Heaps was the another teenager for Nick Montana who shared his passion for football. However, their friendship can’t mask their competitiveness, which has created plenty of friendly banter surrounding the matchup. The lighthearted trash talk began at the camp. Jake says you guys aren’t even going to get into the end zone,” someone would tell Montana, relaying a message from Heaps.

“I don’t think they’re going to get past the 50-yard line,” Montana would reply.

After the camp, the friendly taunts continued through text messages, which they still trade about once a week.

It’s been fun having this game between us,” Heaps said. “A lot of people are trying to make a big deal of the whole situation, and we’re just having a good time with it at all.

These two have plenty of parallels.

“To me, it is the best quarterback matchup in the country this year,” said Tom Lemming, a recruiting analyst for CBS College Sports.

Lemming called Heaps “the best precision passer in the country.” He has a strong, accurate arm and, while he can’t run like Michigan freshman Tate Forcier, he can pick up a first down with his legs.

“Overall, if I had to pick a guy right now as my quarterback out of the whole country, I would take Jake Heaps,” Lemming said.

Montana isn’t far behind, cut from a similar mold. He is a passer who already reminds some of his father, NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana.

“Obviously he’s got the blood lines and he’s got a lot of his father in him,” Lemming said. “But also, he’s exceptionally productive after one year.”

Montana’s famous father feels it’s time for Nick to move beyond his last name. The three-time Super Bowl MVP no longer does interviews about his son.

“He’s on his own now,” Montana said by cellphone this week.

Both quarterbacks are considered a bit undersized — Heaps is 6 feet 2, Montana 6-3 — and they are both winners, a combined 46-0 as high-school starters.

The biggest difference between them is experience. It’s polish (Heaps) against potential (Montana) for two players who took different roads to this point.

Heaps has been honing his game since fifth grade, while Montana grew up wanting to play linebacker.

“I just really liked defense,” Montana said.