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Corona Centennial senior quarterback Jaden Jefferson showcased his talents on three plays that didn’t count in the team’s season opener against Servite on Thursday night.
First, Jefferson ran from one sideline to the other in the backfield, evading would-be defenders. He finished the run at the one-yard line before a holding call gave Servite a respite.
On the next play, Jefferson threw the ball into the chest of a receiver at the one-yard line, only for another holding penalty to negate the play.
At this point, it was becoming ridiculous. So coach Matt Logan decided to do something even more ridiculous with his playcalling.
Jefferson threw a lateral to senior wide receiver Gavin Lorge, who threw it back to Jefferson. The QB then slalomed through the entire Servite defense as the first-half clock ran out, finding his way to the end zone. Alas, the touchdown didn’t count because of another penalty.
Jefferson had plenty of plays that did count, however, in Centennial’s 41-21 win at Orange Coast College. He completed 19 of 24 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns while adding 88 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in a stunning performance.
Junior Dominguez didn’t know how to put on shoulder pads or a helmet when he joined football team as freshman.
Perhaps his biggest feat — and one that wasn’t called back — came when he threw out of the end zone and connected with wide receiver Quentin Hale. The USC commit jumped over two defenders, bringing down a one-handed catch.
In casual terms, Hale pulled off an Odell Beckham Jr.-style catch while Mossing his opponents.
Jefferson, however, is used to pulling off the impossible with Hale, a transfer from Cathedral.
“We’ve been making crazy plays our whole life, so it’s nothing new to us,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson, who is committed to Hawaii, also connected with Hale on a 46-yard touchdown pass. Hale finished with seven catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
For Servite, it was a difficult night for Rick Garretson, who was making his coaching debut for his alma mater. Garretson was an All-CIF selection his senior year and worked as the passing game coordinator and then offensive coordinator for Servite during a fifteen-year stretch that ended in 2004.
