LOS GATOS — When Jake Boyd began his first high school football practice as a freshman, he knew what position he wanted to play.
Quarterback.
Never mind that he had not played the position in two years of Pop Warner.
“I remember freshman year, first day, they let you pick what position you want,” Boyd said. “I said I wanted to try out at quarterback. I had played baseball and had a decent arm.”
Flash forward two years, and Boyd has become the first junior to start at quarterback on varsity for Los Gatos High since Mark Krail became the head coach in 2013.
How has Boyd done?
In leading his team to an 8-0 record to start this season, Boyd has a 20-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has completed 85 of 142 passes (60 percent) for 1,555 yards. He has also rushed for two scores. Los Gatos has averaged 40.8 points a game and has scored at least 35 points in each one.
“It’s a combination of athleticism and arm strength and moxie,” Krail said. “He’s kind of got that (moxie). There is a smoothness to him and composure; he doesn’t get flustered too much.
“He’s just super poised and understands what we are trying to do. He’s fun to coach because he’s eager to get better. He protects his teammates. … If something goes wrong, he’s the first one to say, ‘My bad.’ To me, that is a real sign of a leader, a guy who doesn’t point fingers but takes responsibility.”
When asked about his biggest concerns when he goes back to pass, Boyd said, “I don’t really have many concerns when I drop back to pass. Our line is so great, there is rarely pressure.”
Among the other people to whom he gave thanks were line coach David Orvick and the team’s receivers, whom he said are amazing.
Boyd showed his football maturity on a key play against Wilcox in the Wildcats’ 41-18 victory on Sept. 24.
On fourth-down at the Wilcox 7-yard line late in the third quarter, Boyd went back to pass, but his options were limited. Some quarterbacks might have tried to force a throw into the end zone. But Boyd saw a large amount of open real estate in front of him, and he ran into the end zone with the eventual winning points.
“He’s really done a nice job taking care of the ball,” Krail said.
Krail then pointed out something about Boyd’s first interception, which occurred against Santa Clara on Oct. 1.
“That interception was on a fourth down and I told him to throw the ball,” Krail said. “It was deep in the opponents’ end of the field. He took a shot and it was intercepted.”
Boyd was a running back and kicker during his two Pop Warner seasons, and he still kicks and punts for the Wildcats. He was the starting quarterback for the freshman team in 2019 and the junior varsity team in the spring as a sophomore.
This year’s season-opening 42-20 victory over Monterey Trail-Elk Grove was a big confidence-builder for Boyd, he admitted.
“I was new to varsity and being able to play well and get a first win was a relief,” he said.
Boyd completed nine of 18 passes for just 71 yards but threw three touchdowns in the victory.
He has been able to build upon that performance. In a 35-7 win over Live Oak on Sept. 18, Boyd completed 14 of 16 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns. In the 35-0 victory over Santa Clara, he threw for 327 yards, four touchdowns, and the one interception.
“I’ve always liked to feel being part of the action,” Boyd said. “Being able to have the ball in my hands, it’s a cool feeling.”
With two games left until the start of the Central Coast Section playoffs, it would be tempting for the Wildcats to look ahead. But Boyd isn’t falling into that trap.
“You have to stay focused because you never know when a team is going to sneak up on you,” he said.
That mindset falls in line with a sport he picked up during the pandemic – golf.
“Golf is one of those things, it is always about the next shot or the next swing,” said Boyd, who has played baseball and basketball during his time at Los Gatos. “Like in football, you are always moving on to the next play.”
