Braced for the Worst, Sanders Is Back Strong

By Eric Stephens

Dec. 12, 2003 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

It was a simple kickoff, one of hundreds that Chet Sanders had participated in from the youth to high school levels. And yet it will be one the Carson High senior will never forget.

Sanders helped make a tackle during a kickoff against Washington last season when a teammate rolled onto his leg and he crumpled to the ground. Pain shot through his right knee.

“I had no idea what was going on,” Sanders recalled. “When I was on the sideline, the trainer said my ACL might be torn. I had never even broken a bone in my body, much less hurt my knee. It was kind of a shock to me.

“That’s when it kicked in that I might miss the rest of the season.”

Sanders had broken his kneecap and suffered a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament. Not only was his season over, but a heavy load of doubt was cast upon his playing future.

“That first week, I was just heartbroken,” Sanders said. “I couldn’t go to school because I couldn’t walk. I was just sitting in my house, thinking that I couldn’t help my team anymore.

“It was in my head and I couldn’t get rid of it.”

The brace that protects his right knee is a constant reminder, but the concern over his future is a memory.

As he prepares for tonight’s City Section championship game against undefeated Venice at the Coliseum, Sanders has arguably played the biggest role in getting the underdog Colts into position to add to their 10 major-division football titles.

Since his return in Week 6 against San Pedro, the rangy free safety has drastically altered his team’s fortunes. Sanders has eight interceptions in the eight games he has played.

“When he got two picks in his first game back, that was the only answer I needed,” tight end Jordan Fata said.

The best statistic is this: The Colts are 8-0 since Sanders’ return to the field. Carson Coach John Aguirre said it is no coincidence.

“He definitely made us a better team,” the sixth-year coach said. “He allowed us to move guys around in our secondary and put them in the right places. We had other players, but we didn’t have anyone like him at his position.”

Sanders will give Venice a different look after sitting out the Colts’ 34-14 loss to the Gondoliers in the opening week of the season as he rehabilitated his knee.

Without the presence of the 6-foot-1, 190-pound performer, Venice’s big-play receiving trio of Ryan Graves, Gerold Rodriguez and James Lewis combined for four touchdowns.

“He definitely shows up on the film,” Venice Coach Angelo Gasca said. “He makes a lot of plays. There’s no question that he’s going to pose a challenge to our receivers.”

Carson has suffered three losses, but those have come against Venice, Central Section power Fresno Clovis West and Division I semifinalist and defending champion Los Alamitos.

As Sanders watched the Colts lose against high-quality competition, the urge to run out and join his teammates burned.

“It was hard sitting on the sidelines,” he said. “I thought I was ready. But my doctor and everybody else said to wait until league.

“They were right. But it was hard. I felt I could have helped them maybe win one or two of those games.”

Aguirre said he thinks Sanders is a much better player after the injury than before. Sanders would agree.

Opposing teams came to that realization whenever they tried to throw the ball in his direction.

“They knew about my knee,” he said. “They can see the brace in the game. I guess they were trying to test me, but that was bad.

“They learned a lesson.”

Aguirre marvels at what Sanders did away from the team to regain his status as a leading player.

“Chet couldn’t really be with us [over last spring and summer], so he had to do a lot of it by himself,” Aguirre said. “He made all the trips to therapy. He worked out on his own.”

Said Sanders: “You can’t just sit around and not do anything. If you have love for the game and you want to get back, you have to work for it.”