It took a few years to develop, but Jones High dual-threat quarterback Julian Calvez now possesses the kind of consistency that’s transformed him into a complete player late in his senior season.
“It’s been a long ride,” Calvez said by phone early this week. “I reminisce on it and can’t believe it. I’m just grateful to be in the position I’m in today.”
The journey continues this week as Calvez leads the Tigers (11-2) into an FHSAA Class 6A state semifinal game Friday at Pensacola Pine Forest (11-1) at 8:30 p.m.
Apopka (11-2) plays at Treasure Coast (10-1) in an 8A semifinal in Port St. Lucie. Orlando Christian Prep (10-1) faces Jacksonville Trinity Christian (8-4) in a 2A semifinal at a location to be determined.
Jones, the 5A state runner-up in 2019, is playing in the semifinal round for the second time in three years.
“I went from starting at West Orange and getting hurt to coming to Jones and splitting time,” Calvez said. “It was kind of different at first, but it helped me grow off the field. I became a better leader, a better teammate, and just a better guy to be around.”
As a freshman at West Orange, an injury to starting quarterback Elijah Stimmell forced Calvez into a game vs. top-ranked Wekiva while trailing 22-7. He helped the Warriors rally in the second half for a 30-29 win.
After earning the starting job in 2019, Calvez was carted off the field on a stretcher in the first quarter of a late September game vs. Lake Mary and replaced by Tyler Huff. West Orange went on to end its season with four straight losses while under its third head coach in two years.
Calvez, 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, transferred to Jones that spring and spent his junior season backing up senior starter Tysan Robbins. He primarily served as the running threat at QB for a team that went 9-1 and lost at Tampa Jesuit in the region finals.
“There was no pressure on him last year because he wasn’t the starting quarterback,” Jones coach Elijah Williams said. “It takes a while for a kid to be able to handle that, and he’s grown and matured in the right way through trial and error. That’s the best way to learn. It builds your character.”
Williams said Calvez has made “probably his biggest strides during this season,” and that his ups and downs in the past have helped him become a stronger person and player.
Calvez, who has accounted for 31 total TDs on 3,025 yards passing and 541 yards rushing, has made notable strides while improving his presence in the pocket. That has helped produce positive results throughout the postseason.
Such growth has not been without some tough love along the way.
“To his credit, I am a tough coach to play for,” Williams said. “I stay on my quarterbacks hard, because they touch the ball every play and they can make one error and lose the game. So I coach him hard, and he takes it. He understands it, and he grows from it, and it’s going to help him in the long run.”
This article originally appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email J.C. Carnahan at jcarnahan@orlandosentinel.com.
