Soto, Watts Form a Wall for the West

It was an ongoing debate among coaches and fans in the Antelope Valley during the football season:

Who was the better linebacker, Paul Soto of Highland High or Robert Watts of Paraclete?

Both were ferocious hitters who led their teams to unprecedented heights, with Soto leading the Bulldogs to their first outright Golden League championship and Watts leading the Spirits to their third consecutive section title.

Soto, his league’s player of the year, and Watts, his division’s defensive player of the year, accepted scholarships to Division I programs.

But, with the Oregon State-bound Soto playing in Division III and Utah State-bound Watts in small-schools Division XII, the chance to compare them side-by-side never presented itself.

Until tonight.

Both will suit up for a talented West team at Palmdale High in the fourth annual High Desert Coaches’ Assn. All-Star football game.

Soto, a 6-foot-2, 250-pounder, and Watts, a 6-3, 215-pounder, spearhead a team loaded with defensive standouts.

So, which direction will the East run? Certainly not backward.

The East features a strong backfield that could include three Antelope Valley running backs.

Jon Molock, Jermaine Norman and Ron Miller combined for more than 1,300 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns for the Antelopes last season.

Travis Morse of Palmdale, the leading receiver in the Golden League, averaged 26.9 yards per catch and provides the East with a deep threat.

Morse, the league’s 100-meter champion, and Molock, who finished second to Morse, might give the East an edge in speed, but the West will enjoy a distinct size advantage.

Blake Gaskins (6-4, 305) of Paraclete, Travis Kirk (6-1, 300) of Lancaster, Mike Byrd (6-2, 310) of Rosamond and Eric Bonney (6-2, 320) of Highland highlight an imposing line that includes two-way standout Majdy Haddad (5-10, 250) of Lancaster, the Golden League lineman of the year.

All-Southern Section quarterbacks Rob Fockaert of Paraclete, who has committed to Utah State, and Cory Allred of Rosamond, who faced each other last season in the Division XII semifinals, team for the West team.

They have a stable of fleet and talented receivers, including all-purpose back Kevin Morris of Highland and Mike Williams of Rosamond.

Morris and Highland teammate Tyrone Brown combined to rush for 1,390 yards as seniors.

The West, coached by Tim Cox of Rosamond, has seven players from Paraclete, which was 37-5 the last three seasons, and 10 from Golden League-champion Highland.

The West also has players from Rosamond, Quartz Hill and Lancaster high schools.

The East, coached by Craig Cieslik of Vasquez, includes players from Antelope Valley, Littlerock, Palmdale, Mojave, Desert and Vasquez.

*

WHAT

High Desert Coaches’ Assn.

All-Star football game

WHEN

7 tonight

WHERE

Palmdale High