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The 6-foot-5 sophomore throws for a state-record 613 yards and eight touchdowns to beat Glide in a 2A game

October 23, 2018 by Jerry Ulmer, OSAAtoday
Jaxon Rozewski has thrown 32 touchdowns passes for Toledo this season.
Jaxon Rozewski has thrown 32 touchdowns passes for Toledo this season.

Before Friday night, few outside of the central Oregon Coast knew much about Jaxon Rozewski.

That all changed after the sophomore quarterback from 2A Toledo put on one of the all-time performances in Oregon high school football history.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Rozewski completed 29 of 49 passes for 613 yards and eight touchdowns in a 59-56 win over Glide. The yardage total broke the 11-man state record. The touchdown total tied for the state mark with four others.

The way the Boomers’ passing game has evolved this season, they could almost see it coming.

“It was definitely due to explode,” Rozewski said. “It was a lot of fun to do. I knew I was doing pretty well, then I saw what I did the next day and I was like, ‘Wow, I did not know I did that at all.’ I was on cloud nine all day.”

Rozewski’s 613 yards broke the mark of 569, held by Westview’s Austin Brisbee (2014). The others to throw eight touchdown passes are Yoncalla’s Ricky Shaw (2001), Central Catholic’s Ryan Gunderson (2002), Marist Catholic’s Logan Silver (2010) and Ridgeview’s Jacob Johnson (2013).

So how good is Rozewski?

“I think honestly he’s a Division I quarterback,” Toledo coach Steven Cragun said. “I know he wants to play Division I college football. In 2A football, it’s really hard to get noticed. He’s got some work to do still. He’s got to get faster.”

Rozewski is a versatile athlete. As a freshman, he was a third-team all-state basketball player and a starting pitcher for the varsity baseball team.

But football is where Rozewski stands out the most. After Cragun took the Toledo job two years ago, Rozewski’s talent jumped out at him during a youth football camp.

“I saw him throw, and I saw the way he looked, and I thought, ‘That’s going to be my future quarterback,’” Cragun said. “He had the natural size, and he already had a great arm.”

Since that time, Cragun said Rozewski has come a long way in his physical development and understanding of the game. He had his moments in spot duty as a freshman -- throwing for 263 yards against Gold Beach and tossing four touchdown passes against Waldport -- and has made giant strides as a sophomore.

“I put in a whole bunch of work off the field during the offseason,” Rozewski said. “I worked on my knowledge for the game, and getting stronger. Last year it was pretty stressful. It just felt fast-paced, and I struggled quite a bit. This year I feel like it’s all slowing down, and I just know a lot more. I have a better feel for the game.”

For the season, Rozewski has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,534 yards and 32 touchdowns with nine interceptions for the Boomers (5-3, 2-1 Special District 4). Before Friday, his best game was Sept. 21 against Central Linn, when he threw for 355 yards and six touchdowns.

Cragun admits that he didn’t expect Rozewski to be putting up such big numbers this season.

“We struggled early in the season,” Cragun said. “Our line struggled to make blocks and give him time to throw. So he was getting hit a lot. We got things figured out on the line, and once we did that, he just started shredding people. I knew he was going to be good, but I didn’t know he’d be this good, this early.”

Toledo, which runs a no-huddle spread offense, knew it would be difficult to run against Glide’s stout defensive front Friday. So the Boomers came prepared to air it out with Rozewski and their two standout receivers, senior Cameron Lonergan and sophomore Donovan Villanueva.

“In 2A football, not very many teams throw the ball like we do,” Cragun said. “Most teams are run-heavy, so a lot of teams aren’t prepared for that. A lot of the DBs can’t guard our receivers, and Jaxon can throw the ball so well, and he’s learned how to read defenses really well.”

Glide’s defense was overwhelmed in the first half as Rozewski threw six touchdown passes. Glide (5-3) made adjustments in the second half, double-teaming receivers, and rallied from a 52-14 deficit.

Toledo’s receivers also had career nights. Lonergan caught 11 passes for 333 yards and five touchdowns and Villanueva had 11 catches for 229 yards and three scores. Lonergan’s yardage total is No. 4 all-time in the state.

“I have a very good bond with my receivers,” Rozewski said. “Their IQ, their knowledge of the game, is just great. They’re so good at making reads and knowing what to do at the right time. They’ve just got football smarts. And they’re just so athletic. What we’ve got on a lot of teams is just speed.”

Toledo is averaging 41.3 points per game, second most in 2A. The Boomers, who were 2-7 last season, can claim a share of the district title Friday with a win at first-place Coquille (6-2, 3-0).

For now, Rozewski is focusing on helping Toledo win. He has two more years to pursue his goal of playing college football.

“That’s been a dream of mine forever. That would be awesome if I could achieve that,” said Rozewski, whose father, Kryspin Rozewski, played college baseball at Western Oregon. “I’d love to go D-I. I think with my skills, and if I keep working, I could definitely make that happen.”

At this stage of his career, what is the biggest improvement he could make?

“My speed and agility, my lateral quickness,” he said. “I feel pretty confident in my throwing, but if I can get my speed, that will make me better.”

Cragun said that Rozewski is committed to improve.

“He loves football, 100 percent,” Cragun said. “I told him that I’ll do anything I can for him to get there if he really wants it.”