QB Gage Baker ready to break out at Paradise Honors in first full season

There were high hopes for Surprise Paradise Honors football the moment Gage Baker walked onto the football field last year as a sophomore.

He had transferred from Surprise Willow Canyon, raring to go in coach Josh Goodloe's "Air Raid" offense. But he had to wait five games before he could play due to the Arizona Interscholastic Association transfer rules.

When he did, watch out.

In his debut, he threw for 401 yards and eight touchdowns in a 61-13 rout of Buckeye Odyssey Institute. He was voted by fans as The Arizona Republic's Performer of the Week.

If that was just a sample of what's to come this year, the Panthers could be looking at a breakthrough 3A playoff season in 2022, as they prepare for their Aug. 19 home opener against Wickenburg.

"He's a smart kid," Goodloe said. "He led the state in completion percentage last year. He gets the ball out and gets it to the receivers."

It's been six years since the Panthers had a winning season. They went 10-2 in 2016, losing to Eagar Round Valley in the 2A quarterfinals.

Baker, a 6-foot, 165-pound junior, was one of three transfers who helped the Panthers' passing attack the second half of the season.

Garrison Ast (6-2, 170) had 25 catches for 388 yards and a TD in the last five games, while Coleman Burkhart (6-1, 185) had 14 catches for 380 yards and seven scores in the second half of the season.

They're all back, along with leading receiver Josh Morales (5-11, 150), a junior, who had 600 yards and 12 TD catches.

"Since last year, I think the culture is starting to change," said Baker, who ended up passing for 1,887 yards and 28 TDs with six interceptions, completing 127 of 169 passes. "Football is starting to get a lot more respect around the school."

The team went 3-2 with Baker at the wheel of the offense, finishing the season 4-6.

"I think after this season, if we do really well like we're supposed to, the football culture will definitely rise," Baker said.

Baker hasn't been on the Division I college coaches' recruiting radar. But he's not worried about that. He knows if he just keeps growing, performing well and leading his team to victories, recruiting will take care of itself.

"We're taking it day to day," Baker said. "I think the overall goal is to make the playoffs and hang a section banner in our gym. That's the main goal. And then to just go as far as we can."

Baker is more of a pro-style quarterback who takes pride in having such a high completion percentage (75% last season).

"If you can have a high completion percentage, all of the numbers will fall," he said. "If I can keep that up, I think I'll be among the top (in the state) in the other categories."

Morales is looking forward to even more production this season.

"The last five games with him, our offense improved a lot and a lot of us got the ball more," Morales said. "Our offense started clicking, scoring more points. With him for 10 games, it's going to help us a lot this year."

Goodloe also returns downhill running back/middle linebacker Vance Cooper (5-10, 200), whose season last year was derailed by an injury. Also returning is a healthy Jalen Cox (6-5, 220), a two-way lineman who began last season injured.

"Once healthy he anchored the offensive line and played left tackle," Goodloe said. "He has focused this off-season on becoming stronger and better at his craft."

If the Panthers stay healthy, Goodloe feels this will be a good season for Paradise Honors.

There are 67 players in the program. He is expecting more freshmen to come out after student orientation.

Goodloe, in his third year leading the program after spending nine years as an assistant coach at Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor, said he feels this will be a big year for Baker, a 4.0 student who is part of the National Honor Society and was voted a team captain.

"The kids follow Gage," Goodloe said.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Paradise Honors QB Gage Baker ready to break out in 1st full season