Schools
Clayton Freshman QB Jake Brown Having 'Great' Experience
The Clayton High School student has thrown four touchdown passes this season as part of the Greyhounds varsity football team.
freshman football player Jake Brown is having an experience many his age can only dream of.
This year, Brown is leading Clayton’s varsity football team as quarterback.
“It’s just great,” Brown said. “When I think about it, this is just a whole other level. I’m getting two or three years' more experience than anyone else my age.”
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Brown said he’s learned a thing or two about the physical nature of the varsity game.
“When you get hit, it hurts,” he said. “But you can’t really do anything about it, you’re the quarterback.”
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Brown has connected on 45 of 103 passes for 546 yards. He’s thrown four touchdown passes so far.
“It’s a giant step up from the eighth grade,” he said about passing. “There’s reading involved, hundreds of more plays and routes, and you also have to ready the safeties and linebackers.”
The freshman said he works with “the best receivers around.” He mentioned wide receivers Aaron Adams, Tyler Walker, Michael Turner and Jeremiah Camp.
“They always run the right routes, and they can run faster than anyone else,” he said. “They can also block for the running backs. They’re very good decoys and just all around good guys.”
Brown also said it was a pleasure to work with running backs Cailer Keaton and Chris Daugherty, who have rushed for 482 and 154 yards.
“They’re hard-nosed kids, and they give it all they have,” he said about Clayton’s running backs.
Clayton has compiled a 3-5 overall record with victories over Westminster, Affton and McCluer.
“I think we’ve improved,” Brown said. “We were kind of lost after . I think we’ve come together as the season went on. We’ve become a better team and we have a good future together.”
Brown played three seasons of football at in Clayton. Before middle school, he spent several years playing in flag football leagues.
“It’s so much slower,” he said about the junior high game. “After watching all of the varsity games, it seems so easy.”
Brown and the rest of the Clayton Greyhounds football team will play Ladue at 7 p.m. Friday at Gay Field in Clayton.