Bobby Newcombe tried to hide football from Isaiah when he was little.

That worked for maybe a day.

As soon as Isaiah was was big enough to catch a pass, the Queen Creek Casteel senior wide receiver/defensive back was on a steady path to football success.

In the first two games of this pandemic high school season, Isaiah’s clutch catches down the stretch helped Casteel overcome deficits in one-point wins over Anthem Boulder Creek (36-35) and Gilbert Higley (25-24).

He has show why he is one of the state’s most dynamic playmakers, breaking a double-team late against Higley to haul in a 90-yard touchdown pass from Dane Christensen to beat Higley last week.

“He just had a passion for it,” said Bobby Newcombe, Casteel’s head football coach. “I told his mom and she took him out to play. It just worked out where they needed a coach later on, after a year or so, and I was able to help them out.”

Bobby Newcombe had the same passion for the game growing up, finding success as a multi-position athlete on a national championship Nebraska Cornhuskers team, before playing for the Cardinals and then in the Canadian Football League.

“I never wanted him to feel the pressure to accomplish things that I did,” said Bobby, who was named the Cardinals’ Arizona High School Coach of the Week after last week’s win over Higley. “I just wanted him to be his own man.”

Isaiah, 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, has turned out pretty good.

He committed to UCLA this summer. In his first two games, he has caught 17 passes for 333 yards and four TDs. He had a 72-yard kickoff return in the Boulder Creek game, and has 174 yards in six returns.

“I hate losing,” Isaiah said. “I’m always trying to strive to win, no matter the circumstances in the game.”

Like his dad did, Isaiah plays multiple positions and multiple sports. He also excels in basketball and track and field. His track season was cut short last March by COVID-19, but he still was able to work on his speed to get ready for his senior football season.

“I have more of a connection with football,” Isaiah said.

Bobby won’t bring up his football past with his son, how he set a Nebraska record for longest punt return (94 yards) in a game against Missouri his senior season in 2000, how he scored on a 60-yard return in the 2000 Fiesta Bowl, how he played both quarterback and receiver for the Huskers, how he was selected by the Cardinals in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.

But Isaiah knows.

Bobby also was an academic All-American in college.

“I look up to him every day,” Isaiah said.

Being the coach’s son at Casteel, Isaiah felt pressure in the beginning. But he lost that feeling once he started playing.

“I just ball out,” Isaiah said.

Bobby has another son on the varsity. Jeremiah Newcombe is a freshman defensive back who already has been in on six tackles.

Jeremiah also is a tremendous athlete. He looks up to Isaiah.

Isaiah feels good about his decision to go to UCLA, playing for Chip Kelly. Bobby was happy about his son’s decision.

“You’ve got to go where you’re wanted,” Bobby said. “It’s a good fit for our family, too, six hours a way.”

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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