LAKESIDE – Football is a game of passion, regardless of a player's size.

Take versatile junior Anthony Lima of El Capitan High. At 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, Lima might be the most unheralded impact player on the Vaqueros' roster.

“He's not a huge guy, but he hits like a guy 6-1, 200 pounds. He's just fearless,” El Capitan coach Ron Burner said.

There's not much Lima doesn't do. Although primarily a cornerback, he plays slotback, returns punts and kickoffs and holds for field goals and conversion kicks.

“He's a lockdown corner whose motor never stops, but because of his size – or lack of it – you never hear about him,” Burner said.

Lima, modest about his coach's praise, does not seek accolades for being assigned the opponent's top receiver.

“I'm responsible for the left side and it doesn't matter how they line up,” said Lima, who returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown last week.

Lima is a key contributor on special teams. He averaged 9.5 yards on punt returns and 16.5 yards on kickoff returns through the first eight games of the season.

With Lima serving as holder, quarterback/placekicker Tanner Rust has converted nine of 12 field-goal attempts and 19 of 25 points after touchdown.

“I did a little bit of holding for placements my freshman year,” Lima said. “Then this year Tanner got me to do it again.”

Junior Michael Grossman, the Vaqueros' long snapper, is an important member of the kicking unit, Lima said.

“Tanner likes me to hold the ball straight up,” Lima said. “There have been a couple of high snaps, but overall Michael is really good.”

Lima, who played flag football in parochial school, didn't play tackle football until he entered high school. He said his greatest challenge since joining the Vaqueros program is fielding punts.

“I get the most nervous on punt returns,” Lima said. “The ball wobbles a lot and it's harder to catch. I focus on the ball. If it's in the air a long time, I can quickly glance at the field. If not, I'll catch it and try to run. I know to fair-catch it if I can see their jerseys in my peripheral vision.”

When El Capitan attempts to block a punt, Lima feels more stress – especially if the effort fails. That leaves fewer teammates to help clear a path for him.

“At that point it's all me,” Lima said.

Lima seldom calls for a fair catch. As a result, he led the Grossmont Conference with 15 punt returns through eight games.

“He'll get you 7, 8 or 9 yards on a return and that's all you can really ask at this level,” Burner said. “The major thing is he has good hands. He hasn't muffed a punt all year.”

Lima, who carries a 4.0 grade-point average, has other athletic interests. He wrestled at 145 pounds as a sophomore and cleared 11 feet, 8 inches as a pole vaulter.

Football teammate and best friend Matt Burkett is impressed by Lima's composure.

“He's never messing around or doing anything he shouldn't do,” Burkett said. “He doesn't bad-talk anybody or do any smack talking (to the other team) during a game. He's a great friend – both on and off the field.”