Ayers rumbles, grumbles for Sage

Powering through a seam in the defense as a running back, or sniffing

out an opposing offensive scheme from his outside linebacker spot,

Sage Hill School junior Don Ayers repeatedly displays superior

football instincts.

And, sometimes, if one listens very closely, another instinct --

of the primal variety -- can be heard coming from the 6-foot,

175-pounder on the field.

“I can hear him growling and yelling when he’s running the ball,”

Sage Hill Coach Tom Monarch said of his two-way standout, who is a

big reason why the Lightning (4-0), ranked No. 10 in CIF Southern

Section Division XIII, are off to the best start in the program’s

four varsity seasons.

Ayers said he is unaware that he delivers audio evidence of his

passion for the game, particularly its physicality. But one need only

review the statistics to discover the most significant noise

generated by Ayers the last two seasons.

Ayers amassed 140 yards on 10 carries -- all in the first half --

including touchdown runs of 2, 5 and 85 yards, in the Lightning’s

52-8 thumping of visiting Sherman Indian Friday. He has 481 rushing

yards this season on 64 carries and has scored nine touchdowns, the

latter ranking second in Orange County.

As a sophomore, he rushed for a team-high 1,017 yards and scored

12 touchdowns, on his way to first-team All-Academy League and

Newport-Mesa Dream Team recognition.

In addition, his defense is a frequent postgame topic of opposing

coaches.

“When I shake the other coaches’ hands, they usually always say

something about No. 45 [Ayers] being all over the field,

defensively,” said Monarch, who is also quick to heap praise on his

undersized and understated star.

“Myself and the rest of the coaching staff consider Don a

throwback player,” Monarch said. “He is just one of those guys who

loves the sport of football. And football is a great sport for him.

Give me four or five of guys like him on a team and that team is

going to win a championship.”

Ayers, whose humility could also draw comparisons to old-school

athletes, said he is happy to be part of the Lightning’s success this

season. He is also pleased to be performing during night home games,

a first for the school.

“I love all the hard work that goes into this sport and that you

have to depend on every one of your teammates,” Ayers said. “I just

love being under the lights every Friday and the camaraderie.”

Ayers prominence on both sides of the ball, as well as his work

ethic, make him one of the foremost leaders on the team, Monarch

said. He is, his coach believes, the ultimate leader by example.

“My theory, over 17 years of coaching, is that you talk with your

pads and not with your mouth,” Monarch said. “Don Ayers yells with

his pads.”

Ayers has neither the size nor the speed (he pared two-tenths off

his time in the 40-yard dash over the off-season and now runs a

modest 4.8) to dazzle. But, Monarch believes, he gets the most out of

his ability on every snap, whether it be in practice or a game.

“His effort is always 100%, no matter what,” Monarch said. “He

does have talent, but what sets him apart is his heart and his

ability to work. He is just a warrior in the way he trains and the

way he plays. He would play seven games a week if he could.”

Ayers, who is “Thunder” to teammate Keya Manshadi’s “Lightning” --

a nickname that began with the coaches in practice and has stuck with

the team’s most dangerous ball carriers, who get results with varied

styles -- terms himself a north-south runner.

Monarch said Ayers lines up at fullback when the Lightning are in

the I-formation, but is also deployed as a single back, allowing

Manshadi to be utilized in a receiver spot.

“I’d say [Ayers] is a mixture of fullback and tailback,” said

Monarch, who believes Ayers has developed the ability to find the

hole and seize it.

“It’s really a field sense,” Monarch said.

One might even call it instinct.

DON AYERS

Born: Feb. 16, 1989

Hometown: Newport Beach

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 175

Sport: Football

Positions: Running back, outside linebacker

Coach: Tom Monarch

Favorite food: Steak

Favorite movie: “Wedding Crashers”

Favorite athletic moment: “Playing under our new lights the first

home game of this season.”

Week in review: The junior rushed for 140 yards on 10 carries,

including touchdown runs of 85, 5 and 2 yards to help Lightning

cruise to 52-8 nonleague win over visiting Sherman Indian Friday. He

also played well on defense.

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