Every backup quarterback at every level has a nagging question that sits in the back of his mind: Will my number be called?

Blake Mori’s No.11 was called when he was thrust into the spotlight at the 50th Causeway Classic after starter Ryan Leadingham went down with an injury.

“I didn’t know exactly what it was. I thought it was minor,” Mori said of Leadingham’s season-ending injury.

The call went out to Mori and the sophomore instantly took an integral role in the annual Sacramento-area “Super Bowl,” known as the Causeway Classic.

As 15,403 fans looked on, the offense didn’t miss a beat and Mori led a 12-play, 80-yard drive ending with a touchdown pass to put the Hornets up 27-24 with 1:40 to play.

But the defense couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain and allowed UC Davis to score a heart wrenching, last minute, game winning touchdown. The Hornets could at least take solace that they had found their new starting quarterback.

Mori’s stat line was a positive in an otherwise depressing night: 9-of-14 passing for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

But anyone can tell you that one game doesn’t make a season, as the loss to the Aggies started a four-game losing skid.

The Causeway heartbreaker was followed by a 24-21 loss to visiting Northern Arizona University.

Mori made his first collegiate start against the Lumberjacks, completing 19-of-34 passes for 287 yards and one touchdown. Despite the solid numbers, the outcome was eerily similar to the Causeway loss as both teams traded leads and the Hornets came up short again.

The next loss, 20-7 at Portland State, was especially hard on Mori as he completed just 15-of-34 passes and was intercepted twice.”That was probably my worst game ever,” he said after a Thursday afternoon practice. “I didn’t read the defense.”

Little did he know he would throw five interceptions the very next week in a 38-21 loss to Eastern Washington University.

But those closest to the team are not as quick to place the entire burden of a loss on their new quarterback.

“Against Portland, it wasn’t all his fault,” head coach Steve Mooshagian said. “Those interceptions get magnified, but we didn’t give him enough help last week.”

Mooshagian is upbeat about his new starting quarterback, pointing to his impressive performance in a pressure packed Causeway Classic.

“For him to lead us in two clutch drives was great,” Mooshagian said. “When you sit back and analyze what he has done to this point it is very good.”

Those who follow the local high school football scene would probably not be surprised to see Mori starting at Sacramento State.

A 2002 graduate of Jesuit High School, he quarterbacked the Marauders to a Metro League title his junior year.

As a senior he set a Jesuit record with 2,374 passing yards. In 2000, his 28 touchdowns surpassed Ken O’Brien and Geo Carmazzi, who eventually went on to the NFL after their Jesuit days.

“I watched a lot of film in high school,” Mori explains. “It seemed like I was a step ahead of everybody.”

Not bad for someone who didn’t even pick up a football until his freshman year. But high school is not the same stage as college and Mori said he needs to work on not trying to make the big play, but making good reads.

The coaching staff is hoping the team can rally around its new quarterback. After seeing significant action with the first team during the spring, Mori is not a stranger to the other starters.

“Fred Amey and Kenan Smith are both very used to him from spring practice,” Mooshagian said.

At 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, Mori lacks the mobility and arm strength that Leadingham brings, but Mooshagian does insist on Mori’s “savvy” in escaping pressure in the pocket.

“I’d say he’s passed our initial expectations,” said Mooshagian, referring to Mori’s offensive learning curve.

Since the Leadingham injury Mooshagian has tried to focus the team atmosphere on togetherness and family, not self-pity.

“We have to rise above adversity and find a way,” Mooshagian said. “We’re right there and Blake’s got to find a way to get us over the hump.”