THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: JORDEN BLAKE

This week's edition of The High School Highlight comes to us from St. Mary's High School, a school rich with history.

The tradition is so great that we profile out third Knight in the 3 years of this segment.  Jorden Blake is a senior Wide Reciever and Safety and has helped put St. Mary's back on the high school football map.  Blake is a fout year letterman and has started since his sophomore season.

Blake is a very intelligent young man who carries a 3.3 GPA and also plays basketball. Blake says his short term goal is "to finish out my high school career on a positive note.  St. Mary's has a long history of sports and academic excellence and I want to do my part to continue that legacy.  My plan is to excel in my academics and athletics to earn a scholarship to collage."

Just by the way Blake answered my questions I could tell he is a smart young man.  He says as a kid he always enjoyed watching football on TV but his mom wouldn't let him play.  Finally she let him play flag football.  The first time he touched the ball he scored and he has been hooked ever since.

Blake had an incredible answer when I asked him to tell me something about high school sports that people may not know.  He said that playing high school sports is a lot harder than it looks.  It takes hard work, time and commitment, but the reward os the relationships he has built with his teammates and the knowledge he has gained from his coaches.

"There is nothing like the joy of playing on Friday nights!"

ALHAMBRA DEFEATS CARL HAYDEN IN SEASON OPENER

The high school football season didn't start out the way Carl Hayden wanted it to when it hosted Alhambra on Friday night.

The team has worked hard all summer and is poised to show the rest of the state how much they have improved.  They fell short losing 33-7 to a tough Alhambra team.

There were some bright spots for the Falcons.  Despite giving up 33 points the defense held their own against a team that primarily runs and ball and wears down defenses.

Offensively the run game showed some life, especially on a long touchdown run early in the third quarter that gave the Falcons life.

But the night belonged to the Alhambra Lions.  They played a great game and stayed in control throughout the game.  This game was a battle of first year coaches and the Lions George Medrano came out on top.

THE HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT: FERNANDO MONROY

Guess what everybody?  The High school football season in finally upon us.  Tonight a handful of high schools start their season throughout the valley.  That also means it's time for The High School Highlight.

This season we start with a team that isn't know for football but under new coach Randy Gross there is a "new breed" roaming the halls of Carl Hayden High School.  A team that hasn't reach the post season since 1996 the Falcons look to change that this season. One of the young men that plans to make the change is senior lineman Fernando Monroy.

Monroy has been on varsity for 3 years and is very competitive on the field.  He says in order to excel in high school sports you must remain competitive and focused.  Monroy plays football becuse his older inspired him to play.  His brother is also an assistant coach on the team.

Monroy has plans for life after high school football.  He wants to go to college and start a family.

Monroy and the rest of his teammates have worked really hard off season to try and turn around a struggling program.  They had a successful summer with 7 on 7 and big man challenges.  They look to continue that success tonight when they host Alhambra is the season opener for both teams.