Ioja Enjoys the Best of Both Worlds as a Tight End

Adrian Ioja leads a double life on the Garden Grove High School football team.

At times, he’s all finesse, a guy in the spotlight. He streaks down the field to make big catches with the cheers of the fans ringing in his ears.

Other times, he’s a brute, doing unpleasant, unheralded chores. He seeks out linebackers and, in his own words, “plants ‘em.”

First a star, then a grunt.

In short, Ioja is a tight end. A traditional one.

Some high school tight ends are blockers, mere extensions of the offensive line. Some are receivers, with little taste for the physical aspects of the position.

But Ioja can do both.

“It’s an exciting position,” Ioja said. “You get to catch passes and you also get to hit people. I love it.”

At 6 feet 3, 228 pounds, Ioja has the stature to manhandle defenders along the offensive line. He also has good hands and speed, which make him a threat as a receiver as well.

“Adrian is probably a better blocker than receiver,” Coach Jeff Buenafe said, “but he’s made some big catches for us this year, too.”

This season, Ioja has eight receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns--including a 35-yard catch that broke a 7-7 tie against Kennedy. He did not play Friday against Los Amigos because of a shoulder injury and is expected to miss this week’s game against Bolsa Grande.

Ioja, who is also punter and kicker, had no experience in organized football until he reached high school because he was always too big to play on youth teams. After a brief tryout at quarterback on the freshman team, Ioja decided his future was on defense.

But his coaches saw his size, noticed his agility, and put two and two together.

“After that year, we decided he could help offensively as well as defensively,” Buenafe said.

Ioja’s size comes in handy during games, not only for blocking but also for getting free for passes. He usually lines up next to a tackle, with a defensive end or linebacker in front of him. Before he can get open, he will have to work his way through traffic.

“There’s a lot of contact even before the pass is thrown to me,” Ioja said. “First a linebacker will hit me, then the strong safety.”

There are times, though, when Ioja really gets to play the receiver. In some formations, he will line up in the slot and go one-one-one with a defensive back.

“That’s fun,” Ioja said. “It’s a chance to go 80 yards. I even try to put some moves on guys, juke them. But if it’s just a little defensive back, I’ll run him over.”

Ioja, who is being recruited by several Division II schools, said he can’t decide which he likes best, making the crucial reception or clobbering a linebacker.

Against Kennedy, he got to do both.

In the third quarter on third and 10, Ioja lined up wide and ran a deep pattern. The ball was thrown long, but he reached out and made the catch for a touchdown. The Argonauts won, 17-7.

Later, on an off-tackle play, Ioja took out not one linebacker, but two.

“The first guy never saw me,” Ioja said. “I was just a big, red helmet coming out of nowhere. I planted him, and when he fell, he knocked the other linebacker down.

“It felt great and looked good on film, too.”