CNBNews

Justin Breaker is loving life.

He is the quarterback of the unbeaten Glassboro High School  football team.

He threw for almost 300 yards and for three touchdown passes Saturday in a 34-7 win over Gloucester in a Tri-County Classic Division game. He is back after two years away playing football with his hometown friends.

"It is like a homecoming for him," said Donald Davis, a dominating 6-4, 230-pound two-way tackle for Glassboro. "He knows how to win. He knows of past expectations."

Photo: QB Justin Breaker, #4 throws a pass as Gloucester High's Brett Darrow #5 leaps up to block it.  Kyle Stewart #9 is being blocked from tackling Breaker. see photo gallery

  Breaker, who transferred back to Glassboro after his sophomore and junior seasons at Schalick, also knows how to enjoy his life.

"This is the best feeling in the world. I wouldn't change any of this," Breaker said about being the quarterback on an undefeated team, surrounded by long-time buddies. "It is the best feeling to be young and to be happy and to be confident in what you do."

Really, isn't it wonderful to hear a young man to appreciate what he has? It is especially comforting to listen to Breaker on the day after Shykem Lawrence died of injuries suffered from breaking his neck last year in a football scrimmage.

The sadness of the death of the Woodrow Wilson player has added perspective to wins and losses, touchdowns and tackles, rushing yards and passing stats.

"Everything is not guaranteed," a somber Breaker said about Lawrence. "That is something unexpected. He was a good kid who got caught in a bad spot.

"I give thanks to him personally for being so strong. I'm so  sorry for him."

Breaker has done a masterful job of leading the Bulldogs to a 5-0 record and a No. 5 ranking in the Courier-Post Small Schools Top 10. But how he treats the game off the field really is worth admiring.

"You got to love your life," he said. "You only have one life  to live."

The Bulldogs are loving having Breaker back. Perhaps no one more than wide receiver Rick Tunstall, who caught nine passes for 209 yards and two TDs against the Lions (3-2).

"If we didn't have a quarterback, I don't think we could make  it happen this year," Tunstall said. "He has a lot of poise."

Breaker completed 17 of 25 passes for 298 yards and TDs of 14,  48 and 91 yards against Gloucester.

"Justin played an excellent game today, it is the best he has thrown the ball all year," Glassboro coach Herb Neillo said about the 6-1, 185-pound Breaker.

Breaker came into the game 23-for-42 passing for 323 yards with seven touchdowns in helping the Bulldogs put up an average of 47.2 points a game in the first four games. The passing game was opened up against the Lions.

Neillo feels the transition has been so smooth as a first-year starter here because the rest of the team pretty much all knew -- and not surprisingly, liked -- Breaker.

"They went to school together, he played on the freshman team,"  Neillo said. "They all hung out together."

Breaker, whose younger brother Tim, a junior, also transferred back to Glassboro, played on the Glassboro championship unlimited team as an eighth grader. Their reunion has not only been rewarding, but productive.

"I grew up with those guys," Breaker said.

Breaker connected with one of those guys to open up the game. The Bulldogs had just a one touchdown lead when Breaker lobbed a high pass that Timothy Whitaker ran under for a 48-yard touchdown with just 52 seconds left in the half. Tunstall kicked the extra point for a 14-0 lead.

Last year, Breaker threw 20 touchdown passes for Schalick.

"They took me in as quick as anyone," Breaker said. "It was a great experience being at Schalick. It helped me get to where I want to go."

Breaker is now making the Bulldogs' offense go. He does have plenty of help, however, as Tunstall, Chris Baxter, Stephen Davis and Ralph Carr all have scored four touchdowns or more this season.

With all the offensive firepower, the Bulldogs are looking  forward to the Group 1 playoffs.

Last year, Glassboro advanced to the sectional finals where it lost to old nemesis Paulsboro 20-0 after beating Penns Grove in the semifinals and Lindenwold in the first round.

Breaker, though, will enjoy every game before the postseason.

"He brings a good vibe, he brings a good atmosphere, he brings  leadership," Davis said. "He brings everything."

He brings a refreshing love of life on this weekend when South  Jersey mourns the loss of Shykem Lawrence.