Immovable Object Versus Unstoppable Force : Peninsula’s Papadakis Wants to Take His Blocking, Tackling to a Higher Level

Taso Papadakis, who plays fullback and linebacker for Peninsula High, has delivered his share of crushing blocks and bone-jarring tackles this season.

But his appetite for contact remains unfulfilled.

“I’m still looking for that one big play on defense, that super hit,” he said. “I’ve gotten some solid hits, but I’m still looking to knock someone’s ear pads out or crack someone’s helmet.”

That admission might come as a surprise to those who know a different side to Papadakis, a senior whose interests go beyond seek-and-destroy missions on the football field and pushing nearly 400 pounds on the bench-press.

Courteous and laid-back, he impresses teachers with his serious approach to schoolwork and entertains friends with his good-natured humor and accomplished piano playing. With a 3.2 grade-point average and a penchant for writing, he’s definitely no dumb jock.

“He’s the nicest guy you’ll ever see,” teammate Jerry Pilato said. “I’ve never seen him get mad at anyone or cuss at anyone.”

Of course, try convincing Peninsula’s opponents of that. Greg Dies, head of the Westminster-based Para-Dies scouting service, has noticed what occurs when the 6-foot, 235-pound Papadakis puts on his game face.

“He’s a nice, pleasant kid, until he gets out on the field,” Dies said. “Then he just kicks peoples’ butts.”

As an example, Peninsula Coach Gary Kimbrell cited a play Papadakis made during the Panthers’ 29-9 victory over Leuzinger on Oct. 16.

“We watch him on films, and some of the things he does are just amazing,” Kimbrell said. “Against Leuzinger, he ran over our tight end and a linebacker and bounced off two more players as he ran downfield, trying to block people.

“It’s really nice to have someone like that in the offense. It can be an intimidating sight to see him coming at you, whether he’s playing fullback or linebacker.”

Papadakis’ physical play as a two-way starter has been instrumental in helping Peninsula (6-1, 2-0 in the Bay League) dominate most opponents. The Panthers, whose only loss was to unbeaten North Torrance, play at Hawthorne (6-1, 1-0) Friday night in a game that will probably decide the league title.

As the team’s fullback, Papadakis delivers many of the blocks that spring tailback James Durroh for big gains. Durroh, a junior, ranks among the South Bay’s leading rushers with 699 yards and 11 touchdowns in 101 carries.

“Before the game, he gives me pep talks like, ‘Follow me and you’ll get the job done,’ ” Durroh said. “He’s a big asset to the team, him and the line. Sometimes the hole is so wide, you can drive a truck through it.”

On the other side of the ball, Papadakis’ play at inside linebacker has helped the Peninsula defense hold opponents to an average of 8.7 points and 59.6 yards rushing a game.

“He’s a good leader and a good player,” said Pilato, a 5-9, 220-pound senior who plays alongside Papadakis at inside linebacker and as a blocking back next to the fullback. “He gets his experience from his dad. He knows a lot about what he’s doing.”

Papadakis’ father, John, graduated from Rolling Hills High in 1968 and lettered twice in football at USC. A second-string linebacker, he played in the 1970 Rose Bowl and helped the Trojans to a 10-3 victory over Michigan.

“He’s coached me ever since I was in Pop Warner,” Papadakis said.

Papadakis’ father was the defensive coordinator under Kimbrell the past three seasons--in 1989 and ’90 at Rolling Hills and last season at Peninsula after the district’s three high schools consolidated--but he decided not to return to the Panther staff this season.

“He wanted to buy a ticket and see it from a different perspective,” Papadakis said. “Now he’s coaching me at home. We work on things.”

Papadakis also works for his father as a busboy at the family’s Greek restaurant in San Pedro, Papadakis Taverna.

“You learn how to deal with people,” he said of the part-time job.

Papadakis has learned how to deal with adversity as an athlete.

After a frustrating, injury-plagued junior season, Papadakis is grateful that he has been relatively healthy this year. His playing time and mobility were restricted by a pulled hamstring muscle suffered before the 1991 season. He sat out most of the Panthers’ last two games, losses to Inglewood, 29-27, in a Bay League finale and to Schurr of Montebello, 20-6, in the first round of the Southern Section Division III playoffs.

“About the toughest thing I ever had to do was sit on the sideline of the playoff game,” he said. “It broke my heart.”

Papadakis suffers from chronic hamstring problems, partly because of his prowess in the weight room. Before his junior season, he routinely squatted 500 pounds and leg-pressed more than 1,000 pounds. As a result, he said, he overdeveloped the quadriceps muscles on the front of his thighs, which put a strain on the hamstring muscles in the back.

“I pulled (the hamstring) in a 40-yard dash before the season,” he said. “I never had a chance to get it well. It was disappointing for me last year. I wasn’t 100% for any game.”

Determined to regain his health, Papadakis took part in rigorous physical therapy last summer. He made up to four trips a week to the Kerlan-Jobe sports clinic in Inglewood, where he worked out alongside Randall Cunningham, quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Magic Johnson of the Lakers.

“Stretching with those guys and working with them every morning was a lot of fun,” Papadakis said.

The three-hour workouts, though, were anything but glamorous.

“You name it, I did it,” Papadakis said. “They strapped me into the weirdest machines. I’d stretch and bike and run and sprint, and do a lot of stair climbing. I had to really work.”

The reward has been a relatively injury-free season. Papadakis still gets occasional muscle strains in his legs, but with the help of a therapist, he has been able to stay loose for games and avoid sitting out.

“He leads by example,” Kimbrell said. “He’s not 100% physically, but he’s been out there every day since we started double-days.”

Papadakis’ goal is to help Peninsula win the league title and contend for the Division III championship, perhaps earning a college scholarship in the process. He has been contacted by most Pacific 10 Conference schools and has a recruiting trip scheduled to California in December.

“I’d love for our team to go all the way,” he said. “I don’t see ourselves stopping any shorter than that. Bay League champion and CIF champion; any other way would be a disappointment for me.”