Post Top 25 countdown: No. 22 Lake Worth

Tuesday, August 14, 2012
by Matt Porter

In 2008, Lake Worth coach Errick Lowe lost his program's bedrock when standout quarterback Star Jackson graduated. With fingers crossed, Lowe tossed the keys to Evan Moore, a skinny 14-year-old.

Though he took his lumps as a freshman, Moore became the most productive quarterback in his class. After 7,825 career passing and rushing yards and 97 touchdowns, he graduated in May.

Enter Luis Peguero.

The 15-year-old sophomore will be Lake Worth's starting quarterback this fall, after throwing his first passes last year on junior varsity.

"I've been playing football since I was 7, at a lot of different positions. I've been wanting to play quarterback for a long time," Peguero said. "No coach ever gave me a chance."

He has the opportunity this year to help the Trojans (4-6 last season) compete with District 13-7A powers Dwyer, Royal Palm Beach and Atlantic. Peguero, with youthful confidence, isn't thinking about the lessons those imposing defenses might teach him.

"I'm thinking about nothing less than 15-0," he said.

Lowe said Peguero compares well to Moore at this point in their careers.

"He's got big shoes to fill, but he doesn't have little feet," Lowe said. "I think he'll be all right."

Peguero is 6-foot-2 and a solid 195 pounds, with a strong arm. On the JV last year, Lowe began teaching Peguero to read the field, fixing his bad habits, building him into a leader.

"We've broken him down to the point we're starting from scratch," Lowe said. "It's been about 9 months solid. He's progressing."

Peguero has potential, but he's also never directed a varsity offense. He'll count on senior James Looney, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound guard, and the Trojans' offensive line to do their jobs. He'll hope senior receiver Jermer Braswell (6-2, 185), senior slot receiver Richard Seraphin (5-5, 155) and promising sophomore James Jones (6-3, 205) will play their part in the Trojans' spread attack.

Watching with interest will be former Glades Central coach Jessie Hester, Lake Worth's new athletic director. Hester won't be a day-to-day coach, but he'll be there should Peguero want to talk.

Hester, a former NFL wide receiver, jokes that quarterback is usually a "prima donna position," but Peguero is tough-minded.

"There's nothing soft about him," Hester said. "He has the respect of all the guys. To bring that type of leadership at a young age is very special."