FOOTBALL: Vikings tandem keeps Blair on the rise

Unbeaten Blair looking to shake off past league woes

By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer

PASADENA - Once upon a time, seeing Blair High School's football team on the upcoming schedule didn't exactly strike fear into opponents.
The Vikings have lost 11 consecutive Rio Hondo League contests and are 2-13 in league during the past three seasons.
As they head into Friday's league opener against Temple City, something is quite different.
Blair, 4-0 and ranked No. 5 in this week's CIF-Southern Section Mid-Valley Division poll, is turning some heads.
The Vikings have outscored their opponents 197-52 in their four victories.
Much of the team's resurgence can be traced to senior leadership, most notably running back Devin Fuller and wide receiver Reinaldo Reyes.
Fuller, in his second year on varsity, has paced Blair's run-oriented offense with 669 yards, and Reyes has showcased his speed by accumulating over 400 receiving yards.
"The majority of this team is seniors and we want to go out on top, so the last four games we've just been going out and playing to our expectations," Fuller said.
Perhaps the biggest eye opener for opposing teams was an impressive 38-26 victory over Whittier Christian.
"A lot of people didn't think that we were good because of the teams that we played, but we beat our challenge which was Whittier Christian," Fuller said. "It feels like we've accomplished a lot and have come a long way."
This week, Blair has the challenge of facing off against two-time defending RHL champion Temple City in a game that not only can define the Vikings, but also can turn them into league contenders - a vast difference from a year ago.
"As a team, we're just going to go out and handle our business and try to come out with a victory," Fuller said.
Added Reyes: "We're trying to win league this year. It's our senior year so we want to go out with a bang."
The main difference that Fuller sees in this year's Vikings is teamwork.
"Last season we had some team problems and this year we have our whole team still," Fuller said. "We're getting players back from injuries and hope to be stronger come league."
Perhaps the most telling story about the Vikings is the way the players have bought into Lavell (Tip) Sanders' system.
Much of that system involves hard work that the seniors, including Fuller and Reyes, have adopted through their leadership roles.
"Every practice is hell week, basically," Fuller said. "We have to work hard every day and we even have practices after our games.
"The whole thing is to keep us working hard so we can play better in every game. All the hard work that we've done the last four years is finally paying off."
Sanders has seen the work that Fuller has put in on the field and knows the senior running back is one of the backbones of his team.
"He pretty much brings everything that we worked for during the summer," Sanders said. "Pretty much how his attitude is, pretty much, is how we're going to play that night."
Fuller has taken his leadership role seriously and is working with the younger players to build them for the future.
"I help them to play the position I play and show them the way I was taught," Fuller said.
According to Sanders, the leadership role, spearheaded by Fuller and Reyes, is quite important, not only for this season but for the future.
"It means everything, especially for next year," Tip Sanders said. "If young guys see seniors loafing in practice or coming in late, then that pretty much sets the tone for the team.
"If they see the seniors hustling and listening to the coach, then the role of the seniors will be pretty much how the team will be."
An area where Fuller takes pride is in special teams, where he has been nearly unstoppable on punt and kickoff returns.
"The whole game is set on special teams because, if we're not moving on offense and the other team isn't either, it's a defensive game where there's only one option - special teams," Fuller said.
While Fuller and junior Raheem Broadnex have led the Vikings' ground attack, Reyes, the team captain, has kept defenses honest with his ability to block, as well as getting open to provide a target for freshman quarterback Kishon Sanders.
"Reinaldo's an all-around player," Sanders said. "Anytime we need a big play, he's who we look for."
Fuller and Reyes have been friends since third grade when they met at Hamilton Elementary School.
"He blocks for me and we have a good time out there," Fuller said. "Sometimes he'll joke and tell me, `I'll race you to the touchdown,' and we end up racing.
"There's just chemistry between us and our whole team plays as a family."
Added Reyes: "I look up to Devin and we push each other to go further in class and on the field."
Reyes agrees that this year's Vikings are more like a family.
"We're more disciplined than we were last year," he said. "We had people that didn't want to come to practice, but it really made us better over the time because we have a better line, more discipline, and things like that."