They’re Fit for Line of Work

Fullback Rocky Taloa describes what it’s like to run behind an offensive line that features Joe Hawley, the weak-side tackle in Anaheim Esperanza’s misdirection, fly offense.

“It’s like having a bulletproof vest,” Taloa said. “You can’t get hit.”

Hawley is the face of a mostly obscure unit at a school whose reputation was built by producing big, strong offensive linemen for nearly three decades.

Tackle to tackle, seniors Hawley (6 feet 3, 260 pounds), Rick Albrecht (6-2, 230), Garet Magdaleno (6-2, 275), Joe Witeck (6-3, 275) and Thomas Wren (6-6, 255) have helped Esperanza muscle its way among the state’s elite.

The Aztecs have rushed for 5,126 yards, the 10th-best total in state history, according to the Cal-Hi Sports magazine record book. It is the seventh-best total in Southland history, but comes at the highest level of competition.

Taloa, with 2,109 yards rushing and 25 touchdowns, and Charles Neal, with 1,392 yards and 15 touchdowns, have accounted for most of the damage. Quarterback Kevin Jablonski and the other starting halfback, Shane Henry, are part of the track team’s 400-meter relay team that went to the state finals last season, and the two have accounted for 1,125 yards.

“The line has exceeded my expectations,” said third-year Coach Bill Pendleton. “I knew we had the speed, the big backs, but we had three new linemen, and two [Wren and Albrecht] had played JV the year before. Those guys just got better and better.”

Junior tight end Eron Moses (6-5, 225), a basketball player, is in his first season of football. Magdaleno is a converted nose guard who has played center in only four games, taking over for Garrett Majam (6-0, 255), who broke a hand against Los Alamitos.

Esperanza (11-2), making its first appearance in a final since 1992, will take its final bow Saturday when it plays Los Angeles Loyola (9-4) for the Southern Section Division I title.

What does it mean to be a lineman at Esperanza?

“It means to work hard, to hit hard, to play hard, and try to give our team a chance to win,” said Wren, the strong-side tackle.

The legacy of linemen at Esperanza includes Steve Williams, who started three seasons at UCLA; Mike Knudson, who went to USC before becoming All-Western Athletic Conference at San Diego State; Brendan Stai, who was an All-American at Nebraska before playing nine seasons in the NFL, and Travis Kirschke, who played offense and defense when he was the state player of the year in 1992 and is in his ninth NFL season as a defensive tackle.

“When I think of great linemen, those are the guys that come to mind,” said Gary Meek, who joined the program in 1976 as an assistant and later was coach for 17 seasons. “Hawley reminds me a lot of Stai. Very athletic, can run, can do a lot of things that Stai could do.”

Hawley is the only one in the group that plays offense and defense, and he is instrumental in calling blocking assignments. When he arrived at Esperanza, he was 5-10 and 180 pounds and bench-pressed 130 pounds. Today, he bench presses 340.

The weight room has played a crucial role in the development of Esperanza’s reputation.

Pendleton, a certified Olympic lifting coach, has been the school’s strength coach for 30 years. He was defensive coordinator for 18 seasons before succeeding Meek in 2003. Linemen and linebackers usually are part of the track and field team’s throw program, which maximizes Pendleton’s time with them and keeps them in the weight room.

Now Esperanza hopes to be the only Division I team strong enough to go 4-0 in the playoffs.