Santa Barbara quarterback Brent Peus rolls out behind running back Junior Garcia. Peus threw four touchdown passes.
Be free, have fun, breathe and let things develop.
Those were the things Santa Barbara High football coach JT Stone wanted to see from his quarterback Brent Peus on Friday night.
Peus did all of the above and led the Dons offense to a breakout performance. He threw four touchdown passes — three to sophomore Chris Jellison — in a 35-28 non-league victory over Royal at Peabody Stadium.
It was the third straight win for Santa Barbara (3-2), and the 35 points surpassed the team’s point total for its last two games (10-8 over Channel Islands and 7-6 over Rio Mesa).
“It’s so exciting because I’ve known the whole year that we had the tools and the ability to make it happen, said Peus, who completed 26 of 35 passes for 316 yards. “It was too much in my head, especially the last game. I was thinking way too much instead of playing loose. Finally, I was having fun; it was a great atmosphere and it was a great team win.”
Peus’ favorite target was Jellison out of the backfield. He caught 10 passes for 167 yards and three scores. On his second and third touchdowns, he made a couple of dazzling moves to elude defenders in the open field.
“I just did what I’ve been doing the last three years of football and just played relaxed and loose and let my natural abilities do it,” said Jellison, who is nicknamed “Tick.”
Besides his speed, shiftiness and good hands, Jellison showed his ability to sell a catch. On the first touchdown pass, a diving grab that gave the Dons a 14-7 lead with 13 seconds left in the first half, it appeared the ball skipped off the grass into his arms.
Asked about it after the game, he said, “I think it might have hit the ground, but we’ll take it.”
With the offense coming together, Stone was able to better utilize Jellison’s talent.
“We were able to cut him loose, which was good,” he said. “He’s definitely a special little player.”
“He did a great job,” said Peus. “I kind of had a feeling Tick would do a great job getting open this year. I played with him on our club 7-on-7 team and we were playing against some ridiculous competition. He was getting open on guys and really working defenses that had D1 guys everywhere. I knew we would gel nicely.”
Peus’ first pass completion to Jellison — a 5-yarder — started the Dons on their first touchdown drive. They went 37 yards after a 10-yard Royal punt, with Junior Garcia scoring on a 4-yard run. Hugo Ronces kicked the first of his five PATs for a 7-0 lead at 3:01 of the first quarter.
Santa Barbara defenders bring down Royal quarterback Matt Sciumbato. (Presidio Sports photos).
Royal (2-2 tied the score with 2:17 left in the second quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Sciumbato to running back Jason Spielman. Left-footed Omar Cabanas kicked the PAT.
The Dons responded with Peus working the airways on an impressive 80-yard drive. He completed 10 of 12 passes, with Jellison cutting in front of a defender and making a diving grab for a 12-yard score with 13 seconds left in the half. That gave the Dons a 14-7 lead.
“I completely trust Brent,” Jellison said. “He’s the quarterback that we need to get the ball there.”
Royal tied the score on a 26-yard run by running back River Meza. Meza was a handful for the Dons to bring down. He rushed for 165 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Special teams set up the go-ahead TD for the Dons. Carter Soto blocked a Royal punt and the Dons took over at the Highlanders’ 34. On first down, Peus lofted a pass to a wide-open Daniel Vallin for a touchdown and a 21-14 lead with 6:01 left in the third quarter.
Santa Barbara’s defense rose to occasion after a fumbled punt at its 34. Mike Sandoval sacked Sciumbato and Russell Enholm intercepted a pass on a third-and-35.
The defense came to the rescue again after another turnover. This time it dropped Sciumbato for a loss and forced a fumble.
The Dons capitalized, with Peus hitting Jellison streaking down the right sideline. The score put them ahead 28-14 with 8:29 to play in the fourth quarter.
Royal fought back. After long kickoff return put the ball at midfield, the Highlanders went to Meza and moved the ball to the 4. Meza ran the final four yards to make it 28-21 with 5:24 left.
The Highlanders tried an onsides kick but basketball standout Bolden Brace snared it to give Santa Barbara the ball at the 50. On the third play of the drive, Jellison hauled in a pass from Peus in the right flat, juked a defender and sprinted into the end zone for the clinching touchdown with 3:13 to go.
While there are things still to be worked out on the offense, Stone was pleased to see the players rewarded for their work.
“We’ve been preaching when we decide to play as a family and do everything right, the sky is the limit for us,” said Stone.
