OCEANSIDE – There is a certain level of responsibility that comes with being the quarterback at Oceanside High. The Pirates run a complex offense, so the young man under center must have more than just a strong arm and moxie.

The job requires brains and bluster, too. The quarterback has to know when he can fit the ball into a tight space and when to check down and dump it off.

So far, Jordan Wynn has performed the role almost flawlessly.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound junior has Oceanside's offense hitting on all cylinders as the top-ranked Pirates ride a six-game winning streak heading into tomorrow's Avocado League football matchup at Vista.

Wynn has a spectacular completion percentage of 71.7, highest among quarterbacks with at least six starts. With 1,566 yards and 10 touchdowns in 145 attempts, he's among the leaders in every major passing category. That heady play has given the Pirates (2-0 Avocado League, 6-1 overall) one of the most feared offenses in the region.

But he hasn't been perfect. Wynn, who stepped in this year as the Pirates' starter, points to his team's 28-20 season-opening loss to Helix as an early turning point for him.

“That game was my learning curve,” said Wynn, who threw three interceptions and a pair of touchdown passes against the Highlanders. “I finally understood the speed and tempo of the varsity game. That loss allowed me to set a very high bar for myself.”

Jordan Wynn

In the next six games, Wynn threw eight touchdown passes to just three interceptions. Much of that is the communication and rapport he's developed with a talented receiving corps, which includes seniors Lamont Enyard, Frank Zimmerman, Roy Tialavea and David Gutierrez.

“Over the summer, I worked really hard at earning their trust,” said Wynn, 17. “I want them to know that I can perform and they can count on me in the fourth quarter. I want them to think, 'We'll be fine being led by Jordan.' I think I've gained that trust.”

Enyard, who has caught half of Wynn's touchdown throws, agrees.

“Jordan picks everything up fast,” said the 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound receiver. “Every week we get a scouting report, and it tells you what you have to learn. When we get together to watch film or when we're in a huddle, he's always the one pointing stuff out.”

The Pirates, winners of the past three San Diego Section Division II championships, haven't had to rely on Wynn's arm as much this year because of the outstanding performance of running back Armani Taylor, who is tied for the section lead in scoring and has recorded eight touchdowns in his past two games. That running attack, Wynn said, has taken some of the pressure off him in his first season.

But that doesn't mean he's relaxed. A self-described film rat, Wynn said he spends seven to eight hours each week studying game tapes. He spends his lunch time in the coaches' office watching film. He brings it home at night.

Commanding an intricate offense that can have as many as five different reads on one play requires that kind of dedication.

“I think I'm at the point where I've got the offense down 100 percent,” Wynn said. “We run the same offense from freshmen year on, so I've had three years in it. I'll spend hours just picking apart a defense.

“It doesn't hurt either that my offensive line is amazing and the receivers will come down with it wherever I put it.”

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