Daily Pilot Football Player of the Week: Keola Asuega

Barry Faulkner

Keola Asuega’s version of fantasy football has nothing to do with

drafting players and charting statistics. Rather, this Costa Mesa High

junior has long dreamt of playing in the NFL, by which time he hopes to

have accomplished his other dream of adding a championship ring to the

sparkling studded earrings he regularly wears.

Those aspirations, however, were not always unified in his mind’s eye.

Before this season, in fact, he admitted he was more concerned with

padding his own reputation than his team’s win total.

But things have changed for the 6-foot, 190-pound fullback and

linebacker, who is already attracting attention from college recruiters.

“I was an immature player last year, but I’ve grown up a lot and

realized what it takes to be a leader and more of a team guy,” said

Asuega, who leads the Mustangs in rushing with 849 yards and 12

touchdowns on 119 carries.

First-year Costa Mesa Coach Dave Perkins verified Asuega’s assessment.

“The biggest thing with him has been his emergence as a leader,”

Perkins said. “He’s really matured. Before I got here, I heard he was a

little stubborn and might not have always done things that were best for

the team. But I haven’t seen that.

Perkins said Asuega displayed his unselfishness when he was asked to

shift from tailback to fullback after the third game this fall.

“I was a little concerned about asking him, but his response was:

‘Whatever it takes to win, coach.’ ”

The change has not affected his number of carries and, Perkins

believes, the change has had a noticeably positive effect on the

Mustangs’ offense.

“It has really helped us,” Perkins said. “By making teams focus on our

fullback, it has helped open up our perimeter game. We had been

struggling getting guys outside. But, now, if teams want to focus on the

perimeter, Keola will tear them up inside.”

Asuega did just that in the Mustangs’ 21-6 Pacific Coast League

victory Friday over crosstown rival Costa Mesa, carrying 25 times for a

game-high 157 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown to open the scoring

early in the second quarter.

Estancia Coach Jay Noonan was among those impressed.

“I thought, reviewing the videotape before the game, Asuega was their

best player on both sides of the ball,” Noonan said. “And he proved that

Friday night.”

The effort, which included spot duty at inside linebacker, earned

Asuega Daily Pilot Player of the Week recognition.

Recognizing his passion for the game doesn’t take long for anyone who

has talked football with the charismatic standout.

“I have big dreams,” he said. “I’ve dreamed about playing on Sundays

since I was 6 years old.”

Asuega, in his 11th year of organized football, said those dreams were

threatened by a nerve problem in his foot, which sidelined him for two

games last season and has carried over into constant pain this year.

“I’ve worried about my feet,” said Asuega, who finally experienced

relief days before the Estancia game, when cortisone was injected into

both feet.

Asuega said the problem arose when his wide feet were pinched by

tightly laced football cleats.

“It was an inflamed nerve between my (third and fourth) toes. Every

morning I woke up, my feet would be killing me. I’ve had to take a break

every once in awhile in practice, but when it comes to games, I don’t

feel a thing.”

Asuega was also fitted for orthotics (supports he’ll wear in his shoes

to alleviate stress on the nerve), which are expected to arrive soon. He

looks forward to putting the problem behind him.

Leaving defenders in his path has been less problematic for the

smooth, powerful runner, who tries to emulate UCLA’s DeShaun Foster when

it comes to punishing tacklers.

His willingness to strike defenders, rather than avoid them, is

something Perkins and his coaching staff are trying to correct.

“His whole deal is, he likes to finish his runs,” Perkins said.

“Trying to make a move and run around a guy isn’t his style. He likes to

find people and go straight into them.”

Asuega said he savors the physical part of the game, which he also

carries over into defensive duty.

He said scoring a touchdown, which he has now done 25 times in a prep

career that includes 1,683 rushing yards, and making a big hit on an

opposing ball carrier, are both high on his list.

“Those two are pretty even,” he said. “But running the ball is No. 1.

I love running the rock. That rock is my girlfriend.”

Asuega said he longs to play at UCLA or Hawaii, while Perkins said

preliminary interest has come from Utah, Arizona, San Diego State and

Colorado State.

But, before he leaves Mesa, he will sacrifice stats for team success.

“I don’t care about my rushing yards, now,” Asuega said. “I just want

that big fat (CIF championship) ring.”