Saint Louis receiver Mitchell Quinn is setting records

“There’s always doubters, no matter what.”

— Mitchell Quinn, Saint Louis wide receiver a.k.a. Money Mitch, a.k.a. Chicken Skin Quinn.

Mitchell Quinn solves a Rubik’s Cube in a few minutes.

“It’s an algorithm. I have a really good memory. A lot of people could do it, but I don’t feel like most people have the will,” he said. “They don’t want to know it that much, go that extra step to do it.”

With a depth chart of 20 receivers, Quinn was mired somewhere in the middle as a junior, and even entering his senior year, he wasn’t a starter. But he was also the second-fastest athlete on the team, a track and soccer standout, and Ron Lee had hope.

Quinn, a 5-foot-11, 150-pound senior, has more than hope. He has a drive that is largely unmatched. He persevered, and as injuries claimed a host of starting pass-catchers, he stepped in without a hitch, so to speak.

His five-touchdown, 307-yard, eight-catch night — tying Desmond Hanohano for the school’s single-game yardage mark — propelled top-seeded Saint Louis to a comeback win over Mililani on Friday. Just a few days after receiving an invitation to the Polynesian Bowl, he was in highlight-reel mode, in the midst of the Mililani game, when Hawaii passing-game coordinator Craig Stutzmann, a former Crusaders standout, visited briefly. Quinn received his first college scholarship offer, and went back on the field.

In an offense designed to take what a defense gives, no single target is usually a magnet for attention from an accurate passer like Chevan Cordeiro. Quinn has managed to avert the norm, much like he avoids would-be tacklers. His 967 yards and 15 TDs on 36 receptions — a whopping 26.9-yard average — is surpassed by the clutch timing of his playmaking.

Such as:

>> Six receptions, 141 yards, three TDs against Punahou. His breakout performance came in Saint Louis’ third game. In his first two games against Waianae and Kamehameha, he had modest, productive numbers, a combined six catches for 92 yards with no TDs. This was the beginning of the legend.

>> A week later, against Narbonne (Calif.), he exploded with four TD hauls on seven receptions for 233 yards as Saint Louis rallied for a wild 56-50 win.

“I remember we were down two possessions in the Narbonne game. That was the first time we were down at halftime and it really put things in perspective, that we’re not indestructible,” Quinn said. “But at halftime, we can regroup and talk about things. Sit down together and we can talk.”

Mililani knew Quinn was good, but this good? Trojans coach Rod York and his staff knew Quinn was a deep-burn guy.

“He took two hitches and two screens on us for touchdowns. We took bad angles. We’re supposed to be outside-in,” York said. “He’s a classic case of what I tell our guys. ‘Make yourself first string. Get the opportunity and make the most of it.’ When they played Narbonne, the (defender) was 10 yards deep and he still beat them (on downfield routes).”

Lee, the offensive coordinator and longtime run-and-shoot guru, believes the late-blooming Quinn and Cordeiro — who broke state-tourney and school marks with 528 passing yards along with the five TDs to Quinn — have big upsides at the next level.

“Their work ethic is tremendous,” he said. “Normally at this time of season, our guys are tired with all the (route) running we do, but Mitch’s workouts with Jack (volunteer coach Cambra) have really helped. He’s getting faster, which is unusual at this point.”

“It’s all about in-season training,” said Quinn, who ran a 10.99 100-meter dash last spring.

Lee isn’t quite as modest.

“When I think about speed, I don’t think we’ve ever been as fast, as a bunch, as we are this season. I don’t think we’ve had guys who could run 10.7, 10.8 (in the 100-meter dash),” he said.

Roman Wilson, another Crusaders receiver, runs a 10.8, Lee said.

The big plays aren’t Quinn’s priority. He hears this mantra on and off the field in his mind: protect the ball.

“Coach Ron talks about it all the time. Just get the first down and protect,” Quinn said.

His Twitter handle, @_MoneyMitch15, is what he’s comfortable with. Money, as in he delivers the goods. It is a form of a self-fulfilling prophecy more than a straight brag, even though he tells the truth.

“It’s kind of a common nickname if your name is Mitch. I didn’t give it to myself,” he said. “When people said they heard Chicken Skin Quinn, they said it’s weird. it’s corny. I like Money Mitch better.”

Next up, a matchup of No. 1 Saint Louis and No. 2 Kahuku for the state crown.

“Mitch is just running by everybody. I hope he gets by Kahuku,” Lee said. “They’re pretty good on the outside.”