La Quinta’s Fredrickson Ready for Another Test

At 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds, La Quinta’s Ben Fredrickson would seem to be a hard guy to overlook. But Fredrickson figured coaches for tonight’s Orange County North-South all-star football game would find a way.

“I thought I’d never play in another high school football game,” Fredrickson said. “I thought I wasn’t going to get picked, coming from a little school like La Quinta.”

Fredrickson apparently didn’t realize that football coaches usually put more emphasis on a player’s athletic ability and size, rather than the size of his school. They also tend to pay attention to things like statistics and postseason honors, and Fredrickson’s resume from the 1998 season was impressive.

As a defensive end, he was named defensive player of the year in the Garden Grove League and first-team Times all-county. As a tight end, he caught 37 passes for 654 yards and finished his career as La Quinta’s all-time leading receiver with more than 80 catches.

La Quinta’s quarterback last year was Thi Huyhn, a 5-7, 151-pound fireball, who often got Fredrickson the ball by throwing jump passes over onrushing defensive lineman. Tonight, Fredrickson will be playing catch with Mater Dei’s Scott Lukash and Woodbridge’s Scott Barlow, who both are taller than 6 feet.

“It’s been weird in practice--these guys are actually throwing spirals,” Fredrickson said with a chuckle. “There’s so much talent out here. It’s a different level than I’m used to. It’s a battle.”

But one that Fredrickson, the only tight end on the South squad, gladly welcomes.

“I’ve got a lot of stuff to prove, not just to others, but myself too,” said Fredrickson, who helped lead La Quinta to its first playoff berth in eight years. “There’s a lot of guys in this game playing Division I college football. I want to see where I am. Can I play with these guys?”

Fredrickson would have found out this fall had he scored higher on the SAT. He was recruited by Oregon, but he came up 100 points short of the qualifying score he needed for NCAA eligibility.

“It’s been disappointing,” Fredrickson said. “That test was hard for me, but I don’t think it’s a bad test. I coasted through school and I’ve learned the hard way.”

Jeff Veeder, Fredrickson’s coach at La Quinta who has moved on to Capistrano Valley, says Fredrickson should have concentrated more on academics than being a three-sport athlete. Fredrickson also played basketball and baseball for the Aztecs.

“I loved playing all three,” Fredrickson said. “But I probably would have been better off sticking with football.”

Sacramento State was still interested in Fredrickson, whose test scores were high enough for admittance to the Division I-AA school. But after visiting the campus, Fredrickson wasn’t interested.

“I’ve been in a losing program at La Quinta,” he said. “I wasn’t interested in trying to help rebuild another losing program.”

Fredrickson doesn’t know if the Ducks will hold their scholarship for him, as they did for former Anaheim star Reuben Droughns throughout his community college career. Fredrickson’s only other current option is playing at a community college. Although he hasn’t made up his mind, he’s leaning toward attending Orange Coast.

Veeder said that worries him.

“I don’t think the JC route is good for him,” Veeder said. “He’s going to get lost in that environment.”

Said Fredrickson: “I really don’t want to go that route either, but I’m going to learn. I know it’s the only way I’m going to get to that next level.”

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Prep Football

* What: Orange County North-South All-Star Football Game

* When: 7:15 tonight

* Where: Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa

* Basics: North leads series, which is in its 40th year, 20-16-3. South won last year’s game, 14-10.

* Tickets: $8

* Benefits: PADRE Foundation, Inc.; Western Youth Services, Orange County Youth Foundation, Inc., and local high schools and youth groups

* Information: (714) 529-1201