The 17-year-old, who had 86 tackles for the Tritons last season, was on a weekend trip with about 10 friends Dec. 30. They were riding dirt bikes at Ocotillo Wells, in the desert about 90 miles east of San Diego.

After a day of hitting the dunes, they spent the night sitting around the campfire. One by one as they got sleepy, they went back to their sleeping bags. About 2 a.m., Jock was the last one there, sitting alone in his beach chair.

``He was probably exhausted and fell into a deep sleep,'' Zallar said. ``They said there was a log at the base of his left foot.''

She thinks he awoke in the dark -- the campfire having gone out. Groggy, he tripped over the log and fell into the fire pit. The smoldering embers ignited his flannel jacket.

Horrific sight of a human being on fire

San Diego resident Mel Nasipouer, 18, was awakened from his truck at a nearby camp when he saw what he believed at first were headlights in his rear-view mirror.

``I honestly thought I was delusional when I saw flames one to two feet over his head,'' Nasipouer said. ``Then I got out of my truck and thought, `Oh my God, this is for real.' ''

What Nasipouer saw terrified him, he said. He yelled at Jock to hit the ground. ``He ran through the camp, going so fast it was like he was trying to outrun the flames,'' he said.

Nasipouer said he finally was able to chase Jock down and tackle him. He ripped off his burning jacket, buried Jock's arms in the sand and beat out the flames with his own sweater.

``It was a blessing from God that the kid happened to be there,'' Sue Zallar said.

A couple from a nearby RV came outside and began pouring water on Jock. They called 911 and put him into a truck to take him to the highway. An emergency helicopter met them and flew him to the University of California, San Diego, Burn Center.

UCSD doctors put Jock in a drug-induced coma to keep him from feeling the overwhelming pain and to restrict his movement, said Sue Zallar, who is a cooking and health teacher at Capistrano Valley High School. Jock, his father by his side, came out of the coma Thursday.

The SCHS junior, 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, suffered third-degree burns on both arms, his left hand, his back and his chest. His face and legs were spared by the fire, something for which his mother is grateful.

``His dad was the first one to see him open his eyes,'' Sue Zallar said. ``He looks so good, and we're so blessed that his face wasn't burned. He has such a handsome face, and it warms a mother's heart to see my son smile at me.''

Sue Zallar said the community has wrapped its arms around them the last couple of weeks and kept them strong.

``It's been so incredibly uplifting for me to know that people care and love Jock.''

She said he is a boy who loves sports and will be frustrated by what's sure to be a slow recovery. He's already had three surgeries and will be in the hospital at least two months.

Jock will require a significant amount of blood for the multiple skin-graft surgeries that lie ahead -- a process that will take several years.

St. Clement's Episcopal Church held a blood drive Thursday and collected 47 pints to be donated in Jock's name.

Two more drives are planned -- Jan. 18 at South Shores Church in Dana Point and Jan. 27 at San Clemente Presbyterian Church.

And while Jock does have health insurance, Zallar said she knows not all of the costs will be covered. A fund has been set up for Jock at Washington Mutual Bank with the account number 3942593943.

Bob and Debbie Trette, whose son played football with Jock, were having about 200 people at a dinner and silent auction at their Capistrano Beach home Friday night. There were donations from dozens of local businesses.

Contact Zlotnik at (949) 492-0484 or e-mail jzlotnik@ocregister.com