WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Now that Marquis Waters has graduated, Miramonte High School football fans can collectively heave a sigh of relief.
Not so fast.
Las Lomas (Walnut Creek) has replaced the fleet tailback, who burned
Miramonte (Orinda) for 321 yards rushing and three touchdowns last year as a senior, with an equally effective and "angrier" runner in
Jake Villa.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pound senior has punished opponents through five games for 750 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 113 carries.
Villa leads unbeaten and Las Lomas (5-0) into Friday's 7 p.m. Diablo Foothill Athletic League showdown at Miramonte (5-0). Las Lomas won last year's meeting 27-24 behind Waters' virtual one-man show.
Las Lomas coach Doug Longero figured there would be little drop-off with Villa, despite the fact that Waters, now a freshman at Laney College in Oakland, rushed for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns over two seasons.
"We knew Jake was a pretty special back," Longero said. "It's amazing how hard he runs - seemingly harder in the fourth quarter than the first."
Jake Villa is a third-year starter
at strong safety, but this season
has made his mark at running back.
Photo by Dennis Lee
A standout baseball outfielder - he'll probably play at UC Davis, according to Longero - Villa benefits from a superb offensive line, led by Division I prospects
Mitch Frentescu (6-3, 260), a senior, and junior
Derrick Stom (6-1, 255). Those linemen have also helped to spring
Ardell Romez, who has rushed for 171 yards and averaged 9.5 yards per carry.
It also helps to have a legitimate threat at quarterback in junior
Jackson Miller (6-4, 210), another college prospect, and a defense that has emerged as one of the best in Contra Costa county. The Knights have allowed just 44 points all season and are coming off their first shutout, 38-0 over Alhambra.
But even with all the talent, Villa is Las Lomas' main cog.
He isn't nearly as stylish as Waters, but he's just as fun to watch, Longero said, comparing him to John Riggins.
"He's not looking to dance around anyone, but instead he'll go right through defenders," Longero said. "He runs angry, with a lot of heart and a big chip on his shoulder."
Not off the field however.
"Great kid," Longero said. "Very polite, hard-working, just a good, all-around young man. He loves to play and his teammates love to be around him."
Villa is also a third-year starter at strong safety and will have to contend with one of Northern California's most dangerous quarterbacks in Miramonte's
Ross Anderson.
The 6-6, 200-pound senior passed for almost 1,400 yards, 19 touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed for 950 yards and 13 more scores last season.
Under new head coach and former line coach Jack Schram, Anderson's numbers are down somewhat, but that doesn't make him any less effective, Longero said.
Las Lomas enters the game No. 16 in the
North Coast Section Freeman rankings and Miramonte is No. 17.
"They have a great player at quarterback, and Jack understands just how to use him," Longero said. "(Schram) is doing a superb job keeping up the tradition there. We'll have to play our best game to beat them."
