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Moments after last week's 41-7 win over Sheldon, Nevada Union quarterback Broughan Jantz went to shake hands with the Huskies, when a reporter asked what he thought about hosting tonight's section semifinal game at Hooper Stadium.
“I like it a lot,” Jantz said. “It's another home game for the fans.”
Typical Jantz, his coach says, always thinking of someone else.
Nevada Union's quarterback is having a senior year to remember, but the 6-foot, 2-inch southpaw seems to focus solely on the bottom line. And that, NU coach Dave Humphers says, is what makes Jantz so valuable to the Miners.
“We have a lot of outstanding players on this team, but he is amazing,” Humphers said. “What people don't see, sitting in the stands, is his work ethic and how much he wants to win. It doesn't matter whether we pass or run, or if we need him to go in a play defense, he just wants to win.
“He's the ultimate team guy, an outstanding leader who leads first by example as an unbelievably hard worker. I love coaching him. Whatever we need, he'll do it.”
On the season, Jantz has completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 1,968 yards, 23 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He's also rushed for 520 yards and eight touchdowns, another reason college programs such as Fresno State are looking at him as a quarterback recruit, Humphers said.
But he also serves as NU's punter, averaging 42.2 yards per kick — with four punts downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line — and during his spot duty in Nevada Union's secondary has intercepted two passes.
The Miners (11-1) will likely need a little bit of everything from their QB at 7 p.m. today, as they host Pleasant Grove (9-3) for a berth into next Saturday's Division I Sac-Joaquin Section championship at University of the Pacific in Stockton.
NU was ousted from the 2008 playoffs in a 21-18 second-round loss to Pleasant Grove.
The Eagles enter tonight's semifinal on the heels of 38-28 upset of Vacaville, Division I's top-seed. But perhaps the victory was a shock only in seeding terms, because No. 7 Pleasant Grove has faced some of the top teams in the area and has fared pretty well.
Third-seeded Nevada Union and Pleasant Grove shared five common opponents — Elk Grove, Franklin (Elk Grove), Laguna Creek, Roseville and Sheldon — this year and both teams defeated all five.
Pleasant Grove's three defeats came to quality teams, including a 29-28 loss to an 8-3 Lincoln (Stockton) team, a 20-7 defeat to Del Campo (11-1) and a 27-26 loss to Folsom (11-1) in overtime.
In addition to last week's win over Vacaville, the Eagles also own a 28-21 win over Monterey Trail (10-2), which hosts Los Banos (9-3) in tonight's other Division I semifinal.
“They're very close to being 11-1,” Humphers said. “Pleasant Grove is an outstanding team. I'd say they're the best team we've played since Rocklin (NU's lone loss, 41-36).
“Besides being a solid team in every phase of the game, they have a ton of talent. Fans are in for a great football game (tonight).”
The NU faithful expected to see its Miners tested in the playoffs, but so far Nevada Union has outscored its first two opponents — No. 14 Napa (5-6) and No. 11 Sheldon (8-4) by a combined 103-19.
But if Hooper Stadium is to be rocking tonight like it has the last two weeks, Nevada Union will have to find a way to keep Pleasant Grove's balanced offensive attack in check.
Senior quarterback Taylor Congdon has thrown for 1,695 yards and 16 touchdowns with eight interceptions. His top target, 5-10 senior Jalen Saunders has totaled 786 yards and 10 touchdowns receiving to go along with his 372 rushing yards and six scores.
Senior Matt Robinson leads the team with 657 rushing yards and nine TDs on the ground. Mark Jenkins, a sophomore (442 yards 7 TDs), and LaQuwon Warr , a senior (362 yards 3 TDs), give Eagles coach Joe Cattolico plenty of options in the backfield.
Defensively, senior Jonathan Bias, a 6-2, 175-pound linebacker, leads the team with 92 tackles. Senior defensive lineman Charlie Rodriguez has 60 stops, while classmate Devin Young has 5 1/2 sacks at defensive end.
