One player won't replace Shaun Kermah. That much is for certain for
the Hoover High football team.
However, the Tornadoes are hoping two athletes can do the trick.
"We're going to need two good running backs to be successful,"
said Tornado Coach Dennis Hughes, "and I think we've got that."
One is Terran Sprewell, who was Kermah's main sidekick in the
backfield last year. No, he didn't run for 1,462 yards or score 23
touchdowns like the graduated Kermah did a season ago, but he did put
up some impressive numbers: a yard-per-carry average of 9.4 and a
touchdown every 11 carries.
But as much potential as Sprewell has for stardom, the 6-foot,
200-pound junior wasn't the player who drew the most praise from his
coaches.
That guy was Alex Pantoja.
A third-year varsity athlete, Pantoja has waited patiently for his
turn under the spotlight, but that wait could be over.
"Nobody worked harder on this team than Alex during the
offseason," Hughes said. "He really prepared himself for the upcoming
season."
Pantoja had to.
With Kermah -- who was undoubtedly Hoover's heart and soul --
gone, the Tornadoes were in search of a leader.
And with Pantoja being one of the few experienced varsity
athletes, it was his job to become one.
He did.
During the offseason, he spearheaded a tough training regimen for
his Hoover teammates, trying to ensure that the Tornadoes would keep
the Victory Bell on their side.
"We ran at 6 in the morning, doing sprints and cardio," Pantoja
said. "To be a good football team, you have to work hard and be
prepared, and I wanted to make sure we were."
Pantoja also continued to lift weights extensively, raising his
bench-press to 285 pounds.
All the hard work should pay off this season, not only for the
5-foot-10, 205-pound Pantoja, but his team, as well.
The Tornadoes are coming off a 3-7 season, which is not too shabby
for a program that had won three games the previous four years.
An improved Pantoja should give Hoover a chance to keep
progressing.
On the offensive side of the ball, he's shown flashes of being a
standout performer in the past.
He averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season in 43 carries. With
more touches, he figures to be among the area's top rushers.
On defense, he is Hoover's best athlete, chasing down running
backs and quarterbacks from his outside linebacker position.
And on special teams, he could be the area's best punter. He
averaged 35.9 yards per punt last season, third in the area last
season and tops among returners.
"I just want to help my team get better and win," said the
17-year-old Pantoja, whose older brother Ricky also played football
at Hoover. "My goal is to win at least five to six games this season,
and I think we can do that."
* HAMLET NALBANDYAN covers sports. He can be reached at (818)
637-3226 or by e-mail at o7hamlet.nalbandyan@latimes.com.
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