He’s making a big name for himself

Murrieta is one of the fastest-growing cities in California, with the population hitting 100,000, and there’s a teenager hoping to inspire its residents.

“It’s a small town, but a lot of good things come out of this city, and I feel I’m one of those things,” says senior running back Bradley Randle of Vista Murrieta.

Randle, 5 feet 9, 205 pounds, is the son of former major leaguer Lenny Randle. He grew up meeting the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Marshall Faulk and Terrell Davis, all exceptional athletes in baseball and football. His cousin is Tyus Edney, the point guard of UCLA fame.

“I learned about the game at a young age,” Randle says. “Not too many kids get the experience like me.”

He understands that each time he steps onto the field, whether in practice or a game, he must give 100% effort, and it shows.

“In 16 years of coaching, I’ve never had anyone where the game and practice speed are the same,” football Coach Coley Candaele says. “We don’t want people hitting Bradley because they’ll get hurt, and we don’t want him hitting anyone because we want him healthy for games. He’s going full speed, and that’s all he knows.”

Vista Murrieta (5-0), ranked No. 11 by The Times, has put together a 25-game winning streak during the regular season, and Randle has become an important weapon in the Broncos’ success.

He rushed for 150 yards in 14 carries and caught five passes for 52 yards against Redlands. He rushed for 195 yards and scored two touchdowns against Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos. He rushed for 114 yards and scored four touchdowns against Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula.

“He’s compact, he’s fast and he can catch the ball,” Candaele said.

However, his size has forced college teams to think long and hard about where he’d fit in at their level.

“People are coming out,” Randle says. “It’s slow, but it’s picking up. People want to see me and the team.”

He visited San Diego State last weekend and has scheduled visits to Arizona State and Arizona. UCLA has been inviting him to its games.

“I’m being more elusive,” he says. “It’s one of my main focuses. I’m improving on it.”

And that’s what’s best to like about Randle. He keeps getting better. He understands that there’s no substitute for hard work, and he intends to do whatever it takes to reach the highest level.

------

Anaheim Servite lost to Encino Crespi, 21-20, on a missed 57-yard field-goal attempt as time expired. Servite lost to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 31-24, when a pass was intercepted in the end zone with two seconds left.

If anyone is in position to predict who’s going to win the Crespi-Notre Dame game on Halloween night, it’s Servite Coach Troy Thomas.

So what say you, Coach Thomas?

“I think it it’s going to be a great game,” he said. “They’re both very good teams and very good coaches.”

Thomas implied, though, that Notre Dame’s offense might be a little better.

“They’re multidimensional,” he said. “Their quarterback is good, they’ve got three good linemen . . .”

But Thomas isn’t ready to predict a score. He has more important matters on his mind, such as playing Santa Ana Mater Dei in his team’s Trinity League opener tonight at Cal State Fullerton. Servite hasn’t beaten Mater Dei since 1988.

------

Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway is returning to his alma mater, Granada Hills, on Monday night for the taping of a new ESPN series, “Homecoming,” in the school gym. Friends, alumni, ex-coaches and current students will be present.

------

Woodland Hills Taft, with all its transfer students, has become the favorite to win the City Section Championship in boys’ basketball, but Los Angeles Fairfax, with 6-10 Renardo Sidney, remains the unknown factor.

The question is, how hard and how effective will Sidney perform in his senior year?

“I think he’s going to have a great year,” Fairfax Coach Harvey Kitani said. “He’s a senior and has accepted the responsibilities of all the things that go with that.”

Sidney is scheduled to take the ACT next weekend, which could help determine what college he selects.

--

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com