Vacaville Insider: To Be The QB

Offensive coordinator Chris Santopadre works with quarterbacks Tyler Irwin, center, and Derek Jenkins during practice. Irwin will start in the Bulldogs' season opener tonight.

Vacaville High School’s football program has produced its fair share of solid quarterbacks even though the passing game has never been the Bulldogs’ claim to fame. Now it is Tyler Irwin’s turn.

The junior will get his first dose of varsity competition tonight when the Bulldogs face Rodriguez High of Fairfield at Tom Zunino Stadium. Vacaville won 49-42 in the teams’ first meeting last season despite quarterbacks Robert Bensing and Ross Peacock failing to complete one pass.

Tyler Irwin will lead the offense.

Offensive coordinator Chris Santopadre would love to let the football fly frequently this season, but how often he calls passing plays will depend on Irwin’s accuracy and the receivers’ reliability.

If they can’t play catch, passing will be sacked. Given the team’s stable of talented running backs, Santopadre will not spurn the ground game for the sake of showing he is not afraid of throwing.

“There are some games (in which) we are averaging 8 or more yards a play running the ball,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to throw when the run is working so well.”

The Bulldogs are at their best when they can demoralize an opposing defense by running over it. That does not mean Santopadre will be satisfied with Irwin if the junior is proficient at handing off.

Santopadre said the coaching staff will be looking for Irwin to take charge in the huddle and set a tempo for the offense in the opener.

Irwin prevailed in the battle with senior Derek Jenkins for the starting job, at least for the first week. Irwin will have to prove he is worthy, Santopadre said, and Jenkins is not out of the picture.

“The coaching staff felt Tyler gave us the best opportunity to move down the field,” said Santopadre, who added that Jenkins will receive ample playing time in the five nonleague games.