CONCORD – Christian Aguilar began at quarterback in a North Coast Part championship recreation final season, filling in for injured star Jaden Rashada, and led Pittsburg to its first part title in 30 years.
The opponent that evening was Clayton Valley Constitution.
The ultimate rating was 28-14.
“He was the principle purpose they gained that recreation,” Clayton Valley coach Tim Murphy stated this month. “The child was as correct because it acquired.”
Now the child is on Murphy’s staff.
A few weeks after the championship recreation, Aguilar, now a senior, moved and enrolled at Clayton Valley. He has been cleared to play on the Harmony faculty as a result of the switch was a household transfer, Murphy and Aguilar stated.
Aguilar is in a decent competitors for enjoying time at Clayton Valley with the staff’s backup final 12 months, junior Mason Lovett. Pittsburg continues to be led by Rashada, a five-star senior who has dedicated to the College of Miami and stays on good phrases together with his former backup.
“Me and Rashada are actually good mates to today,” Aguilar stated.
Given the standard of the packages separated by 9 miles over Kirker Move Highway, it’s attainable – even perhaps doubtless – that Pittsburg and Clayton Valley may meet once more within the postseason.
Within the NCS Division I championship recreation final season, Aguilar had a storybook evening. He accomplished 21 of 27 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns.
The next week, Rashada, who would later say he was “like 55-60 p.c” from a hamstring damage, returned to the sector for a regional recreation on the street in opposition to Liberty of Bakersfield. Pittsburg misplaced 35-7, an end result that ended the Pirates’ season one victory from taking part in for a state title.
Aguilar completed the sport in opposition to Liberty. He was 4 of 5 for 37 yards.
After winter break, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Aguilar was a pupil at Clayton Valley.
“Exhibiting up Day 1 was a complete one other surroundings for me,” Aguilar stated. “Speaking to a few of the gamers, we had some laughs and giggles. We had simply performed them and beat them. Now I clearly simply transferred to that faculty, which is loopy. I didn’t actually know no one. It was a unique surroundings, for certain.”
Aguilar stated it took a couple of week for him to really feel extra comfortable from the nerves he had when he stepped onto the campus.
“Day 1, me and coach Murph talked rather a lot,” Aguilar stated. “The gamers introduced me in early on and from there I’ve constructed loads of pleasant relationships with them.”
Aguilar confirmed final season that he can adapt shortly to vary. He stated he discovered in the course of the week that he — not Rashada — would almost definitely play within the title recreation in opposition to Clayton Valley.
“Any backup quarterback can simply get thrown in,” Aguilar stated.
After the switch, he added, his new teammates advised him that they'd been getting ready for Pittsburg’s QB1, not the backup who had thrown not more than 10 passes in any recreation that season.
“They noticed me and thought for certain they'd the sport within the bag,” Aguilar stated. “They have been saying they didn’t see it coming, I assume you can say.”
In his postgame interview, Pittsburg coach Victor Galli stated of Aguilar, “He’s a extremely good quarterback taking part in behind a extremely good quarterback. It’s good to have somebody like that as an insurance coverage coverage.”
Now he might be Clayton Valley’s QB1.
“He’s good, hasn’t missed a apply, has improved tremendously,” Murphy stated. “Very coachable, nice child, his teammates love him. Fully dependable. I don’t have one detrimental factor to say about him. He’s an amazing child, and he’s made our backup from final 12 months, Mason Lovett, oh my God, that child is a unique child. His work ethic, his dedication, his work on his personal, going to camps. He’d have by no means accomplished all this if it wasn’t for Christian.”
Each quarterbacks will want to ensure their arms are free as a result of Murphy stated he plans to throw the ball “far more” than in earlier seasons.
“I acquired out of double tight, partly as a result of Christian came to visit and we've got extra receivers than regular,” Murphy stated. “I needed to attempt one thing new. I’ve been doing my offense for 30 years.”
Clayton Valley opens the season at dwelling in opposition to Salinas on Aug. 26. It closes the common season at dwelling in opposition to De La Salle on Nov. 4.
Then perhaps, simply perhaps, a postseason date in opposition to Pittsburg.
“That will be enjoyable to play that recreation once more,” Aguilar stated. “Me and my mates have been speaking about that at Clayton — how ironic that may be to play them.”
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