Prodigal Sons Perpetuate Kennedy Football Tradition

College and NFL coaches ought to make a visit to Kennedy High and watch how Golden Cougar football players respond to the lectures and lessons passed along by assistant coach Dion Lambert.

If a community rises or falls based on the quality of its teachers, then Kennedy is headed to the highest level because of alumni like Lambert deciding to return to their alma maters and help mold a new generation of teenagers.

An All-City cornerback at Kennedy, All-Pacific 10 Conference defensive back at UCLA and fourth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots, Lambert is in his third year teaching world history and coaching football at Kennedy.

Joining him on the Cougar staff this summer is another former Kennedy player, wide receiver Billy Parra, who graduated from Cal Lutheran and soon will have his teaching credential.

“Papa Francola has always welcomed his boys back,” Lambert said. “Every day, there’s somebody coming through.”

Bob Francola and Fred Grimes, Kennedy coaches with more than 50 years of coaching experience, looked on proudly Saturday at the Hart summer passing tournament as their two young proteges offered defensive and offensive expertise.

“Fred and I have died and gone to heaven,” Francola said. “What better thing can a high school coach have than two former players come back to coach. It’s like owning a business and having your sons come back to run it.”

Lambert, 30, would seem the ideal candidate for a college or NFL coaching position. He’s a former player with intelligence, enthusiasm and strong communication skills.

But someone will have to drag him kicking and screaming for him to abandon his players at Kennedy.

“I’m living through the kids on the field,” he said. “Sometimes I get a little too excited because I expect them to do the things I did. I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world. I get so excited when I enlighten the kids. It makes me feel so good.”

With his broad-brimmed straw hat providing protection from the sun, Lambert barked out directions to Kennedy players eager to learn Saturday.

“I think he’s one of the best,” defensive back Clifford Mack said. “He pushes me and if I don’t do what he says, he gets right on me fast. He’s hard in history, too. Whoa, he gave me a lot of work.”

Francola enjoys seeing his players react when Lambert speaks.

“Their eyes are like fish eyes,” he said.

“They’re learning from somebody who’s been where they’re trying to get to.”

One day, Francola and Grimes intend to turn over their keys and the Kennedy program to Lambert and Parra.

They’ll be leaving it in good hands.

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More observations and conclusions from the first passing tournament of the summer:

Eric Zdenek, a senior wide receiver from Chaminade, might be faster than his brother, Jason, a reserve defensive back at UCLA. Eric has been timed electronically in 4.67 seconds for 40 yards.

“He’s got a bigger chip on his shoulder than his brother,” Coach Ed Croson said. “He doesn’t mind mixing it up.”

Eric and Jason were so competitive growing up at home that they used to wrestle in the living room and break anything in sight.

“We got into each other’s faces a lot,” Eric said. “I’m stronger for it.”

But Eric and Jason aren’t even the best athletes in the family. That honor belongs to sister Christina, a freshman-to-be who is an outstanding basketball and volleyball player. . . .

Quarterback Zac Wasserman of Westlake has been a dedicated worker in the weight room judging by his bulging biceps. He’s passing the ball farther and with more power than he did a year ago, when he finished with 2,404 yards passing and 22 touchdowns.

He has committed to Penn State and doesn’t seem concerned about East Coast weather conditions.

“I like the cold,” he said. . . .

Valencia has three NCAA Division I prospects--tailback Manuel White, linebacker Ray Cassaday and junior defensive lineman Kaelen Jakes. Another player ready to join the list is 6-foot-4, 200-pound tight end Brian Miller. He was impressive going over the middle catching passes in a crowd Saturday.

“He’s going to be quite a weapon for us,” Coach Brian Stiman said. . . .

Quarterback Matt Cassel of Chatsworth has decided to devote full concentration to football this summer and won’t be playing baseball.

“The last two years, it’s been such a conflict,” Cassel said. “I thought I needed to make [a football commitment].”

Cassel, who has committed to USC, was wearing a Trojan cap throughout the day’s activities. He has grown to 6-4 1/2 but wants more.

“I was at the doctor’s office a month ago and asking him about my growth plates and he said they’re about closed and I was begging, ‘Please squeeze out another half-inch,’ ” he said. . . .

Hart is on a roll when it comes to producing NCAA Division I quarterbacks. David Neill has ended up at Nevada and Kyle Boller at California the last two years, and their successor, junior Kyle Matter, will surely join them in two years.

Matter has excellent touch and should have no problem taking over the Indians’ offense.

“You might not see the 80-yard throw this year, but who can?” offensive coordinator Dean Herrington said.

Matter is smartly focusing on what he does best and not worrying about comparisons to Boller.

“I can’t be the next Kyle Boller,” he said. “I have to be the next Kyle Matter.” . . .

Kennedy is switching to a four-receiver run-and-shoot attack. The Cougars like their four receivers--Daron Taylor, Paul Holefield, Sanders Trent and James Norris. . . .

An intriguing player is 6-3 senior quarterback Scott Vossmeyer of Crescenta Valley. He was starting last season until sidelined by a broken ankle in the fourth game. With a little experience, beware.

“He’s a physical specimen who really throws the ball well,” Falcon Coach Alan Eberhart said of Vossmeyer.

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Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422 or eric.sondheimer@latimes.com