San Diego High School Review : Kofler Is Giving Students Benefit of His Stint in NFL

Matt Kofler, former San Diego State and Patrick Henry High star quarterback, has returned to Patrick Henry High School as a volunteer quarterback and receiver coach. Kofler, 27, was waived this summer by the Indianapolis Colts.

Kofler said he approached Patrick Henry football Coach Walt Baranski late in the summer and applied for the job. Baranski, who coached Kofler in 1976 and 1977, said the players and coaches have benefited from Kofler’s experience. Before he was traded to the Colts in 1985, Kofler played for the Buffalo Bills for two seasons.

“All the players are interested in pro football,” said Kofler, who also offers a $200 football scholarship at Patrick Henry. “They’ll ask me questions about players. I enjoy relating my knowledge to them. I remember how it was when I was their age.”

Said Patrick Henry quarterback Lance Lowry: “(Kofler) is always telling us stories. He makes me think about football and how far I can go.”

Kofler hasn’t given up on his own professional career. He still works out daily in hopes of returning to the NFL.

“I’m still keeping in shape,” he said “The way quarterbacks are getting hurt (in the NFL), you never know what’s going to happen. If I got picked up, I’d go. Walt understands that. Heck, he’d like to see that happen.”

Double Trouble: Defending San Diego Section volleyball champion Poway High returns its top player from last year, middle blocker Deane Anastas, who was the section’s volleyball player of the year. That should keep Poway Coach Lisa Sarver happy.

But if she’s still looking for more, other than the fact that all but two of her starters return from last season’s team, maybe the early-season play of junior Cheri Boyer can broaden Sarver’s grin.

In an eight-game preseason match in Los Angeles, Boyer registered 33 kills. Anastas had 19.

Both agree that it has been beneficial to have two strong team leaders this season.

“If you’re on a team that’s not as good, you always have to worry about what everybody else is doing,” Anastas said. “You are always wondering if the other people are going to be there for you.”

They don’t have that concern at Poway.

Prep Notes Sophomore running back Eugene Ethridge of Crawford High knows how to make the best of very little. Ethridge rushed for 18 yards and 2 touchdowns Friday in only 3 carries in a 25-0 victory over Serra.