Bladow Runs His Way to Redemption

After one play Friday night, Gary Bladow of Villa Park High School could have been excused for going into hiding.

A fake handoff by Esperanza quarterback Keith McDonald froze free safety Bladow long enough for receiver Jarod Smith to break free on a 68-yard touchdown pass play. After a two-point conversion, Esperanza had an 8-0 lead in the Division III playoff game, and Villa Park Coach Pat Mahoney was upset.

“I could have killed him,” Mahoney said.

As the game progressed, though, Bladow redeemed himself on offense. Bladow, a running back, scored a pair of touchdowns--the second on a 40-yard run--that tied the score, 14-14. Bladow, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, finished with 196 yards and three touchdowns in 17 carries to help the Spartans to a 48-28 victory.

Bladow’s offensive success transformed Mahoney’s anger into something more positive.

“We’ll allow him to make a mistake if he runs for 200 yards,” Mahoney said.

Last season, his first on the varsity, Bladow didn’t do much running on offense. He started every game at free safety and played a bit of wingback.

But this season, he leads the team in rushing with 1,017 yards. Mahoney said Bladow, who was the Century League’s triple jump champion as a sophomore, has always been a hard runner. Now, he has learned how to elude tackles better.

TOP PERFORMERS

Mike Cowdrey, a Trabuco Hills cross-country runner, advanced to the state championships in the 2-A division by finishing sixth at the Southern Section finals Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. Cowdrey finished the three-mile race in 16 minutes flat.

Hakeim McKenzie, Sunny Hills quarterback, completed seven of 11 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-0 victory over Kennedy Friday in the first round of the Division VI playoffs.

Ron Papazian of Whittier Christian scored five touchdowns in the first half of a 72-12 victory over Leffingwell Christian in the Division IX playoffs Friday. Papazian, who has 34 touchdowns this season, broke the Orange County single-season touchdown record of 32 set by Esperanza’s Jim Farrell in 1984.

Daniel Niednagel, a Dana Hills cross-country runner, ran three miles in 15:24--the fastest time for a county runner--at the Southern Section 4-A finals Saturday.

Tim Snowden, Mission Viejo’s quarterback, completed 20 of 25 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-6 victory over Schurr in the Division III playoffs Friday.

Ed Stewart of Brea-Olinda scored four touchdowns, three in the second quarter, as Brea defeated Fullerton, 35-6, Friday in the Division VI playoffs. Stewart gained 109 yards in 17 carries.

Gary Bladow

Villa Park High School

* Position: Running back/safety

* Height, Weight, Class: 6-1, 170, Senior.

* Last Week: Bladow rushed for 196 yards in 17 carries and scored three touchdowns in a Division III playoff victory over Esperanza Friday.

* Season: Bladow has rushed for 1,017 yards.