Unbeaten Arlington Gets Good Marks in Chemistry

There’s a well-worn futon in Matt Padilla’s room, bought specifically for teammate Rafael Simon.

“He’s part of the family,” Padilla said.

It wasn’t always like that, Simon admits. He perceived Padilla as his main competitor at running back when he moved from Redding to Riverside two years ago to live with his grandmother.

“I didn’t like him at first, but now he’s like a brother to me,” said Simon, who was in need of an extended family. He found more than “just a coach” in Pat McCarthy and more than guys who blocked for him in the offensive linemen.

That might be one of the keys to undefeated Riverside Arlington High’s success.

It’s a family atmosphere, where the coach lives down the street from the team’s top rusher, four coaches have sons on the team and every Thursday the team has a get-together at Padilla’s house.

But they realize it’s going to take more than camaraderie for Arlington, which hasn’t won a playoff game in 11 years, to have success, a fact that doesn’t deter the 6-0 Lions from thinking this year will be different.

“I think we are going to be pretty special next year.... Next year we get to the next level,” McCarthy said at the end of last season.

Arlington has seven starters back from a team that lost in the first round of the Division V playoffs last season and finished second in the Ivy League.

The tandem of wingback Simon and running back Padilla is the key.

After last season, Padilla and Simon began working out at Inland Empire Acceleration clinic, a specialty fitness shop that teaches young athletes how to get in better shape.

They brought the offensive linemen with them, including 6-6, 295-pound senior Kili Lefotu, who has drawn interest from college recruiters. Soon other players came for the voluntary workouts and the team grew closer.

“I’ve never coached a bunch of guys as close-knit and as hard working as these guys,” said McCarthy, a third-year coach who was formerly at rival Fontana A.B. Miller.

Padilla has rushed for 901 yards in 101 carries, while Simon has 17 receptions for 277 yards. Each has scored seven touchdowns. Two weeks ago, when Padilla did not play because of an injury, Simon contributed 59 yards in 13 carries in a victory over San Bernardino Cajon.

“They have a great camaraderie, they look out for each other,” McCarthy said. “We have a lot of unselfish guys, they just want to help the team win.”