AURORA — Opportunity arose and slapped Eystin Salum right across his innocent, unassuming face.
For three weeks, the Regis Jesuit junior quarterback has stood behind center and said, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?”
Having taken every snap of consequence since the Raiders’ starter went down on the first play from scrimmage in Week 1, Salum has been steady and spectacular.
On another brilliant late- summer Friday night at a crowded Lou Kellogg Field, Salum again showed why he’s better at handling the football than a clipboard. He threw four touchdown passes as Regis Jesuit continued to gain steam in Class 5A with a decisive 42-7 victory over 2009 state runner-up Pomona in nonleague play.
The Raiders, ranked No. 4 in The Denver Post/9News 5A poll, moved to 3-0 behind a talented skill corps, sound line play and someone who has been given the football on a chance and has run with it.
From the NFL to Pop Warner, players are reserves for reasons, but Salum hasn’t acted like one.
“I planned on playing — that’s what a quarterback has to do,” he said. “I knew my role and what I had to do when I came in.”
A shoulder injury sidelined starter Luke Longfield in the opening moments against Valor Christian, but no problem. Salum engineered the victory against the Eagles. Another came against Arvada West, which beat the Raiders twice in 2009. Then Salum added scrambling and throwing on the run — he was 17-of-27 for 182 yards — against No. 8 Pomona and its blitz.
Don’t think for a second that Salum hopes Longfield remains injured.
Regis Jesuit ran to a 21-0 lead by scoring on three of its first four possessions and was never in trouble. The Raiders mixed in rushing (Jordan Jungers had 94 yards and a touchdown), created turnovers, were sturdy on both fronts and Salum threw scoring passes to Connor McKay (12 and 25 yards), Connor Lester and Drew Dyer.
Height and length at receiver hindered the Panthers (1-2), who also struggled against the Raiders’ speed, notably involving McKay, who probably couldn’t have been covered by a Pomona blanket. The senior nabbed eight receptions for 101 yards.
Pomona 0 7 0 0 — 7
Regis Jesuit 14 7 14 7 — 42
RJ — Jungers 13 run (Frank kick). RJ — Lester 3 pass from Salum. RJ — McKay 12 pass from Salum (Frank kick). P — Allen 1 run (Carter kick). RJ — McKay 25 pass from Salum (Frank kick). RJ — Dyer 6 pass from Salum (FRank kick). RJ — Hackemer 6 run (Dunn kick).
