HAVERHILL – Zion Padilla did everything that was asked as a first-year starting quarterback for the Greater Lawrence Reggies football team last fall.
He completed a rock-solid 41 of 88 passes for 769 yards with nine TD passes and five interceptions. Normally, that’s good enough to earn the starting job as a senior.
Not so fast.
That’s because the program has two talented and promising sophomores, Carlos Garcia and Jojo Santiago, who six weeks before the season opener, are already challenging for that top spot.
But rather than complain, Padilla has not only embraced the challenge during the Sunday night 7-on-7 games at Haverhill Stadium, he’s become the mentor in the Reggies’ QB room.
“To have Zion mentoring these kids who are pushing him for the starter’s spot, shows everything you need to know about his character and his commitment to the team,” said Reggies head coach Tony Sarkis. “His heart is in the right place and he’s a team player. That’s what you want from your quarterback.”
Before he entered high school, Padilla had never played football before. He was a baseball player – a pitcher.
“We had to get that pitching technique away from him,” said Sarkis. “Once he started with that, and the time that he has put in, he’s been totally outstanding.”
The time started in 2023 when Padilla was a back-up QB on the JV team.
“Our JV starter got hurt and we saw Zion play and it was like ‘Hey this kid has some talent’. I had a conversation with him and told him that he could be a varsity quarterback if you put the time in,” recalled Sarkis. “As soon as I said that he has done absolutely everything he needs to do to get to where he’s at now.”
“Now he has a good release and has some real good qualities at quarterback because of his hard work and effort,” added the coach.
In last year’s season opening stunning late second win over Wakefield, Padilla passed his first test with flying colors, completing 6 of 8 passes for 108 yards and threw his first TD pass to Johan Tamayo.
He had other strong games, including a late TD pass in the team’s win over Weston.
Moments like that helped him gain confidence, improve along the way and learn a thing or two about leadership as the Reggies finished 4-7 in a rebuild year.
“When I was a freshman and a sophomore, Isiah Suero was the varsity quarterback and he helped me a lot,” said Padilla. “What I’m doing for these two guys, he did for me, and I just want to keep that chain going. He taught me how to throw better, how to read better and he taught me a whole lot of stuff about the game and how to be a leader.”
Both Padilla and Sarkis said that Santiago and Garcia have a tremendous amount of promise and talent. Santiago is known for his arm strength and Garcia has a combo of speed and throwing ability.
“Having the two of them here is definitely pushing me and making me better,” said Padilla. “It gives me something to work for. I can’t just take it easy because my spot will be taken. I need to keep working.”
Sarkis said that if Padilla continues to do what he did last year, he expects him to be the No. 1 QB again this fall.
“Zion’s not the fastest guy but when we need a first down, he’ll put his head down and run as fast as he can to get it,” said the coach. “As long as he can make some throws, makes his reads and protects the football, he’s going to be fine.”
You can email Jamie Pote at jamiepote@northofboston.com.