For stretches during games, sometimes even for entire quarters, Eastside Catholic quarterback Trey Reynolds adds an additional description to his job title: offensive coordinator.

"He becomes me," Eastside Catholic coach Jeremy Thielbahr said.

In those stretches, when the offense picks up tempo and develops a rhythm, Reynolds has the freedom to call plays at the line of scrimmage. He even did so for the entire second quarter against Nathan Hale and Kelso.

The Crusaders scored a combined 35 points in those two quarters.

"This isn't an offense just anybody can run," Thielbahr said. "We have to have a field general out there."

Reynolds fits the mold perfectly. He's a three-year starter and a three-year team captain. This season, Reynolds has only improved in leading an offense that averages 47 points per game.

He not only provides a run-pass threat, he also calls the protections for the offensive line every play. He's guided Eastside Catholic (12-0) flawlessly into Saturday's state semifinal game against University in Spokane.

"He's very cool and calm under pressure," Thielbahr said, "and we put a lot of pressure on him."

Reynolds' biggest improvement, he said, is finishing games. Last year, on two of Eastside Catholic's final drives against O'Dea, Reynolds tossed interceptions. The Crusaders lost 20-19.

But this season, in close games against O'Dea and Meadowdale, he made enough plays to keep his team undefeated.

"This year, personally, I've just done a lot better job being calm and finishing and going through adversity," said Reynolds, who has only three interceptions this season.

In the fourth quarter against Meadowdale in the round of 32, Reynolds stepped to the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-goal from the 6-yard line with his team leading by a point.

After a timeout, he noticed Meadowdale's defense was in position to stop the called play, so he quickly audibled on the biggest play of the game. (Later, he said, "I would have probably gotten screamed at pretty bad if that didn't work out.")

Reynolds calmly waited for an opening, then delivered the ball to receiver Hayden Meier for a touchdown that put Eastside Catholic in control.

"He's been in a lot of pressure situations, and this year he's really stepped up and made the plays that had to be made," Thielbahr said.

Reynolds isn't a big-time college prospect. He's listed at 6 feet, 190 pounds, and is looking at playing college football at Claremont McKenna or Pomona Pitzer after turning down an offer from Colgate.

But he's one of the state's best dual-threat quarterbacks, piling up 1,624 passing yards and 679 rushing yards while totaling 28 touchdowns. And he missed most of the first three games with an injury.

He was named the Metro League Mountain Division's offensive MVP for the second straight year.

"I can tell you there are probably a lot of Metro coaches that are excited to see him leave," Thielbahr said.

Jayson Jenks: 206-464-8277 or jjenks@seattletimes.com