Hard To Catch Bloomsday Imposter Is Very Real Receiving Star

Catch and run is a perfect description for Jonathan Parker’s football accomplishments.

But before he became the Greater Spokane League’s all-time leading receiver last weekend, Parker was known more for his run and catch.

Yes, the Ferris senior who has 66 catches for a record 1,363 yards is the same Jonathan Parker who raced in front of the elite runners for the first half-mile of Bloomsday last spring.

“I didn’t do it to be rebellious,” a somewhat sheepish Parker said. “But it did help my campaign for ASB President. Everybody at Ferris likes to have a wild guy for President. Not too many guys would run at the front of Bloomsday.”

Parker called his run a spur-of-the-moment challenge; Bloomsday officials called it dangerous and when they caught him, suspended him from participation for 5 years.

Actually, such a stunt seems out of character for Parker, a good athlete and a good student who has a job and is active in the youth group at his father’s church.

“It’s a real busy schedule but I thrive on being busy,” he said. “My whole life I’ve been busy, I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t busy.”

Parker set the receiving record when he took a short pass from Andre Atkins, slipped a tackle and spun upfield, using his blazing speed to turn a 12-yard catch into a 33-yard gain.

Left in Parker’s dust is former Saxon Jamie Buenzli, who had 79 receptions for 1,352 yards in 1984-85.

“I heard he always went up for the ball,” Parker said. “He wasn’t the fastest guy but he could always get open, kind of like Steve Largent. I rely more on my speed and the longer routes. When you look at the stats, he had a lot more catches.”

Ferris coach Clarence Hough said, “(Buenzli) could catch anything close. Had had a tremendous vertical leap and great hands. (Parker’s biggest asset) has to be his speed but if he ever drops the ball, it’s an easy catch. If it’s one we need or it’s difficult, he makes the catch.”

Actually, Parker was more inclined to deliver the ball, rather than receive, but his friend Justin Bursch, a year ahead, was “etched in stone” to be the Saxons quarterback.

“Coach (Gary) Van Velson saw me in track and said I have enough speed and was a good enough athlete (to play somewhere else),” Parker said. “I was willing to do anything to be on varsity.”

Parker surpassed Buenzli in two years. His three games in his senior season offset the three he missed as a sophomore, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee early in the Saxons’ sixth game.

“When I did it, everyone said, ‘Oh, no. ACL. That’s bad news, you’ll lose your speed.’ Actually, I’ve increased my speed,” Parker said. “God had a lot to do with it. I’m a strong Christian. I believe it was all because of God I got to come back and have another chance.”

There was no doubt in his mind he would be back, and he made it in time for track. Last fall he had the second-best season of any GSL receiver. He caught 35 passes for 760 yards, just behind the 50 receptions for 786 yards Buenzli had as a senior.

“The knee is not a factor,” said Parker, who doesn’t wear a brace. “When I got on the field I asked myself, ‘What knee problem?’ I was totally confident but I had to prove myself to everyone else.”

Buenzli’s two-year totals were the prelude to a career at Eastern Washington University, where he was All-Big Sky in 1987.

Parker wants to continue catching footballs on Saturdays.

“I have all the physical tools,” he said. “I have to work on the mental part, keep that fire burning inside.”

“He’ll rise to the next level, he’ll compete, because that’s what he is, a competitor,” Hough said.

Even if he can’t outrun the distance guys, or the Bloomsday police.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 photos

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TOP CITY RECEIVERS All-time league-leading receivers with career receptions and yards.

Player, School, Years Rec Yds Jonathan Parker, Ferris, 95-97 66 1,363 Jamie Buenzli, Ferris, 84-85 79 1,352 Garret Carlson, NC 89-91 69 1,140 Scott Ranniger, U-Hi 88-90 73 1,134 Mark Machtolf, G-Prep 80-82 50 1,075 Ian Hughes, CV 92-94 63 1,059 John Dorr, Rogers 77-78 72 904 Tom Yearout, Shadle 81-83 73 897 Chad Berry, U-Hi 90-91 63 886 Craig Hawkins, U-Hi, 79-80 50 869