range County Player of the Week : Practice Really Makes Perfect for Ontiveros

Danny Ontiveros of Saddleback High School was laughing as he ran 60 yards for a touchdown after recovering a blocked field-goal attempt last Thursday.

This wasn’t just a cocky kid flaunting his ability or relishing a victory. Actually, Ontiveros was reacting to a coach’s premonition coming true.

“I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe,” Ontiveros said. “It just happened exactly like our coach had said it would.”

During practice two days before the game, assistant coach Bob Mangran had the players rehearse blocking kicks. He joked about how nice it would be if all blocked field-goal tries popped into a defensive player’s hands.

That’s just what happened Thursday.

“When he described it at practice, we were just joking about it because those kind of things don’t usually happen,” Ontiveros said. “And when it did, it was so weird, I couldn’t stop laughing.”

Ontiveros, The Times’ Player of the Week, had plenty to be happy about in the 35-7 victory over University. He caught 4 passes for 88 yards, two of the receptions going for touchdowns.

Ontiveros, who is one of four team captains, said he’s not the type of leader who “always is going around saying ‘rah, rah, rah’ and all that. I cheer a lot, but mostly I want to lead by example. I want the juniors to see what they have to do next year to keep our school up (in the eyes of others).”

Coach Mike Witte said Ontiveros does that by always giving his best effort.

“The most impressive thing about Danny is his ability to make the big plays,” Witte said. “But the reason he makes them is because he always puts out 100%. In the last few minutes (against University), we were already leading, 35-7, and Danny chased and caught a guy who was at least 20 yards ahead of him.

“It wasn’t a pressure situation; he didn’t really need to push himself that hard. It was probably one of the greatest efforts I’ve ever seen in high school football.”

Ontiveros didn’t think his effort was anything worth mentioning, though.

“That?” he said. “What was I going to do, just let him go?”

Danny Ontiveros

Saddleback High School

Position: wide receiver and cornerback.

Size, Class: 5-11, 170, Senior.

Last Week: Ontiveros caught 4 passes for 88 yards, including 40- and 29-yard touchdown pass plays, and returned a blocked field goal 60 yards for a touchdown in a 35-7 victory over University.

Season: Has made 25 receptions for 385 yards (15.1 average) and 9 touchdowns.