FOOTBALL : QB Yates Puts ‘Second Best’ Label to Rest

Fremont High quarterback William Yates wears uniform No. 1, but he always felt second best to quarterback Akili Roberson of Locke--until Friday afternoon.

In a Southeastern Conference game matching the two seniors, Yates lived up to the number on his uniform, throwing two touchdown passes to Andre Johnson in a 12-0 win.

Yates completed five of 12 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns as Fremont improved to 3-1 on the season.

“I told him at a party last week that it was my turn to be No. 1,” Yates said of Roberson, who also wears No. 1. “We’ve been friends for a long time, but I got tired of people telling me, ‘Akili is better than you.’

“I proved this time who was better.”

Roberson, a third-year starter, completed 12 of 23 passes for 121 yards, but threw three interceptions and fumbled twice inside the Pathfinders’ 10-yard line.

“Akili played like a 10th-grader,” Locke Coach E.C. Robinson said. “Fremont wanted to win this game more than we did.”

Johnson had an impressive game after spending last season as the Pathfinders’ second-best receiver behind Kory Jones. Johnson caught three passes, including two for touchdowns of 48 and 25 yards, with two interceptions.

“This is the greatest feeling in the world,” Johnson said.

Fremont took home the inaugural “Increase the Peace” trophy and had breakfast Saturday served by Saints players at Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles on Manchester Boulevard, which sponsored the trophy and the meal. Next week: Roosevelt at Locke; Garfield at Fremont.