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Pete Karavedas knew that Fullerton’s struggling football program had talent when he took the coaching reins in December. He also believed that success was obtainable with the team’s schedule. There was, however, one puzzling factor.
“What I didn’t anticipate was how quickly the kids would buy in and how quickly the kids would embrace what we were trying to do,” the coach recalled on Monday. “That’s been the coolest surprise.”
The Indians’ enthusiasm to improve hasn’t relented.
Fullerton enters a Lambda League showdown Thursday against Sunny Hills — Karavedas’ former school — with a 6-2 overall record. Last fall, the Indians finished 0-10 for the first winless season in program history, which dates back to 1915.
With one more victory, Fullerton (2-1 in league) can clinch an automatic berth to the playoffs, an achievement the Indians last reached in 2019.
“Our goal was in Year 1 was make the playoffs,” said Karavedas, who coached Sunny Hills to a CIF-SS title in 2019.
Karavedas said his confidence in that objective grew after watching Fullerton’s first offseason weight training session in January.
The players, he said, moved quickly between stations, completed extra lifts and improved their technique.
“I saw right away that these kids wanted to hustle, wanted to work, wanted to really prove themselves,” said Karavedas, who teaches at Fullerton.
“We had the effort right away from Day 1. That’s where I was like, ‘Oh. I don’t know how many games we’re going to win but I think this is going to be a really good experience.’ “
“These kids are hungry,” the coach added. “They want to win, and they’re willing to put in the effort to win.”
Karavedas said his vision for the program is visible in Fullerton’s captains.
Seniors Fidel Campuzano, Wilson Aldana and Logan Vasquez, along with junior Sergio Andrade, have been important to the team’s success, the coach said.
Campuzano, a tight end in the Indians’ wing-T offense, is a high-effort player who has inspired the Indians with his blocking.
Aldana, a middle linebacker, is an emotional leader who energizes teammates. He recorded a team-high 13 tackles in a 21-0 victory against Marina last week.
Vasquez, who plays right tackle, is a high academic student-athlete who serves as a “big brother” to several players, Karavedas said.
And Andrade, the Indians’ quarterback, has earned respect with his preparation and selfless attitude.
“At our level,” Karavedas said, “football is a life enriching, character developing experience that hopefully makes you a better person.”
A few surprise contributors have emerged from a program that went 10-0 on the freshman level last fall.
Sophomore defensive back Nathan Vejar and junior defensive tackle James Knight are key players for a defense that has allowed only 92 points in eight games (11.5 per game).
Running back/defensive back Caden Wise and running back/linebacker Cyrus Aviles have become more established two-way performers.
Fullerton’s experienced coaching staff is another part of the winning formula.
Karavedas’ staff includes five former head coaches in Ed DeAvila (Fullerton), Kevin Oberlander (Sonora), David Wilde (Sunny Hills), Rob Ryan (Buena Park) and Karavedas’ father Nick.
“It’s everything,” Karavedas said of his staff.
Sunny Hills (6-2, 2-1) has its own turnaround story under second-year Fred Gambrell. The Lancers finished 2-8 last season and can also clinch an automatic playoff berth with a victory Thursday.
Karavedas resigned at Sunny Hills after the 2021 season so he hasn’t coached the Lancers’ players. But as an assistant principal at Sunny Hills, he was part of the hiring process that brought Gambrell to the Lancers from San Clemente.
“It’s a little ironic,” Karavedas said of facing Sunny Hills in a critical game. “Credit to Fred. He believed that he had the system to win games, and he’s proven that is true. … They’ve improved a ton.”
And so has Fullerton.
SHORT ROUTES
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First-year coaches Connor McBride of Woodbridge and Andrew Cedergren of Sonora earned their first victories at their respective schools last week. …
There are six undefeated teams left in the county. Los Alamitos, Crean Lutheran, Corona del Mar, Dana Hills, Laguna Beach and Calvary Chapel are reach 8-0. Since Dana Hills plays host to Laguna Beach on Friday, the number of undefeated teams will drop by at least one this week. …
University (3-5, 1-2) has a key game Friday in its bid to end the longest playoff drought in the county. The Trojans play host to Woodbridge (1-7, 1-2) in an Omicron League game that could determine an automatic playoff berth. University last made the playoffs in 2015. …
The Orange County all-star game is scheduled for Jan. 31, organizer Frank Albers said of the Costa Mesa United said.
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