JK Dobbins scores late in Chargers’ thrilling win over Bengals

Justin Herbert is still loved in his hometown of Eugene, Ore. The feeling is mutual for the quarterback, who starred in three sports at Sheldon High before winning the Rose Bowl at Oregon and becoming an NFL star with the Chargers.

Still embracing his hometown roots, the quarterback sported an “Irish Fishing Club” T-shirt during his press conference following last week’s win over the Tennessee Titans.

Now Scott Wright’s phone won’t stop buzzing with students asking the fishing club advisor for the same jersey.

“It’s the greatest thing in the world around here because everybody wants to be a part of something that Justin is a part of,” said Wright, a longtime football and baseball assistant coach who coached Herbert in both sports.

A decade after Herbert co-founded the fishing club, “it’s thriving,” Wright said, in part because of the 26-year-old’s continued support. The quarterback, who signed a $262 million contract extension last year, covers costs for students who need help buying a fishing license or equipment.

“He’s given back, so it’s just a neat thing,” Wright said. “We love it. We kind of pride ourselves on the lakes and the rivers and the outdoor stuff out here in the Pacific Northwest.”

Herbert’s exceptional play in recent weeks has provided a positive platform for the fishing club’s moment in the spotlight. The quarterback has the Chargers (6-3) on a three-game winning streak entering Sunday night’s prime-time matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. Herbert has posted a passer rating better than 90.0 in nine straight games.

Since returning from the bye week that allowed him to rest his sprained ankle, Herbert has averaged 256.2 yards passing while completing 66.7% of his attempts. He has six passing touchdowns and one rushing score to no interceptions.