Tim Peterson
By Tim Peterson
I got the feeling Saturday at the Azusa Pacific Spring football game that APU was the place to be. Guys were flying around, hitting, making plays and most of all, just having a great time.
For the Cougars right now the sky is the limit. They are coming of a year in which they went 10-1 in their first year of D-2 post season eligibility. The fact that they didn’t get in to the playoffs has done nothing to diminish the positive vibes that are reverberating throughout the program.
They had a terrific recruiting class as football players, not just locally, but across the country are realizing that APU is a legitimate option. Saturday potential recruits were lined up on the North sidelines getting a look at the team in action.
It was good to see several local players that we covered in high school in uniform for the Cougars. Quarterback Chad Jeffries (Glendora) started for the Black and Andrew Elffers (Maranatha) was behind center for the Brick. Chris Caraveo (Alhambra) was there as was lineman Paul Flores (Gladstone). And Anthony Craft (Monrovia) was at DB and then there was Jake Payton.
Yes, the same Jake Payton that got plenty of ink in high school for transferring from San Dimas to Upland and then to Bonita when the Upland move didn’t work out. After graduating from high school in 2013 Payton went to Chadron State and has now found his way back home to Azusa Pacific. Payton has had a great spring according to the coaching staff and looked solid Saturday carrying the ball for the black squad.
The thing that was evident about Payton Saturday, other than his natural ability, was the spring in his step. Every time he was tackled after a run he would leap to his feet and literally race back to the huddle. He would run on to the field when he was called in and run off after the offensive series was over. He was a guy that was eager to impress and was doing just that. Looks like he may have found a home.
If you want to get an idea of the atmosphere Saturday take a look at the picture of offensive lineman Jaylen Crutchfield on the APU story. Yeah it was like that.
So much for Brandon Rohrer returning to La Puente. Rohrer is the now the offensive coordinator at Glendora where he will get to work with D-1 prospect Matt Fink. Fink, a quarterback who can do more damage with his legs than he can with his arm, has had several offers already including USC, Notre Dame and Utah. I guess you can’t blame Rohrer for jumping at that opportunity.
I’m hearing a former Norwalk assistant will take over as HC for the Lancers but nothing is official yet. Still waiting for word out of LP and Baldwin Park. Also there has been several coaching staff changes for a certain Mid Valley Division team. Stay tuned…
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com or on Twitter @tspeterson40.
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