Linebacker Camarena Fills in at QB for First Time
by Cerwin D Haynes
Undersized and undermanned, East LA College Football has faced a myriad of challenges during the course of this season. The offense has struggled, particulary as the injury bug - paired with poor play - has forced interim head coach Arnie Robles to dig deep for answers. For weeks, there were rumors that one of their key linebackers was being prepped to step in as backup quarterback, as freshman starter Daunte Bell had been on of the players on the mend.
Against the Cerritos College Falcons, freshman Michael Anderson got the start behind center. But after falling behind 14-0 within the first five minutes of the game (with the offense going three-and-out on their first series), Coach Robles decided to pull the trigger on his LB-turned-QB plan: sophomore LB Zachary Camarena.
The move paid immediate dividends: Camarena led the Huskies on a 16-play, 75-yard drive culminating with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Camarena to sophomore WR Camarion Thorton. To state the obvious, it was the Damien High product's first collegiate touchdown pass. But more importantly, it got the Pack back into the game at that point, as they trailed 14-7. Unfortunately, with Camarena's successful play at QB, it was decided that he would be pulled back from his linebacker duties. The defense couldn't slow down Cerritos, who scored 28 unanswered points within the second and third quarters to take a 35-7 lead.
In previous games this season, when East LA fell behind by double digits it would feel like the team was sinking into quicksand. But with Camarena at QB, the Pack tried to pick themselves off the mat. With 10:11 left in the third quarter, ELAC engineered a five-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 10-yard TD pass from Camarena to Thorton (a wonderful near-corner fade route into the end zone). The extra point had East trailing 35-14. On the ensuing Cerritos possession, East LA DB Khaliq Johnson intercepted a Evan Tomich pass and returned it 13-yards to set up the Pack offense in Falcon territory. ELAC advanced the ball 22 yards before settling for a 28-yd field goal make by sophomore K Kirobi Parker-Pinto. East LA trimmed 10 points off the Cerritos lead, and trailing 35-17 still in the third quarter, there were hopes of a possible comeback.
Unfortunately for the road Green, Cerritos would go on to score two more touchdowns to put the game out of reach. But unlike many games this season, the Huskies refused to go down with just a whimper. In the fourth quarter, Camarena would throw a third touchdown pass - this one to DB-turned-WR Dominick McCullough for a five-yard strike to paydirt.
Although ELAC went on to drop this season finale by a score of 49-23, they managed a level of competitiveness not seen since their 40-27 defeat at Allan Hancock College in Week 2. The 23 points were their third-highest output of the season, and Camarena the linebacker became the first Huskies' quarterback to throw for three touchdowns in a game. His final line at Cerritos: 12 completions in 20 attempts (60%) for 150 yards passing, three touchdowns and one interception. He was not sacked.
Camarena the LB should be getting plenty of looks by four-year schools. Perhaps Camarena the QB should get some attention as well.