Daily Pilot Football Player of the Week: Adam Kerns

Barry Faulkner

After sitting out his junior season with a lower back injury, Adam

Kerns returned to the Newport Harbor High football program this year with

a secret.

And while even Kerns himself didn’t immediately recognize the hidden

aspect of his already ample talents, it did not take long for this new

and improved penchant for punishing opposing ball carriers to reveal

itself.

“The first game (Sept. 6 against Orange Lutheran) was like the

experiment,” recalled Kerns, a talented receiver who was asked to also

contribute at cornerback this fall. “I was kind of tentative on that

first tackle. But once I got that first big hit, I realized what that was

all about and that I could have that feeling again.”

Kerns’ crushing blow on an Orange Lutheran running back in the closing

minute, generated a collective groan from the crowd, as well as new-found

respect among his teammates.

“I don’t think I was a wimp, but I knew I wasn’t as physical as some

of the other guys,” Kerns said. “But that hit against Orange Lutheran was

the turning point. Some people came up to me afterward and said they

didn’t know I had that in me.”

Kerns’ versatile and myriad talents have been revealed with repetition

this year.

In the Sailors’ 41-0 nonleague win over Millikan last week, he caught

five passes for 147 yards, including touchdowns of 36 and 80 yards. He

also returned an interception 82 yards to set up a touchdown, returned a

punt 12 yards, kicked five extra points and kicked off. For his efforts,

he is the Daily Pilot Player of the Week.

“He is certainly a good athlete,” Newport Coach Jeff Brinkley said of

his 5-foot-11, 160-pound starting cornerback and receiver, who also place

kicks, punts and returns punts and kickoffs. “He had played well as a

younger guy and he was the MVP on the freshman team, so I was very

disappointed to not have him last year.”

This year, Kerns is making up for lost time, with a new appreciation

for being on the field.

“The doctor said I shouldn’t play last year, but I worked hard to

strengthen my back and it hasn’t bothered me at all,” Kerns said. “It was

my senior year, so I had to play. I love football, so I couldn’t stay

away. I went to games last year and all I could think was ‘I need to be

out there.’ ”

Brinkley said Kerns’ passion for the game is obvious.

“What I really like is his attitude and the way he seems to be really

enjoying himself this year,” Brinkley said.

Kerns, who has teamed with quarterback Morgan Craig since their junior

high days playing flag football, was expected to bring speed (4.5 in the

40-yard dash) and good hands to the offensive attack this season.

But his defense has been a pleasant surprise.

“We knew he could be productive offensively and we knew he could

cover,” Brinkley said. “But he has become much more aggressive and is a

much better tackler. What he has done defensively and with the kicking

game have all been added bonuses.”

Kerns said he, too, has been pleasantly surprised.

“This year has been more than I expected,” Kerns said. “To be doing so

well is crazy to me.”

Kerns can drive defensive backs crazy with his package of speed,

hands, precision routes and the ability to turn the shortest reception

into a long gain.

He broke two tackles on his 80-yard run-and-catch against Millikan and

his 82-yard interception return began near one sideline and serpentined

across the field, before he was caught from behind.

Kerns also plays soccer and sprints and long jumps for the track and

field team. He was third at Sea View League finals in the 100 meters

(11.56) and the 200 (23.27), was fourth in the long jump (20-5), and ran

a leg on the second-place 400 relay team.

“I take all the sports one at a time,” Kerns said. “Right now, I’m in

football mode.”