‘If it’s up in the air, you gotta go get it’

As far back as third grade on the flag football field, the connection was made.

Future Mount Si High wide receiver Jonny Barrett began hauling in passes fired his way by Wildcat quarterback-to-be Cale Millen. It’s still happening today. Big time.

At press time, Barrett had already amassed a dozen touchdowns of the long-reaching, one-and two-handed varieties in the Wildcats’ first five games — all wins. Those thrilling, crowd-pleasing receptions bring a smile to Barrett’s face.

“It’s a million dollar ball, so if it’s up in the air, you gotta go get it. Having Cale as a quarterback, he drops a lot of dimes, but whenever he doesn’t, I’m always there for him. If it’s not a perfect throw, he always trusts me to go get it,” said Barrett, who counted up 35 touchdown passes landing in his fingertips over his three years on varsity.

That number will surely rise. “Let’s hope,” said Barrett, a senior along with Millen.

Barrett, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 180 pounds, started on varsity as a sophomore but didn’t notch many catches. That year, he hit the weight room hard and began paving a road to his vital junior season.

“Big jump from sophomore year to junior year, just had a really good junior season and that kind of carried into senior season, and still trying to keep it up,” he said. “Now I’m one of the upperclassmen, so that’s pretty cool, seeing that difference.”

Millen’s golden arm has helped point the way for Barrett, who was a former soccer player and answered the quarterback’s call to join the tackle football realm in fifth grade. The duo has always possessed chemistry on the field and Barrett added that Millen has been a solid quarterback from the get-go.

Getting off to a 6-0 start has been a total Wildcat effort with everyone fielding a winning mindset and putting together stellar practices.

Barrett added: “Just the whole team coming together. We all want it really bad. Everyone’s motivation is just what’s the key, ‘cause we know we have the skill and talent.”

The Record asked Barrett a series of questions for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his life:

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

(Coach Charlie) Kinnune gives me advice every single day. He doesn’t just teach about football… football teaches you about how to perform after football in real-life situations, like staying mentally strong.

What do you appreciate in life the most?

Family, friends and just life in general, too.

What’s one of your main goals in life?

Play college football. Just be successful and try to have an impact on the world.

What special skill would you like to learn?

I’d like to get better at maybe playing piano or guitar. I love music. (Likes all genres.)

If you could be a superhero, who would like to be?

Spider-Man.

What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?

Infusion is pretty good, it’s a fun environment, and also Herfy’s always has really good burgers and milkshakes.

What’s a hidden talent that you have?

I like to play the ukulele.