John Humphreys (left) and Ethan Garbers have caused problems all year for opposing teams.
Two talented Corona del Mar juniors, quarterback Ethan Garbers and wide receiver John Humphreys, are hoping to team up for another big night on Saturday and help the Sea Kings bring home their sixth CIF football title.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone
Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone
Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone
The two, like they have all season, will be the focus when top-seeded CdM takes on third-seeded Grace Brethren in the CIF Division 4 championship game at Royal High in Simi Valley.
Garbers has completed 259 of 384 passes for 3,853 yards and 54 touchdowns this year. The 259 completions and 54 touchdowns are school records.
He also holds school records for most touchdowns (7) and yards (476) in a game. Garber’s brother, Chase, now the quarterback at Cal Berkeley, holds the Sea Kings’ season passing record of 3,895 yards which he accomplished in 2016.
Humphreys has hauled in 98 catches for 1,728 yards and 28 touchdowns, all school records and holds the record for most career TD catches in Orange County (46) with still at least one more game and one more season ahead of him. Humphreys also holds the CdM record for most catches in a game (13), which he accomplished twice this season.
The Garbers-Humphreys connection has caused nightmares for opposing defenses.
“He puts it right where it needs to be,” Humphreys said of Garbers. “It doesn’t get much better than that. He’s the best quarterback I’ve ever caught from so it’s super fun to play with him. He reads my mind a lot, he knows where I want it and he puts the ball where it needs to be. ”
Both players indicate they’re proud of the records, but they attribute their success to their teammates and coaches.
“The records are good and they’re cool but the records wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for Ethan or the O-line or our defense getting us the ball back so honestly, my name is on the records but it’s really a team thing; they’re all behind the success and it goes to show our team success,” Humphreys said.
Garbers also had his share of records, but he credits others, including Humphreys and the Sea Kings offensive line for helping him attain the marks. and points out the biggest goal now is a CIF title.
“They work hard and work together and we all have such a good connection, it just makes things a lot easier,” Garbers said.
Garbers also credit’s CdM’s head coach, Dan O’Shea.
“I think he’s the best coach around, more importantly, he’s a really good man,” Garbers said. “I have him as a teacher and he is just such a nice person and his attitude is happy go lucky.”
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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