Daily Pilot Football Player of the Week, C.J. Zuniga: Surprise

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Barry Faulkner

Geographically, C.J. Zuniga’s high school career, though barely

past the halfway point, has zigzagged from California to Arizona, back to

California again.

But when the Costa Mesa High junior tailback tucks the football under his

arm, he prefers a less circuitous route.

“I like to run straight ahead, because that’s the quickest path,” Zuniga

said. “I love to hit.”

The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder, who played some varsity games his freshman

year at Rosemead High, then played varsity last season at Prescott High

in the Grand Canyon State, has been a huge hit with the Mustangs.

After back-to-back 100-yard-plus rushing performances -- and six

touchdowns -- in Mesa’s first two victories, Zuniga carried 35 times for

196 yards and one touchdown in Friday’s 16-6 triumph at Westminster

High. He also caught a pass, returned one punt and one kickoff to finish

with 217 all-purpose yards.

The Daily Pilot Player of the Week’s 486 yards and seven touchdowns this

season rank among the Orange County leaders. They have also helped him

fit in well at his latest high school home.

“This is the best place I’ve been,” said Zuniga, who has made fast

friends with his offensive linemen.

“If not for them, I wouldn’t have all these yards,” he said. “The line is

where the whole offense starts.”

When his beefy buddies, however, fail to provide adequate running room,

Zuniga isn’t afraid to deal with defenders himself.

“I’m not that fast, but I guess I make up for it in power,” he said.

Mesa Coach Jerry Howell, who greeted Zuniga the Friday before fall

practice began, has been thoroughly impressed by his improvisational

rushing skills.

“He has that natural flow you like to see in a runner and he has

absolutely no fear,” Howell said. “When he finds a seam, he breaks into

it and he’s not afraid to deliver a blow. He always finishes his runs and

seems to always get an extra 2 or 3 yards after he’s been hit.”

Zuniga makes no secret of his desire to finish atop the county rushing

statistics this season, a feat other Mesa backs in recent years have

either accomplished, or come close to pulling off.

Zuniga, understandably, knew nothing of the strong Mesa backfield

tradition this decade, including All-CIF Southern Section performers Binh

“Runaway” Tran, Charles Chatman, Raymond Ohrel, Steve Herzog and Jimmy

Herzog.

But, thanks to viewing Mustang highlight tapes dating back to 1993 --

supplied by teammate and best friend Shaun Ferryman -- Zuniga has

developed an appreciation for his link to this legacy.

“It motivates me to try and carry on that tradition,” said Zuniga, who

singles out New Orleans Saints rookie Ricky Williams as someone whose

running style he admires.

Zuniga, who also plays basketball and baseball, but considers football

his favorite, grew up in El Monte. After years of flag football, he put

on the pads for the first time as a seventh-grader.

He has played quarterback, defensive end and linebacker, but is clearly

most at home in the offensive backfield.

Howell, though aware of the physical demands necessary to trudge through

tacklers as many as 35 times, as well as return kickoffs and punts, said

he would like to utilize Zuniga even more.

“We’re still working him out at defensive end,” Howell said. “We haven’t

really needed him there, but he’s such a good player, we’re trying to

figure out some place we can use him a little on defense. But we haven’t

had a glaring weakness there yet.”

Zuniga said he would relish any defensive duty, but until that time, will

be content thumping rivals who threaten his running room.

“I try to punish (tacklers) at the beginning of the game, so they won’t

want to keep hitting me,” he said. “But these are the hardest hitters

I’ve played against. Players around here are tough and they keep coming.”

Mesa fans can only hope Zuniga puts down roots long enough to punish

tacklers for the Mustangs into the next millennium.