Prep Friday : SOUTHERN SECTION CENTRAL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW : A Pair to Draw to Is the Key : Bolsa Grande’s Lui, Lepule Are Basis for a Winning Hand
You’ve heard of Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard, the famous “Mr. Inside†and “Mr. Outside,†the running backs for the great Army teams of the 1940s.
Well, meet Mr. Introvert and Mr. Extrovert: Travin Lui and Ricky Lepule of Bolsa Grande High School.
“They really are two opposite-type runners--Travin Lui is more of the fullback type and Lepule uses his speed outside well,†said Vern Nelson, a Bolsa Grande backfield coach. “Off the field, Lui would be more of a talker than Lepule.â€
Despite the contrasts, Lui and Lepule, both juniors, have made a harmonious combination that has helped Bolsa Grande (12-1) advance to the Central Conference final at 7:30 tonight against Valencia at Orange Coast College.
Including the playoffs, Lui has rushed for 1,116 yards in 179 carries for a 6.2 average and Lepule has added 945 yards in 144 carries (6.6). When you add 858 yards rushing from quarterback Damon Fisher, it’s easy to see why the Matadors have a difficult running game to stop.
The Bolsa Grande offense is such that neither player has an ego problem.
The Matadors regularly rotate Paul Howell and Shannon Valdez into the backfield to relieve Lui and Lepule.
“The rotation helps us all out because then nobody gets tired,†Lepule said after a recent practice. “Plus defenses can’t key on any one back because all four of us get (playing) time.â€
Said Lui: “I play on both offense and defense, so if I get a rest when the other guys are in the backfield, then I’m a lot fresher at the end of the game.â€
When it counts the most, however, Lui and Lepule are playing, as evidenced by the 20 touchdowns they’ve scored between them.
It seems they save their best performances for the biggest games.
Lui rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown in Bolsa Grande’s 28-17 victory over La Quinta in the regular season finale that helped give the Matadors their first outright Garden Grove League championship.
And last week in a Central Conference semifinal game, both Lui and Lepule scored touchdowns in the Matadors’ 19-3 victory over Anaheim.
They credit their success to two factors: 1) Bolsa Grande runs a veer option offense--something that can create problems for any defense, and 2) the performance of the Matadors’ offensive line.
Lui and Lepule have been able to take advantage of this from their halfback positions in the veer offense. Lui and Lepule--called LuiLepule by their coach, Greg Shadid--are both about 6-feet, 200 pounds, although Lui is more likely to get the call for the tough yards inside.
Lui and Lepule defer to their offensive teammates when it comes to taking bows, however.
“The line has really blocked well for us,†Lui said. “And they’re a lot bigger this year, too.â€
The line includes 6-foot 3-inch, 260-pound tackle David Lannon, tackle Jesse Hardwick (6-5, 220), and guard David Jenkins (6-3, 220).
The Bolsa Grande coaches have had little trouble convincing their players just how tough Valencia will be. The Matadors’ lone loss this season came against the Tigers, 33-10, in a nonleague game.
“They scored a touchdown on the second or third play of the game and everyone had their heads down after that,†Lepule said.
Regardless of tonight’s outcome, it already has been a banner season for the Matadors.
Tonight’s contest marks the school’s first-ever appearance in a conference championship football game.
“This week I’ve heard from former players and students that I haven’t heard from in years wishing us luck,†said Nelson, the backfield coach.
Lui and Lepule have noticed the difference, too.
“It started with the last game at La Quinta--we had a big crowd there and by the end of the game they were yelling so loud that you could hardly hear the signals.†Lui said. “That fires the team up whenever we get big crowds.â€
Said Lepule: “And at school this week, Bolsa Grande T-shirts and towels are selling fast--people are really proud of the school now.â€
Bolsa Grande Starting Lineup
OFFENSE
No. Pos. Name Ht. Wt. 82 WR Jeff Weir 5-10 160 84 WR Jim Usey 5-10 145 87 TE Andy Funder 5-11 190 51 OT David Lannon 6-3 260 70 OT Jesse Hardwick 6-5 216 54 OG Chris Matney 5-11 195 72 OG David Jenkins 6-3 220 50 C Rob Grimsley 6-0 190 2 QB Damon Fisher 5-10 172 21 HB Shannon Valdez 5-6 160 33 HB Travin Lui 6-0 200
DEFENSE
No. Pos. Name Ht. Wt. 72 DE David Jenkins 6-3 220 51 DT David Lannon 6-3 260 87 DT Andy Funder 5-11 190 88 DE Alex Galvan 6-0 215 33 LB Travin Lui 6-0 200 50 LB Rob Grimsley 6-0 190 54 LB Chris Matney 5-11 195 2 FS Damon Fisher 5-10 172 42 SS Danny Jimenez 5-9 171 82 CB Jeff Weir 5-8 160 84 CB Jim Usey 5-10 145
BOLSA GRANDE MATADORS Garden Grove League (12-1)
Gahr Won, 34-12 Buena Park Won, 43-8 Savanna Won, 34-8 Artesia Won, 19-0 Valencia Lost, 33-10 Santiago Won, 21-0 Los Amigos Won, 38-6 Garden Grove Won, 42-14 Rancho Alamitos Won, 14-13 La Quinta Won, 28-17 Fullerton Won, 39-28 Tustin Won, 24-14 Anaheim Won, 19-3
MATADOR LEADERS
SCORING Travin Lui 90 points Damon Fisher 54 points
RUSHING Travin Lui 1,116 yards (6.2 average) Ricky Lepule 945 yards (6.6 average)
Co At Yd TD Int Damon Fisher 38 103 633 7 8
RECEIVING Andy Funder 9 catches, 185 yards John McCullough 8 catches, 103 yards
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
