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BY BRUCE BOURQUIN
HERALD/REVIEW
HUACHUCA CITY — The fourth-ranked junior college football team in the nation has gotten there with a pair of former Tombstone Yellowjackets.
Eastern Arizona College wide receiver Charley Huston and backup center Ryan Quimby, both freshmen, are part of the rotation for the team from Thatcher.
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Both have received some playing time on head coach John O’Mera’s squad. Huston, who received a partial scholarship for board and books, has played in all seven games for the undefeated Gila Monsters, who are ranked No. 4 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Football Poll.
Eastern Arizona plays in a tough Western States Football League that includes four ranked teams, including No. 1-ranked Snow College from Ephraim, Utah, which EAC visits this Saturday.
Last Saturday at Mesa Community College, ranked 18th, EAC won, 31-7 to improve to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in league.
“I moved from an option team to an option team,” Quimby said during the team’s bye week at Keeline Field. “So it’s the same thing, just bigger guys.”
Quimby has played as a scout team member, helping Eastern Arizona prepare for its next opponent. He blocked for one touchdown but it was called back due to a penalty. Huston has had 13 blocks where backs have gained substantial yards behind him. He’s blocked for more than 10 touchdowns. Huston was named the team’s receiver of the week three times this season, primarily because of his blocking, against Pima and Phoenix College.
“I just worked every day on my form,” Huston said. “We worked on things like crackback blocks, where you run full speed and take out the linebacker.”
Huston, who started in a 41-7 rout at home against Arizona Western College, has two catches, including one for 25 yards in a 21-13 win on Sept. 8 against Glendale. That was the first win for the Gila Monsters over Glendale in 10 seasons.
The 5-foot-9, 166-pound freshman, who wears the No. 81 jersey, plays on the left side. At Tombstone High School, he played on the right side.
“We put tight ends on the right side,” Huston said. “It’s a little harder, but not too much. The coaches are really nice, it’s a winning team. I didn’t think I’d be playing that much at all, and not on this good of an offense.”
That offense is more of an option offense, led by quarterback Pat Riley. Riley has carried the ball 69 times for 646 yards and nine touchdowns, and has thrown for three touchdowns and another 334 yards. The Gila Monsters average 326 yards rushing and 36 points per game, both second-best in the WSFL. In their game against Snow, they’ll run up against a team that has only allowed a league-best 20 yards rushing and 10 points per game.
There are seven undefeated teams at 7-0 in the NJCAA Football Poll. A win over Snow and could put EAC into the No. 1 slot.
“We’re very versatile,” Quimby said. “We probably have the fastest backs in the league. But we practice like we’re an unranked team.”
Quimby, along with former Bisbee running back Anthony Lopez, have been more of a bigger part in Gila Monster practices.
“They give us an active look as a scout team,” O’Mera said. “Ryan plays when we’re up on people, he’s played in about three games. He’s just not big enough to be an offensive lineman. He’s a tough kid. We’ve got to find something more for his size.”
O’Mera got hold of both players due in part to Tombstone varsity football head coach Mike Hayhurst’s mentions and to the fact he saw some tape of both players with the Cochise Cavaliers of the Arizona adult Football League. Despite the fact Quimby was injured for part of last season’s team, he got enough playing time on his father Eric’s team. Huston was one of the only deep threats and was one of the best blocking receivers.
“Both of them have been big for our program,” O’Mera said. “They have to be dedicated to play semi-professional footbal ... you’ve got to hand it to him (Huston). He hasn’t had many passes thrown to him, but he goes out and works hard every day.”
For Quimby, that could mean as a backup fullback. He is a 5-foot-9, 205-pound lineman — he’s listed as 239 pounds and can bench press 325 pounds — on a team where the next smallest player weighs in the 270s. Several starters are in the 300s, including University of Mississippi recruits Ryan Warren, the starting center, left tackle Kyle Brodbeck and right guard Brandon Smith. Another lineman, defensive tackle Simi Fili, is being looked at by the University of Oregon.
Quimby said he wants to become a history teacher and a coach for the Tombstone High School football team and he is looking to attend Western New Mexico University, a Division II school. The straight-A student knows the realities of switching behind center.
“I’m training to become a fullback for next year,” Quimby said. “They said I’m a little too short to play center. I’m undersized, but I’m a tough kid.”
One of the too-close-for-comfort games came in a 41-38 win on Sept. 15 at home against Phoenix College. The PC placekicker, who earlier had nailed a 56-yard field goal, attempted a 51-yard field goal to tie the game.
“His kick bounced off the post and right back out,” Quimby said. “God was on our side our day. I closed my eyes. Coach said, ‘Let’s not have that happen again.’ ”
Stacey Rhodes wrote on Aug 15, 2008 5:56 PM: