#20 Casa Grande Gauchos Football Preview
Gauchos Have a Star in QB JaJuan Lawson
By Chris Jackson Saturday August 10, 2013
PETALUMA-Star players seem to be a dime a dozen lately in Petaluma.
that is at the other high school in the city, Casa Grande.
JaJuan Lawson is rated as a three star dual-threat quarterback on
ESPN, Rivals and Scout. ESPN RecruitingNation rates him as the
25th best dual-threat QB in America, and that might be an understatement
with his speed and arm.
Lawson threw for 1860 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for 550
yards and eight touchdowns in his junior campaign. He completed
110-of-170 passes and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.
The 11 turnovers last season don't accurately describe the type of player
Lawson is. Scouts rave about his competitiveness and decision making. They believe he is skilled enough to be a
difference maker at the next level.
Casa Grande doesn't return ESPN 300 defensive tackle Elijah Qualls. Qualls, now at Washington,
recorded 89 tacklesand a remarkable 22 tackles for loss. He was also their leading rusher with 7
50 yards last season.
Losing linebacker Jimmy Johnson might affect the Gauchos defense as well. Johnson was impeccable
on defensewith 102 tackles his senior season.
Senior linebacker John Porchivina, a two star recruit on Rivals, is expected to have a dominant season.
Porchivina closed out his junior year with 53 tackles and is looking for more in hopes of playing for the
NCS Division 2 Championship. He currently holds offers from Idaho and Sacramento State and more
are expected to burst his way.
Porchivina will also be a key component on the offense this season after rushing for 703 yards his junior
season.
With two current division one recruits, scouts will be flocking to Petaluma to see Lawson and Porchivina
in search of finding one of their next stars to help guide their universities football program in the right direction.
JaJuan Lawson currently holds offers from 11 schools. Those colleges include Arizona, Arizona State,
Boston College,Colorado State, Fresno State, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, Texas State
and UNLV.
After losing to Concord in the quarterfinals of the NCS Playoffs last November, the Gauchos are looking
to advance deeper into the postseason and try and contend with Clayton Valley, who looks to be the
frontrunner for Division 2.
A nonleague matchup at Heritage on September 6th could be a test game for Casa Grande. Heritage
is just outside our Top 25 and has a new coach in Don Sanders, who was tremendous head coach for
the Patriots' freshman squad leading them to a 9-1 record last year and undefeated seasons in 2010
and 2011.
Traveling to Cardinal Newman to close out the regular season will be the most vigorous game they play
this year. Cardinal Newman boats quarterback Keaton Dunsford, who currently holds an offer from
Harvard.
Coach Trent Herzog knows how to successfully build up players. Although they don't return some of their
stars on defense, the Gauchos should still be an accomplished team fighting for their right to play
in the NCS Division 2 Championship game.
Top Players: QB/DB JaJuan Lawson, Sr.; LB/RB John Porchivina, Sr.; DE/TE Kyle Chase, Sr.
Key Losses: DT/RB Elijah Qualls; LB/FB Jimmy Johnson; WR/FS Jarred Roberts
Team Strengths: Multi-Dimensional offense, Dual-threat QB, LB's
Team Weaknesses: D-Line
Last Season: 7-4 (5-2 North Bay, 3rd Place); NCS Division 2 Quarterfinals
Schedule
8/30 Eureka
9/6 @ Heritage
9/13 @ Napa
9/27 Montgomery
10/4 @ Santa Rosa
10/11 @ Maria Carrillo
10/18 Rancho Cotate
10/25 Ukiah
11/1 Windsor
11/8 @ Cardinal Newman
PETALUMA-Star players seem to be a dime a dozen lately in Petaluma.
that is at the other high school in the city, Casa Grande.
JaJuan Lawson is rated as a three star dual-threat quarterback on
ESPN, Rivals and Scout. ESPN RecruitingNation rates him as the
25th best dual-threat QB in America, and that might be an understatement
with his speed and arm.
Lawson threw for 1860 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for 550
yards and eight touchdowns in his junior campaign. He completed
110-of-170 passes and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.
The 11 turnovers last season don't accurately describe the type of player
Lawson is. Scouts rave about his competitiveness and decision making. They believe he is skilled enough to be a
difference maker at the next level.
Casa Grande doesn't return ESPN 300 defensive tackle Elijah Qualls. Qualls, now at Washington,
recorded 89 tacklesand a remarkable 22 tackles for loss. He was also their leading rusher with 7
50 yards last season.
Losing linebacker Jimmy Johnson might affect the Gauchos defense as well. Johnson was impeccable
on defensewith 102 tackles his senior season.
Senior linebacker John Porchivina, a two star recruit on Rivals, is expected to have a dominant season.
Porchivina closed out his junior year with 53 tackles and is looking for more in hopes of playing for the
NCS Division 2 Championship. He currently holds offers from Idaho and Sacramento State and more
are expected to burst his way.
Porchivina will also be a key component on the offense this season after rushing for 703 yards his junior
season.
With two current division one recruits, scouts will be flocking to Petaluma to see Lawson and Porchivina
in search of finding one of their next stars to help guide their universities football program in the right direction.
JaJuan Lawson currently holds offers from 11 schools. Those colleges include Arizona, Arizona State,
Boston College,Colorado State, Fresno State, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, Texas State
and UNLV.
After losing to Concord in the quarterfinals of the NCS Playoffs last November, the Gauchos are looking
to advance deeper into the postseason and try and contend with Clayton Valley, who looks to be the
frontrunner for Division 2.
A nonleague matchup at Heritage on September 6th could be a test game for Casa Grande. Heritage
is just outside our Top 25 and has a new coach in Don Sanders, who was tremendous head coach for
the Patriots' freshman squad leading them to a 9-1 record last year and undefeated seasons in 2010
and 2011.
Traveling to Cardinal Newman to close out the regular season will be the most vigorous game they play
this year. Cardinal Newman boats quarterback Keaton Dunsford, who currently holds an offer from
Harvard.
Coach Trent Herzog knows how to successfully build up players. Although they don't return some of their
stars on defense, the Gauchos should still be an accomplished team fighting for their right to play
in the NCS Division 2 Championship game.
Top Players: QB/DB JaJuan Lawson, Sr.; LB/RB John Porchivina, Sr.; DE/TE Kyle Chase, Sr.
Key Losses: DT/RB Elijah Qualls; LB/FB Jimmy Johnson; WR/FS Jarred Roberts
Team Strengths: Multi-Dimensional offense, Dual-threat QB, LB's
Team Weaknesses: D-Line
Last Season: 7-4 (5-2 North Bay, 3rd Place); NCS Division 2 Quarterfinals
Schedule
8/30 Eureka
9/6 @ Heritage
9/13 @ Napa
9/27 Montgomery
10/4 @ Santa Rosa
10/11 @ Maria Carrillo
10/18 Rancho Cotate
10/25 Ukiah
11/1 Windsor
11/8 @ Cardinal Newman