LAKE BALBOA – Jim Rose has been around long enough to know what an early-season loss means and what it doesn’t. Entering his 18th season as Birmingham’s head coach, Rose has routinely front-loaded the Patriots’ non-league schedule with CIF Southern Section opponents. It’s a formula that has helped him produce five City Section champions.

So after Birmingham was shut out by Hart in its opener, Rose wasn’t sounding any alarms. “We gave ourselves a chance defensively,” Rose said. “But if you don’t score, you don’t have any chance.”

Friday against Moorpark offered an important opportunity to evaluate his quarterbacks. Junior Daniel Kakooza and freshman Exavier “X” Johnson. Both had split time in the opener. They would do it again this night. 

Kakooza got the start, but Birmingham went three-and-out. A short punt gave Moorpark the ball near midfield, where a Patriots defense led by All-City strong safety Ray Worthen forced a fourth-and-10. Instead of punting, Moorpark’s Dawson Armstrong hit a late-breaking middle screen for a 40-yard touchdown.

An onside kick followed that Moorpark recovered. Five plays later, Armstrong threw a 10-yard touchdown pass and Birmingham suddenly trailed 14-0 four minutes in.

Armstrong torched the Patriot secondary for 154 yards on his first three drives, converting on third and fourth downs to gain a 20-0 lead.

Birmingham eventually forced a Moorpark punt and Rose gave Johnson his opportunity. The freshman’s first series ended in a three-and-out, but there was a buzz. “X” threw a couple of sharp passes, including one that was dropped.

Moorpark stretched its lead to 26-0 on Armstrong’s third touchdown pass of the first half. Birmingham had been outscored 46-0 through nearly six quarters to begin its season. The kind of start that can fracture a young team. It didn’t. There was no finger-pointing on the Birmingham sideline. No visible panic.

Birmingham began feeding All-City running back Braylen Morgan, who ripped off consecutive first-down runs. Then Johnson found Jayden Woolen over the top for a 35-yard touchdown just before halftime. Birmingham finally had its first points. More importantly, they had some life.

Moorpark pushed the lead to 33-7 in the third quarter on Armstrong’s fourth touchdown pass. But Johnson brought Birmingham right back down the field, connecting with All-City receiver Paul Turner. Cut the deficit to 33-13.

Moorpark went to its backup quarterback a bit early and he fumbled a shotgun snap. Having played essentially the entire game in the Musketeer backfield, Worthen recovered it. Two plays later, Morgan broke loose down the right sideline for a 47-yard touchdown. Suddenly it was 33-20 with over seven minutes remaining.

Armstrong returned and Moorpark bled away enough of the clock to secure the win. But “X” wasn’t finished. The freshman connected on two more deep throws and finished 10 of 16 for 196 yards and two touchdowns in roughly two quarters of work. Morgan rushed 11 times for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Birmingham walked away 0-2. Yet the Patriots who left the field Friday night looked considerably different from the team that found itself trailing 26-0.

“Tonight I learned there wasn’t any quit in (our players),” Rose stated after the game. “They could’ve felt sorry for themselves. Didn’t. Championship teams don’t have quit in them.”

While time will tell on a championship, but the Patriots may have found their X-factor at quarterback. Birmingham has a short week to prepare for another Southern Section opponent when they travel to face Calabasas this Thursday night. 

all photos by Benjamin Becher