Long Stands Tall for Esperanza Defense : Division III: Senior free safety can hit like a linebacker. He holds school record for interceptions.

His coaches say Esperanza’s free safety is long on talent, he likes to catch the long pass and he longs to make the big hits on defense. His name? Jason Long, of course.

Esperanza Coach Gary Meek said Long, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior, is the best defensive back he has ever coached.

Last week, Long broke Derrick Reaves’ career school record of 11 interceptions by getting his 12th during Esperanza’s 49-7 semifinal victory over Montebello Schurr. Esperanza plays Empire League rival Los Alamitos in the Southern Section Division III championship game tonight at Cerritos College.

“(Long) has an unusual combination of strength and speed,” Meek said. “He has the same closing speed and ball sense that Derrick had, but he’s much more physical.”

Long runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, and bench presses 300 pounds.

Long’s physical play led to 41 unassisted tackles, second best on the team.

“I like hitting people,” Long said. “It’s my favorite part of the game.”

Long’s hits have caused two fumbles, and is second on the team with six “big hits”--a statistic kept by Esperanza’s coaching staff.

“He can hit like a linebacker, but has the speed and ball skills to defend a wide receiver,” defensive coordinator Bill Pendleton said.

Long also plays some at wide receiver, and has four catches this season. But those four receptions have produced one touchdown and a 46.2 yards-per-catch average.

“Jason is just too good of an athlete not to use on offense too,” Pendleton said.

Long’s athleticism has attracted the interest of college recruiters from Northern Arizona and the University of the Pacific, Meek said.

“He can play Division I (college) football,” Meek said. “But I also think he has the capabilities to play at either a junior college or four-year university, and continue on to play for 10 years or so in the NFL. That’s how good he could be.”

Long wasn’t always a defensive back. In fact, he began his Esperanza athletic career as a fullback . . . for the boys’ soccer team.

“As a sophomore, he was a starter and was one of my top defenders,” Esperanza soccer coach Kino Oaxaca said. “He could be my starting fullback right now, but this is best for him; I’m happy for him.”

Long played on the soccer and football teams during his freshman and sophomore years, but decided to concentrate on football after 11 years of playing soccer.

“I didn’t really get excited about football until the summer before my junior year,” Long said. “I was rotating in at defensive back and thought I’d just be a starter on special teams.

“Then all of a sudden when football season came around, I’m starting at cornerback,” Long said.

Long intercepted six passes during his junior season, and Meek said opponents began throwing away from him. “That’s why we switched him to free safety,” Meek said. “Now Jason can make a play on just about anything.”

“He’s a big-play player for us,” Pendleton said, “and he’s making those types of big plays every game.”

Long is looking forward to any one-on-one confrontations with Los Alamitos wide receiver George Sagen. Sagen leads the county with 70 receptions for 975 yards.

“He always draws the other team’s toughest receiver,” Meek said.