Deja Vu Factor Would Suit Kay Perfectly Fine

Welcome back, Brandon Kay, to Friday night lights.

Kay, the center-midfielder on the Royal High boys’ soccer team, leads the Highlanders against Fountain Valley at Cerritos Gahr High tonight at 6 in the Southern Section Division I title match.

Kay and senior classmate Kendall Simmonds are the two starters remaining from Royal’s 1995 Division I champion, a team that defeated . . . Fountain Valley . . . at Gahr . . . on a Friday night in the title match.

But whereas the spotlight is drawn naturally to Simmonds, a standout forward and Royal’s career scoring leader, it is Kay who Coach Kevin Corley says is the team’s most valuable player.

A rangy 5 feet 10 and 160 pounds, Kay started at sweeper on the 1995 championship team and played there for the first month of this season.

But with Royal’s attack sputtering in early January, Corley moved Kay to the midfield. The Highlanders have since won 15 consecutive matches.

Along the way, Royal won its fifth Marmonte League title in the past six seasons and upset Bell Gardens and previously unbeaten Santa Ana in two playoff matches.

The Highlanders (25-5-1) face a final hurdle to match their 1995 success, but Corley and Kay agree that this Royal team plays a different style.

“We’re bigger and more physical this year and we play tighter defense,� said Corley, who helped Royal defeat Fountain Valley, 5-4, two years ago. “We play more direct soccer and don’t use as many passes. And we focus even more on set plays because of our superiority in the air.�

Kay headed in Royal’s first two goals on Tuesday in front of more than 2,000 mostly Santa Ana fans. He said his prior playoff experience helps him remain composed.

It’s a lesson Kay tries to pass on to his teammates.

“Brandon doesn’t say a lot, even when I talk to him,� Corley said. “But he demands an effort from his teammates. He’s very hard on them in preparation.�

Kay has 12 goals, 12 assists and plenty of confidence..

“I had a feeling [in 1995] that no one could beat us,� Kay said. “And I feel the same way now.�

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Southern Section High School Soccer Championships

WHERE: Cerritos Gahr High School.

DIRECTIONS: 605 Freeway, exit South Street. North on Studebaker, East on Artesia Blvd.

TICKET INFORMATION: Available at gate. General admission is $8, children under 12 pay $3.

BOYS’ DIVISION I

WHO: Royal (25-5-1) vs. Fountain Valley (20-4-2).

WHEN: Tonight at 6

WHO TO WATCH: Royal’s marque players are forward Kendall Simmonds, who has 22 goals, and center midfielder Brandon Kay, who has 12 goals and 12 assists. Sweeper Ryan Walker boots accurate free kicks and 6-foot-4 outside midfielder Mike Rainer can heave 50-yard throw-ins. Dangerous players for Fountain Valley include midfielders Ryan Futagaki, who has 15 goals and 22 assists, Nick Tolman, who has five winning goals, and forwards Cliff McKinley and Adam Novak, who both have nine goals.

FAST FACT: Four Highlanders have signed with college programs--but only two for soccer. Simmonds, Royal’s career scoring leader, has signed with California and Kay with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The Rainer twins, midfielder Mike and goalkeeper Matt, have signed to play baseball at Cal State Northridge.

GIRLS’ DIVISION I

WHO: Hart (24-1-2) vs. Los Alamitos (23-4-3).

WHEN: Tonight at 8.

WHO TO WATCH: Hart won its fourth consecutive Foothill League title yet had to play a wild-card match. The Indians feature center midfielders Laura Qualls, who has 29 goals, and Erin Misaki, with 20, who have been virtually unstoppable. Defenders Kellie and Anna Nordhagen are solid, as are forward Mandy Stupar, who has 18 goals, and goalkeeper Sophy Gigoriou. Third-seeded Los Alamitos, the Sunset League champion, shared last year’s Division I title and depends on midfielder Sommer Hammoud, an All-Division I pick last season, and forward Cyndi Tredway, who has 20 goals.

FAST FACT: Hart, with 1,586 students, is the smallest of the 85 schools designated as Division I in Southern Section girls’ soccer. The Indians were moved from Division III this season. Los Alamitos, with 2,053 students, is 23rd in Division I enrollment.