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Defending Invitational champ takes the physical approach

Sergio Macedo (3) is one of two returning 1,000-yard rushers to the Garfield High School backfield. Garfield is the defending City Invitational Division champ.


By RON GUILD, Sports Editor 04.SEP.08
Lorenzo Hernandez clearly doesn’t believe in scheduling a bunch of cream puffs to get ready for league.

The coach of defending City Invitational Division football champion Garfield High School opens a challenging pre-Eastern League schedule Thursday at Birmingham, the defending City (upper) Division champion. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

In the coming weeks, the Bulldogs will be facing St. Paul, Wilson and San Pedro.

“We want to play the better teams so we can put our kids in the position to compete at the highest level,” Hernandez said. “It also gives our kids a lot of exposure.”

Birmingham’s speed and size will be a challenge, admits Hernandez.

“We just want to give ourselves a chance to be in the game and compete,” he said. “We want to see how we do against the upper-echelon teams.”

Under Hernandez, Garfield has built its reputation for a run-oriented, smash-mouth style of football.

That the defending City Section Invitational Division champions return two All-City tailbacks in Franky Diaz (230 carries for 1,361 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Sergio Macedo (173 for 1,155 yards and 13 TDs), it wouldn’t be a stretch to think the 2008 season is going to be more of the same.

Additionally they return a fullback in Omar Hernandez, who ran for 463 yards, and add a speedster from the frosh-soph team in Damian Guzman to the backfield.

“We are deep at running back,” Hernandez admits. “We have a nice blend of speed, shiftiness and power.”

The coach plans on being more diversified offensively. Patrick Vargas, who stands 5-foot-4, provides enough of a passing threat to keep defenses honest, according to the coach. He’s also a running threat. His big value, though, is leadership.

“Patrick is a smart kid who is like an extra coach on the field,” Hernandez said. “Plus he can get the ball where it needs to go, too.”

Three veteran offensive linemen — Guards Andrew Burgueno (6-2, 300) and Chris Sandoval (5-9, 230) and tackle Fausto Salazar (5-10, 200) — provide protection up front.

Defense should be in solid hands, especially in the secondary.

Garfield returns Roy Fonseca, Lanny Delgado and Dominic Lam, who all earned some All-City recognition a year ago. Safety Eric Saucedo completes a solid unit.

Sophomores Moses Salcedo (end) and Hector Cazales (linebacker) have been impressive newcomers.

“We’re a little smaller than last year on defense, but we’re faster,” Hernandez said. Our sophomores are very fast on the edge and our secondary, as a group, is very good.”