High School Football Preview: Alonso Offensive Lineman Defies Convention

Stephen Parks is not a hulking mass that worked his way through wrestling and weightlifting to arrive in the trenches on Alonso’s football team.

Rather, he came to Alonso after stints in baseball, basketball and soccer. He’s not even what you would consider a big guy. Yet, big expectations await him in both areas.

“I’m quick," he said. “I get off the ball fast and defensive lineman can’t react.”

Stephen’s approach lines up with what the coaches are expecting from the offensive line this year.

“We know we’re not the biggest group. Our guys(offensive lineman) just have to be in the right place at the right time,” said coach Brian Emanuel.

The skill position players for Alonso are a talented group and they don’t need a defense thrown off the ball every play. They need smart, heady play from their line and this is something right up Stephen’s alley.

He’s one of the two players returning to the offensive line and he’s been shouldered with the responsibility of being the leader of the group.

“I’m ready for it. I started talking it up more last year, thinking I might be in this position this year,” Stephen said.

His confidence unscathed.

“Once I’ve got my hands on you, I can take you wherever I want,” he said.

Speed will be the recipe for Alonso this year, more so than power.

Again, this lines up with Stephen’s abilities.

He started playing team sports at age 6. He played both soccer and basketball at the local YMCA. His pop Warner football team won a championship but he spent most of his youth playing baseball for Town 'N Country Little League.

He began playing football at Farnell Middle School.

“I really enjoyed the adrenaline rush I got when I played football,” Stephen said. "It helped me get the feel of how football worked.”

And that was that.

He’s already accepted his new role with new responsibilities at Alonso.

“I have to keep the group together," he said. "If one person does the wrong thing, the whole group looks bad."