HS FOOT: In Alemany's defense

Everyone is talking about how Alemany is going to pass the football like crazy this coming season because Vernon Adams is back at quarterback, plus there are a bunch of good receivers.

But after checking out the Warriors on Wednesday night in a round-robin passing event at Valencia High, I think the real strength of the team might be defense. There might not be a better linebacker tandem than Jesse Sampson and Bryce Henderson, both of whom are big and super athletic.

Sampson was all over the field, knocking away passes every time you turned around. As for Henderson, fully recovered from a nagging ankle injury that cost him much of his sophomore season last year, he is solid muscle and could be primed for an All-Southern Section season as Alemany moves up to the Serra League and the Pac-5 Division.

Adams showed a great arm, as Alemany was scoring freely against West Ranch when I arrived. He was great as a junior, passing for more than 2,000 yards and leading Alemany to the Western Division final, and this year he might get 3,000 like so many of the great Hart quarterbacks Herrington used to coach.

-- Gerry Gittelson