Fletcher Driven To Excel
RB for Lakewood, near 1,000 yards, steadily looking to improve.
Press-Telegram
November 8, 2007

By Ben Villa

LAKEWOOD - One would think up 41-0 late in the fourth quarter last week against Wilson, Lakewood High football coach Thadd MacNeal could have found a moment or two to finally relax.

However, that was hardly the case.

Instead of enjoying the win, MacNeal had to fight off the constant chirping of junior running back Alex Fletcher, who fumbled earlier in the game.

Fletcher, a perfectionist by nature, was desperate to atone for his miscue, but with such a huge lead, MacNeal saw no reason to put him back in the game and relegated Fletcher to the role of spectator.

A few days later, the fumble was still on his mind.

"I shouldn't have done it and that's the stuff I still need to work on," Fletcher said. "I didn't fumble all last year and I don't want to do it again. I was mad and I bugged Coach MacNeal to let me back in the game.

"But all he said was, `Shush.' I wanted to get back in the game badly. I don't want to lose my spot. That's what motivates me."

Fletcher's fear is hardly new to any athlete, but it's one that hardly warrants concern. Anyone who has seen him play this season knows he has nothing to worry about. Just don't tell him that. He wouldn't believe it no matter how hard one tried to convince him.

On Friday night, he should go over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career.

Of course, with the Lancers (6-3, 4-1) hosting Compton (8-1, 4-1) in Moore League play with a ton on the line, he would gladly gain 1 yard and win rather than rush for 1,000 and lose.

"I should have had 1,000 a long time ago, but it doesn't matter, it's just a number," Fletcher said. "... This is a big game for us. We want to beat Compton like we did last year.

"I think a lot of people are going to be surprised how far we go in the playoffs. This team has a lot of talent and we want to go out with a bang."

The winner Friday will clinch second place in the Moore League and with it, a likely first-round home game in the CIF-SS Pac-5 Division playoffs next week.

For Lakewood to secure it, the Lancers figure to need a big game out of Fletcher. Fortunately for them, that hasn't been a problem all season. After rushing for 472 yards and seven touchdowns last year in a running back-by-committee situation, Fletcher has emerged as the go-to guy in his junior season. He has rushed for 996 yards and is averaging 111 yards per game on the ground. He's also scored 17 touchdowns, 15 on the ground, and every time he touches the ball, he's getting nearly 7 yards a pop. Fletcher has 12 receptions for 109 yards.

"I've seen him on film recently, but to tell you the truth, I thought he was pretty good last year as well," Tarbabes coach Calvin Bryant said. "He's a slasher and he has great balance. We have to do a good job of tackling him this week and get him on the ground. We need to wrap him up every chance we get."

Fletcher is only 5-foot-9 and 202 pounds, but don't let his size fool you. He's tough to bring down. Abnormally strong, Fletcher already bench-presses 350 pounds while squatting 450 and has impressed the Toledo and Ohio University coaching staffs so much, they have already offered him scholarships when he graduates.

On Monday, MacNeal said he believes Fletcher could be a Pac-10 guy if he continues to develop his skills. But even with so much praise, Fletcher still spends much time looking over his shoulder.

"I can't stop now because we have good running backs on our team like Jerry Stone," Fletcher said. "Jerry is playing JV right now, but he's going to be really good next year. I still need to perform because Jerry could be a young LaDainian Tomlinson and I don't want him taking my spot.

"When I step on the field, I want it to be clear that I'm the best running back on the field. ... In this game, you do whatever you can to get better. You can never be satisfied."

Friday's game was supposed to be a battle of big-time running backs between Fletcher and Compton's Donald Green, but instead, it looks like Fletcher is going to have center stage all to himself. Green has rushed for nearly 1,800 yards this season while scoring 21 touchdowns, but last week against Poly, he was taken off by an ambulance with a rib injury.

On Wednesday, Bryant said that while Green is still a game-time decision, he hasn't practiced all week and he'll most likely sit out this game. To further compound problems, the Tarbabes' other running back, Curry Williams, who's second on the team with over 1,100 yards rushing, has a hand injury and will not be 100 percent.

If neither Green or Williams is able to play, MacNeal said it would be a shame, but he's still game-planning for both.

"Come Friday night, I think all those guys will be ready to go," MacNeal said. "They're tough kids, they'll be ready. Compton wants the second seed and home field just as much as we do.

"If everybody plays, it's going to be a great show. We know what kind of numbers Green has put up, but Alex is having a great year. I think he's one of the top running backs in all of Southern California. Maybe I'm biased, but I think he's the best in the league. Not to discredit the guys at Compton or Poly, but Alex has both speed and power. I would match him up with anybody."