Prep football: Sheldon Huskies look to make a playoff run with 1-2 passing punch
They have spent countless hours together throwing and catching. Working on routes, timing, conditioning to to see who can scarf down more Otter Pop frozen treats.
The bond between quarterback and receiver is either there, or it isn’t. At Sheldon High School, it’s there. The vibe between passer Jesiah Machado and target Scott Nixon includes a bounty of school career records with a shared larger goal: a Sac-Joaquin Section championship.
On Thursday night, Machado passed for a modest 127 yards, but he delivered four touchdown passes to four different targets, including a 14-yarder to Nixon to help separate the game in a 43-12 triumph of Pleasant Grove in a Delta League finale.
Nixon, a do-all marvel if there ever was one, also rushed 23 times for 189 yards and a 9-yard score in fill-in duty for hobbled running back star Devin Green, who will play in the Division I postseason that starts next week.
“It’s great having Scott, he runs perfect routes and has great hands,” Machado said.
Nixon praised his line, his coaches and especially his quarterback for the 7-3 season and gaudy season statistics. Nixon never played running back in his life, but he produced 230 yards and three scores in a win over Franklin in his first start at the position earlier this season. He has 670 yards rushing and seven touchdowns and he has 77 receptions for 1,126 yards and 15 scores.
Machado has passed for 2,105 yards and 28 touchdowns with just five interceptions.
On the chemistry between QB and WR, coach Chris Nixon, father of Scott, said, “It’s huge. Jesiah’s had a great year. Being a receiver, it’s the last link. You have to have the line play and the quarterback has to make the read.”
He also said, “Jesiah and Scott continue to exceed my expectations. They’ve been playing together forever and you would think I would learn my lesson and stop underestimating then. I’m as big of a fan of theirs as anyone. I’ve don’t them during games, ‘You guys call the plays. I just want to be a fan and enjoy this.’
“Tremendous athletes with grades to match.”
Well after the game, Scott Nixon embraced Pleasant Grove coach Josh Crabtree, a longtime coaching pal of Chris Nixon, the family patriarch. He has seen the Nixon boys grow up before his eyes.
“The chemistry between Machado and Nixon is special,” Crabtree said.
The grit and upside of Pleasant Grove was also evident. The Eagles finished 1-9, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. Crabtree in January inherited a young team, and 14 starters will return for another go at it next fall. The leader will be Cole Davis. The sophomore quarterback stunned Sheldon early with an 80-yard touchdown strike to Xavier Porter, and his 27-yard touchdown Antonio Vasquez-Williamson cut it to 14-12 in the second quarter. Davis passed for 223 yards.
Machado’s touchdowns went to Damarcis Cousins (5 yards), to Jeremiah Williamson (22 yards), to Nixon and Fareni Fa’anati (17 yards).
Crabtree got back into coaching this season after several years in school administration in the Elk Grove Unified School District. He was once the head coach at Sheldon and coached a spell as an assistant at American River College. He didn’t get back into the grind to go 1-9. He got into it because football is fun, even during lean seasons such as this, and the sport offers unlimited life lessons. He also connects with players, including his quarterback.
“Sky’s the limit for Cole and this team,” Crabtree said. “He’s grown. Give me a sophomore quarterback to build around and I’ll take it.”
As for the season and experience in general, Crabtree said, “Sometimes kids have to learn it’s OK to care in football. Do it for each other. How hard you play is reflective of how much you care. They worked their tails off this season. A lot of seniors laid the foundation of where we want to go.”
Said coach Nixon of his old friend, “Crab is a rock. The guy is a coach’s coach. I’ve learned a ton from him ... he’s as good a coach as there is in the area.”