Meza Saves Hugs for Off Football Field

Carlos Meza almost always has the hint of a smile.

Soft-spoken with an easygoing demeanor, Meza doesn’t seem like the type who would enjoy battles along the line of scrimmage as an offensive guard for the Taft High football team.

He was, after all, voted most huggable by the senior class at Taft.

“I’ve had teachers come up to me and say he’s the nicest kid they’ve ever had in class,” Frank Grossman, a Taft assistant, said.

But the 6-foot-1, 265-pound Meza has a lineman-like mentality.

Proof positive: He said his favorite part of playing football is “knocking people over.”

A first-year starter, Meza plays a vital role in Taft’s offense. He has helped pave the way for tailback Marquis Brignac to rush for 1,324 yards and fullback Sedric Hurns to run for 616.

Nearly every running play is between the tackles and relies heavily on crisp blocking to create holes.

On pass plays, Taft’s first-team line has allowed only four sacks in 11 games.

Taft’s offense is as balanced as they come. With 26 more passing yards, the Toreadores will become the only high school team in the region to both rush and pass for more than 2,000 yards.

Taft (11-0) faces its biggest test of the season tonight when it hosts Sylmar (11-1) in a City Section 4-A Division semifinal at 7. The Spartans have the region’s best defense, allowing 87 points and 1,727 yards in 12 games, and Ray Solis is the best defensive lineman Taft has faced this season.

“There’s no question he’s a great player,” Taft Coach Troy Starr said of Solis. “We’re going to have to account for him every play.”

Because Solis can play every position and attack from many angles, all of Taft’s other offensive linemen--tackles Chris Garlington and Patrick Bryan, center Clint Evans and guard Kenny Davallier--share the responsibility for containing him.

But much of the burden falls on Meza’s broad shoulders. The Toreadors like to run behind him, and Meza can play both guard positions.

“He loves the plays where he’s a pulling guard,” Evans said. “He’s not the fastest player in a 50-yard dash, but he can move for five, and he loves hitting people.”

Meza played football for the first time as a sophomore.

After spending four days on the freshman-sophomore team, Starr pulled him aside and put him on the varsity.

Perhaps not knowing what he was getting into, Meza agreed to a a rigorous conditioning program that has prompted many potential Taft players to quit football. He had to leave his home in South-Central Los Angeles shortly after dawn to practice during the summer.

“I had to get up so early,” Meza said. “But I wanted to stick with it, to get respect. I have friends who play at Jefferson and they respect Taft.”

Meza played mostly defense his first two years, becoming a starter on the defensive line and the top backup on the offense as a junior.

When Taft’s season ended last year in a loss to San Pedro in the 4-A championship, Starr told Meza to be prepared to start both ways as a senior.

“I wasn’t real happy about [playing offense],” Meza said. “I was really tired the first game. I didn’t get any rest. But it’s gotten better and I like it more and more each week.

“I used to like playing defense but I like run-blocking even more.”