Mtn. Ridge QB Stancato desires to play 2 sports
Keegan Stancato on Dec. 10 became the University of Portland’s final baseball signing for 2019.
But the Glendale Mountain Ridge senior now craves a college football career, as well, after having a breakout season at quarterback, leading the Lions to a turnaround season that got them into the 6A playoffs.
“I still want to play both sports in college, because I love both of them,” Stancato said.
The problem is Portland doesn’t have a football program.
Another problem is that he’s gotten zero interest from Division I college football coaches.
Stancato, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, whose twin brother Kyler, a receiver in football, signed to play baseball at Washington State, never had a full high school football season until he passed for 2,750 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.
He was dealing with injuries his first three years of high school football, the first two in the state of Washington.
Stancato never had any personalized quarterback training, because he spent a good portion of the year playing club baseball.
Mountain Ridge’s first-year coach Doug Madoski, who produced several Division I quarterbacks at Scottsdale Community College, feels Stancato is a Division I-caliber college quarterback.
“Both myself and (offensive coordinator) Tommy Ziegler have compared him to numerous quarterbacks that we’ve had at SCC that went on to be All-Americans,” Madoski said. “Hopefully, we can get someone to be interested enough to offer him.”
The next college football signing period begins Feb. 5.
Stancato is open.
“The atmosphere that football brings can’t be compared to,” Stancato said. “All the fans and players all relying on you to do the right thing. The feeling is amazing.
“I’m still trying to figure out still exactly what I want to do next year.”