A pair senior defensive backs — Zan Bell and Kenny Taylor — each have three interceptions on the season for Pleasant Grove.
Humphers said the last time Nevada Union hosted a section semifinal game,
before Sac-Joaquin Section started to host a “City Championship” in Sacramento, was in 1990. The Miners defeated Roseville, and its eventual NFL star Tedy Bruschi, in a 34-12 victory.
Sac-Joaquin Section
Division I semifinal
Pleasant Grove (9-3) at Nevada Union (11-1)
7 p.m. today
Statistical leaders
Rushing — Pleasant Grove, Matt Robinson 89-647 9 TD, Mark Jenkins 83-442 7 TD, Jalen Saunders 44-372 6 TD, LaQuwon Warr 45-362 3 TD. Nevada Union, Drew Hoskin 104-959 13 TD, Broughan Jantz 82-520 8 TD, Jason Slade 82-502 8 TD, Eric Niederberger 42-447 6 TD.
Passing — Pleasant Grove, Taylor Congdon 88-156-8 for 1,695 yards and 16 TD. Nevada Union, Jantz 121-174-2 for 1,968 yards and 23 TD.
Receiving — Pleasant Grove, Saunders 39-786, 10 TD, Drew Ahmann 33-639, 4 TD. Nevada Union, Duncan Chapple 39-628 7 TD, Dan Pettinato 35-700, 8 TD.
Defensive — Pleasant Grove, Jonathan Bias (92 tackles), Charlie Rodriguez (60 tackles), Devin Young (5 1/2 sacks), Kenny Taylor (3 INTs), Zan Bell (3 INTs). Nevada Union, Juan Espinosa (95 tackles, 4 sacks), Niederberger (90 tackles, 9 sacks), Pettinato (87 tackles, five sacks), Zach Vallejo (87 tackles), Chris Biertuempfel (4 INTs), Josh Cena (3 INTs), Justin Fike (3 INTs).
Contact Sports Editor Brian Hamilton via e-mail bhamilton@theunion.com or call 477-4240.
“I like it a lot,” Jantz said. “It's another home game for the fans.”
Typical Jantz, his coach says, always thinking of someone else.
Nevada Union's quarterback is having a senior year to remember, but the 6-foot, 2-inch southpaw seems to focus solely on the bottom line. And that, NU coach Dave Humphers says, is what makes Jantz so valuable to the Miners.
“We have a lot of outstanding players on this team, but he is amazing,” Humphers said. “What people don't see, sitting in the stands, is his work ethic and how much he wants to win. It doesn't matter whether we pass or run, or if we need him to go in a play defense, he just wants to win.
“He's the ultimate team guy, an outstanding leader who leads first by example as an unbelievably hard worker. I love coaching him. Whatever we need, he'll do it.”
On the season, Jantz has completed 69.5 percent of his passes for 1,968 yards, 23 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He's also rushed for 520 yards and eight touchdowns, another reason college programs such as Fresno State are looking at him as a quarterback recruit, Humphers said.
But he also serves as NU's punter, averaging 42.2 yards per kick — with four punts downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line — and during his spot duty in Nevada Union's secondary has intercepted two passes.
The Miners (11-1) will likely need a little bit of everything from their QB at 7 p.m. today, as they host Pleasant Grove (9-3) for a berth into next Saturday's Division I Sac-Joaquin Section championship at University of the Pacific in Stockton.
NU was ousted from the 2008 playoffs in a 21-18 second-round loss to Pleasant Grove.
The Eagles enter tonight's semifinal on the heels of 38-28 upset of Vacaville, Division I's top-seed. But perhaps the victory was a shock only in seeding terms, because No. 7 Pleasant Grove has faced some of the top teams in the area and has fared pretty well.
Third-seeded Nevada Union and Pleasant Grove shared five common opponents — Elk Grove, Franklin (Elk Grove), Laguna Creek, Roseville and Sheldon — this year and both teams defeated all five.
