The quarterback picks up his wide receiver every morning on the drive to school. They’re getting to know each other pretty well.
On Friday they showed off their chemistry and communication skills in game action when Jackson Chryst connected with Jamir Shepard seven times for 221 yards and three touchdowns to lead Palo Alto to a big win in its league opener, 41-13 over Milpitas.
Yes, a win by a four-touchdown margin over a defending state champion, a team that blasted Paly last year 49-0.
“That’s a special performance,’’ Palo Alto coach Nelson Gifford said. “A lot of the guys were here for that beatdown. I think they took it as a personal challenge to really go out and play well.’’
The Chryst-to-Shepard aerial connection was nothing short of spectacular. Shepard had two 70-yard receptions in the first half, one on a swing pass that he took for a touchdown, another on a screen pass when he was brought down at the 2. He also had TD receptions of 43 and 3 yards.
“Over the summer we bonded pretty well and every day I give him a ride to school,’’ Chryst said. “We talk, I ask him how he’s doing and we listen to music.’’
What kind of music?
“Oh, you know, rap, Travis Scott, the new wave,’’ Chryst said.
The bonding has paid off. Shepard has 29 receptions, over 600 receiving yards and nine touchdowns through the first five games.
“I told Jamir that he was due,’’ Gifford said. “He’d had some nice games but he was due for a monster game.’’
As good as the passing game was it was not all that Paly (5-0 overall, 1-0 SCVAL De Anza Division) did well Friday.
Aiden Chang carried a career-high 32 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Having never had that big of a workload, Chang was asked how he felt after the game, how bruised and battered he might be from all that running into the teeth of the Milpitas defense:
“I feel great,’’ Chang said. “5-0, I couldn’t feel better.’’
The team’s defensive performance was perhaps even more impressive, holding Milpitas to a net of minus-5 yards rushing and 111 yards of total offense.
Outside linebacker Meesi Mahe was in on two sacks. Inside linebacker Wes Walters recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Seattle Hmelar returned from a hamstring injury to provide depth at linebacker.
“We rotated our linebackers and our D-line and stayed fresh,’’ Gifford said.
So this team that went 3-8 last year is now 5-0 at the halfway point of its regular-season schedule.
“It just makes us feel great,’’ Shepard said. “Last year we came into this game without a lot of confidence, with no energy. This year we came out with a lot of confidence and worked as a team to get the win.’’
A big showdown looms next week when Palo Alto travels to Wilcox (5-0, 1-0), which beat Fremont 59-7 in its league opener.