Dana Hills’ Carvalho Gains Ground in Air, Too

Standing only 5-foot-6, Matt Carvalho of Dana Hills High School doesn’t leave the ground often. Like most 180-pound high school fullbacks, usually he’s undeniably earthbound.

So when comparing consecutive runs he made in the Dolphins’ 31-6 victory over Laguna Beach Friday--a 15-yard gain in which he broke three tackles and a one-yard touchdown dive--Carvalho can be excused for being more effusive about the latter.

“I was pretty excited about the next play because I went over the top,” Carvalho said of his first such scoring play in a varsity game.

Just how high did he get?

“I cleared a guy,” he said.

The dive was the second of his four first-half touchdown runs--the others were runs of two, nine and 43 yards. Carvalho, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, sat out the second half after gaining 113 yards in 12 carries. Except for a 37-yard field goal and four extra points by Ryan Harrison, Carvalho was the Dana Hills scoring offense.

Typically, the bulk of his yards weren’t gained by launching himself into the stratosphere. Neither did he try to run around anyone; he doesn’t claim to be particularly fast.

His diminutive stature is deceptive, Dana Hills Coach Don Douglass said.

“He’s very strong for his size,” Douglass said. “If you see him you’ll say, ‘Gee, he’s too little.’ But he’s the Barry Sanders type of guy.

“He’s extremely tough, both mentally and physically. He runs over people.”

Carvalho said he has become accustomed to being one of the shortest players on the field. It’s been that way all through high school. So he uses it to his advantage.

“When they try to come up and hit me, they don’t get low enough so they bounce off,” he said.

This season, Douglas moved Carvalho from safety--where he was an All-South Coast League selection--to part-time duty at linebacker to ensure he is rested for offense. Although he understands the reasoning for the switch, Carvalho yearns to hit on defense.

“I miss it a lot,” he said. “But I get as much enjoyment out of doing the hitting on offense.”

TOP PERFORMERS Paul Felton of Capistrano Valley was named most valuable player of the Villa Park water polo tournament. Felton, the team’s leading scorer, scored the winning goal in the championship game with one second to go Saturday, giving the Cougars a 9-8 victory over El Toro.

Gil Greene of Orange Lutheran had 216 yards in 18 carries and two touchdowns in the Lancers’ 14-13 victory over Southern California Christian Friday. Greene leads all Orange County rushers with 635 yards in three games.

Keith McDonald of Esperanza threw a 43-yard touchdown pass in the last minute to lead the Aztecs over Westminster, 28-21, Thursday. McDonald threw two other touchdown passes, completing 11 of 20 for 210 yards.

John Olea returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown as Villa Park upset No. 1 Los Alamitos, 24-21, Thursday.

Joe Squyers of Garden Grove caught touchdown passes of 53, five and 42 yards in the Argonauts’ 34-21 victory over Costa Mesa Friday. Squyers finished with five catches for 122 yards despite missing most of the second half with a twisted ankle.