UC High Football Quarterback Quentyn DeMara was electric in the season opener. The star senior threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another, to lead the Centurions in their 55 to 20 win over Rancho Christian High.
DeMara, a team captain, hopes to lead the Centurions to the school’s second Football CIF Championship in school history. “The end goal is to win a ring, but besides that, I am just focused on winning each game and playing good football,” said DeMara.
DeMara established himself as a top quarterback in the city last year as a junior, throwing for over 2800 yards and 36 touchdowns, according to the MaxPreps website, both numbers placing him well within the top ten of San Diego quarterbacks (maxpreps.com).
While DeMara has improved tremendously since his freshman year, the largest growth has come inside the locker room. UC High Football Head Coach Paul Lawrence spoke extensively about DeMara’s maturation as a leader. “Q has always been a great athlete, but over the years, his maturity and leadership has stood out to me. He has come a long way as a leader since he was a freshman,” said Lawrence.
Fellow Senior and Captain Dyami Collins also spoke highly of DeMara’s leadership. “Q is important to the team not just because of his on-the-field performance, but because of all the little things he does. He always makes sure the team is prepared and knows what they are doing. He’s like a mini coaching staff on his own,” said Collins.
As a junior, DeMara was selected to the Eastern League First Team due to his key contributions to last year’s 10-2 Centurion squad. He isn’t completely satisfied, however. “Every year, every game, is an opportunity to get better. Growth is always the goal,” he said.
DeMara and the Centurions will get an opportunity on San Diego’s biggest stage this year, the Western League, home to perennial powerhouses like Lincoln and Cathedral Catholic. “I am excited to play in the Western League again. We played in the Western League my sophomore year, but we underperformed. This gives us a chance to prove ourselves as a top program in the city,” said DeMara.
DeMara’s performance has garnered him lots of local recognition. DeMara is frequently highlighted by the KUSI Prep Pigskin Report, as well as other local media outlets, which have highlighted him as a top quarterback in San Diego’s Senior Class.
Reaching many eyes, DeMara has also received national attention. He earned a three-star rating on 247 Sports, a high school sports ranking site, and was ranked as high as a top 15 national quarterback recruit in the class of 2026 during his freshman season (247sports.com).
DeMara hasn’t let the attention get to him, though. “Being a three-star is cool and all, but I am always striving for better. The work never stops,” said DeMara.
DeMara’s work ethic has not gone unnoticed by his teammates. Junior Tucker Wojdowski, a fellow captain, said “Q is a tone setter. He is extremely dedicated to football and pushes everyone around him to get better.”
DeMara, a member of the 2022-23 CIF Championship Team, has been through it all in his football career. “I’ve been playing football since I was a little kid, so I’ve been on both winning teams and losing teams, but to be a part of that Championship Team was special. It was a great group of guys with a lot of talent, and they really taught me a lot about the game, ” said DeMara.
While DeMara briefly attended two other high schools, he ultimately played all four seasons of his high school career as a Centurion. “I am extremely glad to be a Centurion. All four years I have been surrounded by great teammates and coaches. I am especially grateful to Coach Paul. Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said DeMara.
DeMara’s teammates shared a similar sentiment. “I am grateful to be teammates with Q. My best memory was talking to him about his journey and everything he’s been through, and it truly inspired me to be a better person and player, ” said Collins.
Even though DeMara’s high school career is coming to an end, his future in football is wide open. “Q has college level talent. Where that is, I’m not sure. It’s really up to Q. As long as he keeps playing and keeps working, the future is extremely bright for him,” said Lawrence.