It wasn’t as though Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary football coach Pete
Smolin was starving for lack of size along his offensive line. Sure, the
Cardinals are going to be young up front, what with the marjority of the
folks up there being sophomores, but there are some good-sized fellas
among ’em.

Tuesday, the overall picture got bigger. Literally. And brighter.

Enter Andrew Rico, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound junior transfer from
Garfield High School. It would seem he could be the perfect fit to give
Smolin the other bookend to solidify the forward wall.

He will join a list of candidates Smolin is working with that
includes senior Jordan Scanlan (6-3, 325), junior Steven Sinde (5-11,
225) and sophomores Eric Weissenberger (6-1, 240), Eduardo Maldonado
96-4, 290), Steven Silva (6-2, 250) and Sal Marchena (6-0, 225). Also in
there is senior Juan Padilla (5-10, 230), who did not play last season.

Add Smolin’s comment about this group: “The sophomores are bigger,
stronger and faster than the kids who graduated from last year.”

Sounds like it could be a wakeup call for the rest of the Camino Real
League.