Elway's varsity debut had a circus atmosphere with heavy media coverage and TV cameras everywhere. He passed for 114 yards and one touchdown and ran nine times for 39 yards and another TD as the Bruins posted a 56-20 victory against Denver's Montbello High. "I was really nervous before that game," he conceded. "There was a lot of pressure -- a lot on my back. After the first series, it all went away and I got comfortable."

"I think any dad would like to have his son follow in his footsteps." John said. "We gave him the opportunity and it was a matter of whether he liked it or not. All I try to do is release [the pressure.] I don't see it [in Jack's play this year.] All he's got to do is play the best he can. We'll take one level at a time."

Following his retirement from the NFL, John began coaching Jack's team when he was in sixth grade. Janet believes that John gave their son a lot of "comfort and support." Their relationship helped his love for football grow and his throwing mechanics and ability to read defenses steadily improved. In later years, he began to get a great feel for the pocket -- an intangible, again from his dad.

Jack's improvement has not only been from year to year, but even from game to game. In this year's fifth game, a 33-3 victory over Smoky Hill, he drilled 22-of-27 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown. On another occasion, he broke loose for a 65-yard touchdown on an option play. In his first six games (a 3-3 record), he completed 81-of-153 passes for 985 yards and four touchdowns, throwing three interceptions. He also ran 42 times for a net of 225 yards and six TDs. He missed last week's game due to a hip injury and could miss a second game this week.

One of the keys to Jack's improvement is a growth spurt of almost four inches in the past two years. He now is 6-3 and a solid 190 pounds. At the same age John was 6-0 and 170 pounds. While John was famous for scrambling, he says his son is quicker. Jack runs the 40 in 4.66 seconds. John said he ran the 40 in around 4.9 at the same stage and his NFL best was 4.74. Jack also has a vertical jump of more than 30 inches and has a throwing range of around 65 yards.

Critchett has watched his young protégé grow from an "awkward" freshman into what he now terms a poised, "physical specimen. He's sharp, understands the game and has really good decision-making skills. In terms of the pocket, he senses things. He's throwing the ball better every week. He's probably more of a drop-back passer, but he has the ability to scramble. We're just excited."

Jack, who also plays basketball, idolizes his father, of course, but he is a big Peyton Manning fan, having attended his camp last summer. He also likes to swim and draw.

He has a 3.5 GPA and his favorite subject is physics. He hasn't thought much about college but said, "I want to get out of state. I would definitely go to Stanford. I love it over there."

John gets the last word on his son. He said, "He's just developing his confidence and still is in the process. Every snap he takes, he gets better. He can take it as far as he wants to take it. He's getting a taste of it this year. He's got the physical tools."

More high school notes

• Unbeaten Wyoming Valley West (Plymouth, Pa.) rallied for a 42-21 victory over Berwick on Friday the 13th to bring veteran coach George Curry within six victories of 400. Curry became Pennsylvania's winningest coach during a storied career at Berwick, but switched jobs last spring. When Berwick, which has won only twice this year, vaulted to a 21-0 lead before a capacity crowd, its fans roared, "Who needs Curry!" They soon found out as the 61-year-old coach guided his team to 42 unanswered points and its seventh victory.

• Hopatcong senior Joe Martinek set a New Jersey career rushing record last week as he gained 221 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 28-7 victory over Kittatinny. The 6-1, 215-pound tailback, who will attend Rutgers, now has 6,808 yards, 88 more than the previous mark.

• The Manhattan Cross Country Invitational was filled with drama Saturday in Bronx, N.Y. Colts Neck (N.Y.) senior Craig Forys was facing the media after breaking the 23-year-old boys meet record with a brilliant 12:10.7. But at the same time, Fayetteville-Manlius (Manlius, N.Y.) senior Tommy Gruenewald set a new record (12:10.6) in the next race. Shenendehowa (Clifton Park, N.Y.) was declared the overall boys team winner with 92 points.

• The Girls Eastern State's championship was won by No. 18-ranked Midlothian (Va.) with 148 points. Trailing were No. 7 Eleanor Roosevelt (Greenbelt, Md.) with 172 points, No. 11 Saratoga Springs (N.Y.) 190 and No. 1 Hilton (N.Y.) 203. Hannah Davidson of Saratoga Springs won the individual title in 14:14.7.

• St. John's (Washington, D.C.) senior guard Chris Wright has made a verbal commitment to attend Georgetown. The 6-0, 190-pound sharpshooter will join DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) star Austin Freeman, giving the Hoyas two of this year's finest offensive players

• Brooke Thomas, an outstanding point guard, is expected to miss her junior year at Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.) due to a knee injury.