Longhorns powerful enough to compete in power league

By Dick Sparrer

When Central Coast Section officials restructured the area leagues a few years back, it was their intention to create a couple of power leagues for the public schools.

And they most certainly did that in football.

The De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League rank as two of the toughest leagues in all of Northern California.

To play in such a powerful league, a team must be solid. To compete for a title in such a powerful league, a team must be outstanding.

And Leigh coach Ken Padia thinks his Longhorns are just such a team in 1999.

Padia likes Leigh chances in the Mt. Hamilton Division this season, despite the presence of perennial powers Oak Grove and Leland, the resurgence of Overfelt and the emergence of Valley Christian.

It's varsity experience and team speed that Padia figures will be the key to Leigh's success this fall. Leigh has both.

"We have returning veteran players, experienced players," said Padia. "And we have speed."

Leigh returns 15 starters from a team that posted an 8-3 record overall and a 4-2 mark in league a year ago. Four of the returners are comeback all-leaguers, and two of them can literally fly.

Senior running back David Kemp (5-foot-11, 185) is a returning all-leaguer who rushed for 1,478 yards last fall.

Junior wide receiver Antwon Guidry (6-foot-1, 195) is also back after winning sophomore-of-the-year honors last season in the league and in CCS.

"Guidry is the fastest kid in Northern California," said Padia.

Working to get Guidry the football will be senior quarterback Ricky Wester (6-foot, 175), another of the Leigh all-leaguers last year.

Senior Brendon Floyd (6-foot-5, 225) returns at offensive tackle and defensive end for the Longhorns after being named the most valuable defensive player in the league last year.

Senior tackle Mike Bratcher (6-foot-3, 260) and junior guard Kaser Padia (6-foot, 215) are returners who join Floyd on the offensive line. Padia serves double-duty as a linebacker.

Senior John Carlotta is a top prospect at running back and linebacker. Top junior prospects include Ken Ingram (fullback, defensive end), Carlos Barlow (center, defensive line), Dennis McConnel (defensive line, offensive tackle) and Dereck Marquart (tight end, defensive end).

Leigh will open the season on Sept. 10, 3:30 p.m., at Palo Alto. The Longhorns will open league play on Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m., against Valley Christian at Townsend Field in Santa Clara, and they won't play at home until Oct. 8 when they host Santa Teresa.

Leigh Football

Sept.10	at Palo Alto	3:30 p.m.
Sept. 17	at Los Gatos	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 25	at San Lorenzo Valley	2 p.m.
Oct. 1	Valley Christian at Townsend *	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 8	Santa Teresa *	3:30 p.m.
Oct. 15	Oak Grove at SJCC *	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 23	Leland *	1 p.m.
Oct. 30	Gunderson *	1 p.m.
Nov. 6	at Overfelt *	7:30 p.m.
Nov. 12	Mt. Pleasant	2:45 p.m.

* Indicates league games in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

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