quarterbacks,” Notre Dame Coach Kevin Rooney said. “It’s quarterbacks who haven’t started. They’ve been waiting their turn.”
Last season, Kraemer stepped in as a nonstarter and made first-team all-league for Notre Dame.
The lack of standouts at quarterback could result in the Mission League being a step below the Trinity League, which is home to such returning quarterbacks as Josh Rosen (St. John Bosco), Travis Waller (Servite), Nick Robinson (JSerra) and K.J. Costello (Santa Margarita).
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