Anaheim Hopes the Numbers Will Go Its Way

The Anaheim football program is accustomed to difficult times. But that doesn’t mean the Colonists want to get used to it.

The Colonists face Cypress at 7:30 tonight at Western High; both teams are 0-3. Last season, Anaheim also began with three defeats en route to a 3-7 record.

But Anaheim has reason to believe things will change for the better because, for a change, the talent base is better.

Among their starters, the Colonists have three players leading the county in statistics at their positions.

Jesus Acevedo has the most yardage among receivers (339), and is tied with San Clemente’s Greg Lang for most receptions with 21. Defensive back Jose Rodriguez has a county-best four interceptions. Luis Gomez has thrown for 773 yards, more than any other county quarterback.

Not that it means much to Gomez, especially since the team has yet to remove the “0” from its victory column.

“I believe we can compete for the league title because there are no dominant teams in the league so far,” Gomez said. “But I also think we need to win one of these last two games before league starts to have some confidence.”

That Gomez, who passed for 1,077 yards last season, has put up such impressive numbers this season is a bit of shock. Anaheim has been known as a running team as long as Reuben Droughns has been in the lineup. But Droughns, who was the league’s top rusher last season with 1,123 yards, is now at Oregon.

Anaheim Coach Allen Carter and his staff revamped the offense to take advantage of Gomez’s skills.

“We didn’t have another Reuben, and those were big shoes to fill,” Carter said. “And although our skill position players are good, you live and die with your offensive and defensive lines. Our lines are young; they have yet to jell.

“We have yet to jell as a team.”

Inexperience has hurt.

In its opener against Fullerton, Anaheim had a potential game-winning field goal blocked as time ran out. Against Loara, a couple of defensive breakdowns--falling for a play-action fake and not cutting off the sideline on an option play--got the Saxons two second-half touchdowns that were the difference in a 28-22 victory.

Last week against Irvine, the Colonists gave up 28 first-quarter points and were never in the game, losing, 42-12.

But each time Gomez has distinguished himself. He passed for 227 yards and two touchdowns against Fullerton, 327 yards and three touchdowns against Loara and 217 yards and two touchdowns against Irvine.

“He did a nice job against us,” Irvine Coach Terry Henigan said. “He showed lots of toughness and threw well when given time.”

Said Carter of Gomez: “He’s very low key, but on the field there is no question who the leader is.”

Gomez has had experience working with large groups. He is the last of 12 children born to Ofelia and Pasqual Gomez, who brought their family to Orange County from Mexico when Gomez was a baby.

His five older brothers (including Juan, who graduated from Anaheim last year) loved sports, especially soccer, baseball and track. Gomez, who said he “followed his brothers everywhere even when they didn’t want me to,” also fell in love with sports.

Football grabbed him as he watched Super Bowl XXI between Denver and the New York Giants on TV. “Even though he lost, John Elway became my idol,” Gomez said.

Growing up in Fullerton and Anaheim, Gomez never could get his parents’ permission to play organized football. By the time he reached high school, the itch to play had become unbearable. With the help of his sister, Olga, who spoke passionately on his behalf, Gomez finally convinced his parents to let him play.

One of his best neighborhood friends was Acevedo. They played freshman football together and will end their high school careers as one of Anaheim’s top passing tandems.

Gomez does not want his prep career to end without Anaheim making a trip to the Southern Section playoffs. That means the Colonists need to start winning. Tonight would be a golden opportunity as they face winless Cypress.

“We’ve had a chance to win those first three games, but we made too many mistakes and turnovers,” Gomez said. “If we can get some confidence going, we will get better every week.”