LA HABRA – La Habra’s Carlos Martin received his first lesson as a running back pupil when he was 5 years old. His stepfather, a former high school running back at La Serna of Whittier, delivered the tips.
“Have fun, play fast and don’t slow down,” Robert Gil told Martin.
The running back talk didn’t stop there. Martin’s biological father, Carlos Martin, played running back at Magnolia. His advice?
“Run ’em over,” Martin recalled.
If there’s one player in Orange County with the running back position in his fiber, it might be Martin.
The senior hasn’t been slowed much this fall, rushing for 1,319 yards and 20 touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound back is a major reason the Freeway League champion Highlanders (7-3) play host to Capistrano Valley (7-3) in an intriguing first-round pairing in the CIF Southwest Division playoffs Friday at 7 p.m.
“Whether you watch him on film or in person, the effort he gives and the ability to not only get the tough yards but to break away is special,” Buena Park coach Anthony White said.
Martin also grew up idolizing USC running back Reggie Bush. The Heisman Trophy winner is one reason Martin wears jersey No. 5. Martin’s stepfather also wore No. 5.
“He’s the one who taught me everything,” Martin said of Gil, who coached football at Warren of Downey and St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs and played defensive back at Chapman. “I grew up playing basketball and baseball, too, but once I got into high school, I just focused on football.”
After playing Pop Warner in La Mirada and briefly in Fullerton, Martin’s high school football career began at Orange Lutheran. He was part of a talented freshman football team.
His teammates at Orange Lutheran included current seniors Jaylinn Hawkins of Buena Park, Kyle Penniston of Mater Dei and quarterback Josh Love of Long Beach Poly.
Martin arrived at La Habra for his sophomore season and rushed for 1,156 yards as a junior. This season, he has conjured memories of former La Habra standout running backs Ronnie Hillman and Josh Quezada.
He has studied Hillman’s highlight film from La Habra and watches the Denver Broncos running back on television.
Martin also has seen Quezada’s highlights and traveled to watch the running back nicknamed “Juice” play at Fresno State.
Martin admires both players for their work ethic, a trait he is known for at La Habra.
“He leads by example,” veteran La Habra offensive line coach Frank Thompson said. “His work ethic, how he practices, how he plays, we couldn’t ask (for more). … He makes our guys look a lot better.”
Martin has racked up his yards, which rank fifth in the county, behind an offensive line that doesn’t start a senior. But he is quick to praise a front that includes tackles Josh Rosca (sophomore) and Richard Arias (junior), guards Luis Duarte (junior) and Adam Tourville (junior) and center Franklin Earl (junior).
Martin’s signature performance was rushing for 429 yards on 31 carries in a 55-48 victory against Colony of Ontario, the top seed in the Central Division.
“I can’t do any of that without my linemen,” he said. “My receivers, too. They’ve been blocking real well.”
Martin has performed so well, he appears set to follow Hillman and Quezada into the college ranks.
Martin, who carries a 3.3 grade-point average, has recently been offered scholarships by Portland State and Sacramento State, and Northern Arizona offered in the spring. Cal Poly SLO and Montana also have expressed interest.
“He’s right there” with Hillman and Quezada, La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta said.
“He has the power of a Josh Quezada with some of the speed of Ronnie. And he’s got the hands of Ronnie and the hands of Josh. … He’s physical, pass blocks, unselfish, like all those guys.”
Martin is now doing some teaching, too. He give tips to his younger brothers, Justin Gil, 11, and, Matthew Gil, 9, who play Pop Warner and are water boys for the Highlanders.
“Great kid,” Mazzotta said of Martin. “We’re lucky we can build a team around a guy like that.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
