By Don Ketchum

The footballs flying through the air did not look like fluttering ducks.

They were spirals, perfect spirals. First one, then another. Time after time. They would settle onto the fingertips of the receivers running corner routes.

Jonathan Brown’s arm looked to be in mid-season form. The quarterback from Glendale Apollo was working with receivers Josh Weeks of Show Low and Edgar Poe of Vail Cienega as the Arizona All-Star team prepared for Saturday night’s (June 23) game against the Southern California All-Stars at Surprise Stadium. Kickoff is at 7.

Brown is looking forward to the game. He wants to show what he can do.

And he can do a lot. The numbers from his season are good examples.

The 6-foot, 215-pound Brown threw for 1,656 yards and 20 touchdowns, but also was a major force on the ground with 900 yards and 13 TDs.

“This game is a great opportunity for all of us,’’ Brown said. “We want to show that we can compete.’’

He said he is in decent shape because he has been working out with his new teammates at Glendale Community College for about the last three weeks.

Asked if he will get the opportunity to show off all of his skills against Southern California, Brown said, “We will do our thing, see what the defense gives us because you don’t know a lot about what the defense might do. We’ll see. I do know that running the ball is fun.’’

Zack Threadgill had a front-row seat for Brown’s performances. Threadgill is Apollo’s coach and is an assistant for the Arizona All-Stars.

“He did so much for us,’’ Threadgill said. “There was nothing he could not do. I think he will do well at GCC and he has a good chance to play beyond that. He is good enough of an all-around athlete where they could put him at a lot of different positions.’’

Because of his solid body structure and his strength, Brown began his Pop Warner career as a lineman. But after the coaches saw him throw, he moved to quarterback and never looked back.

He liked being in a leadership role and will try to lead the way on Saturday night.

“You want to do whatever you can to help your players,’’ he said.