La Quinta Set to Get Physical With Los Amigos

Joe Zeno, La Quinta High School football coach, said there is no way the Aztecs will win the Garden Grove League championship outright unless they beat Los Amigos at 7:30 tonight in Garden Grove Stadium.

Zeno should know. He has guided the Aztecs, 1-0 in league play and 4-2 overall, to two consecutive league titles and each year his team had to beat Los Amigos to win the championship.

“I’m not slighting (undefeated) Santiago, but the best talent in the league is at Los Amigos,” Zeno said. “Physically, they’re the strongest team in the league. If we were 100 percent healthy, we might be a shade better.”

Zeno said that four or five starters will miss tonight’s game with injuries, but running back Bart Recktenwald will return after a one-week suspension for disciplinary reasons. Recktenwald has gained 328 yards in three games as the Aztecs’ tailback and has scored nine touchdowns.

The senior is one of the most versatile players in Orange County, having scored touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns and by rushing and receiving. He has also intercepted two passes.

Los Amigos, also 1-0 in league play and 3-2-1 overall, is coming off its best game of the season, a 45-0 romp over Garden Grove. Quarterback Bill Thompson threw two touchdown passes and running back Kevin McMasters ran for two touchdowns in the lopsided win.

In other games tonight, Servite (1-0, 6-0) plays host to Bishop Montgomery (0-1, 3-2) at Gahr High in Angelus League play, and Pacifica (3-0, 4-2) hopes to maintain its lead in the Empire League with a victory against Cypress (0-3, 3-3) in Bolsa Grande Stadium.