Pleasant Grove's three defeats came to quality teams, including a 29-28 loss to an 8-3 Lincoln (Stockton) team, a 20-7 defeat to Del Campo (11-1) and a 27-26 loss to Folsom (11-1) in overtime.
In addition to last week's win over Vacaville, the Eagles also own a 28-21 win over Monterey Trail (10-2), which hosts Los Banos (9-3) in tonight's other Division I semifinal.
“They're very close to being 11-1,” Humphers said. “Pleasant Grove is an outstanding team. I'd say they're the best team we've played since Rocklin (NU's lone loss, 41-36).
“Besides being a solid team in every phase of the game, they have a ton of talent. Fans are in for a great football game (tonight).”
The NU faithful expected to see its Miners tested in the playoffs, but so far Nevada Union has outscored its first two opponents — No. 14 Napa (5-6) and No. 11 Sheldon (8-4) by a combined 103-19.
But if Hooper Stadium is to be rocking tonight like it has the last two weeks, Nevada Union will have to find a way to keep Pleasant Grove's balanced offensive attack in check.
Senior quarterback Taylor Congdon has thrown for 1,695 yards and 16 touchdowns with eight interceptions. His top target, 5-10 senior Jalen Saunders has totaled 786 yards and 10 touchdowns receiving to go along with his 372 rushing yards and six scores.
Senior Matt Robinson leads the team with 657 rushing yards and nine TDs on the ground. Mark Jenkins, a sophomore (442 yards 7 TDs), and LaQuwon Warr , a senior (362 yards 3 TDs), give Eagles coach Joe Cattolico plenty of options in the backfield.
Defensively, senior Jonathan Bias, a 6-2, 175-pound linebacker, leads the team with 92 tackles. Senior defensive lineman Charlie Rodriguez has 60 stops, while classmate Devin Young has 5 1/2 sacks at defensive end.
A pair senior defensive backs — Zan Bell and Kenny Taylor — each have three interceptions on the season for Pleasant Grove.
Humphers said the last time Nevada Union hosted a section semifinal game,
before Sac-Joaquin Section started to host a “City Championship” in Sacramento, was in 1990. The Miners defeated Roseville, and its eventual NFL star Tedy Bruschi, in a 34-12 victory.
Sac-Joaquin Section
Division I semifinal
Pleasant Grove (9-3) at Nevada Union (11-1)
7 p.m. today
Statistical leaders
Rushing — Pleasant Grove, Matt Robinson 89-647 9 TD, Mark Jenkins 83-442 7 TD, Jalen Saunders 44-372 6 TD, LaQuwon Warr 45-362 3 TD. Nevada Union, Drew Hoskin 104-959 13 TD, Broughan Jantz 82-520 8 TD, Jason Slade 82-502 8 TD, Eric Niederberger 42-447 6 TD.
Passing — Pleasant Grove, Taylor Congdon 88-156-8 for 1,695 yards and 16 TD. Nevada Union, Jantz 121-174-2 for 1,968 yards and 23 TD.
Receiving — Pleasant Grove, Saunders 39-786, 10 TD, Drew Ahmann 33-639, 4 TD. Nevada Union, Duncan Chapple 39-628 7 TD, Dan Pettinato 35-700, 8 TD.
Defensive — Pleasant Grove, Jonathan Bias (92 tackles), Charlie Rodriguez (60 tackles), Devin Young (5 1/2 sacks), Kenny Taylor (3 INTs), Zan Bell (3 INTs). Nevada Union, Juan Espinosa (95 tackles, 4 sacks), Niederberger (90 tackles, 9 sacks), Pettinato (87 tackles, five sacks), Zach Vallejo (87 tackles), Chris Biertuempfel (4 INTs), Josh Cena (3 INTs), Justin Fike (3 INTs).
Contact Sports Editor Brian Hamilton via e-mail bhamilton@theunion.com or call 477-4240.
