EL CAJON – No matter what the Christian High football team achieves this fall, the Patriots are unanimous about what they consider the season's most memorable play. It occurred last month in Christian's 45-21 victory over Santa Fe Christian. It was not a play that shows up in the statistics.
PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune
Christian High senior Matt Fields puts on his gear for football practice.
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The Patriots are still talking about how senior Matt Fields leveled a charging linebacker who was closing in on Christian running back Charles Thompson, hoping to make a touchdown-saving tackle.
Patriots assistant coach Mike Mitchell was standing closest to the point of impact.
“I've been coaching this game for more years than I can remember, and Fields, who was running lead for Thompson on a sweep, put the most devastating block on (Santa Fe Christian's) stud linebacker I've ever seen,” Mitchell said.
“Matt squared up with their guy chest-to-chest. It wasn't one of those blind-side jobs. It was more like one of those Hollywood movie hits where you see each of the guys staring the other down. I think our guy got the best of it because the Santa Fe Christian guy went down like he was hit by a truck.”
That's Fields' style.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Fields is equally physical on defense, where he leads Christian in tackles as a linebacker.
“Scoring touchdowns is fun, but nothing gives me more of a rush than knocking a guy down like that,” Fields said.
Christian head coach Matt Oliver said he believes Fields, who is averaging 12 tackles a game, is the top candidate for Coastal League Defensive Player of the Year.
“Without a doubt he's the hardest-hitting player I've ever coached. He's just relentless,” said Oliver, the Patriots' head coach for nine years and a member of the staff for 12. “He's deceptively fast and he's always on the gas pedal.”
No one knows that better than Thompson, who leads East County with 1,593 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns.
“No question about it, Matt Fields is the most physical player on our team,” Thompson said. “I can't think of anybody I'd rather have blocking in front of me.”
Christian quarterback Erick Allen recognizes Fields'ability to come through when the game is on the line.
“He's a good guy to give the ball to when it's fourth-and-1,” Allen said. “People talk about his ability to block, but he's a very shifty runner, too. I've never seen a guy who wants to win more than he does.”
Fields has played nearly every position on the field except quarterback and kicker. His coaches say his future at the next level will be as a strong safety or a linebacker.
Colleges showing the most interest in Fields are Azusa Pacific and New Mexico Highlands.
Fields is comfortable on either side of the ball.
“It doesn't matter whether I'm blocking, carrying the ball or making a tackle, I play an attacking style,” he said.
Fields is known for hard-nosed play, yet one of his favorite off-the-field activities is dancing.
“I like R&B and rap,” he said.
Football is his mantra, though, as Fields and the Patriots (9-1) prepare to play Nov. 28 in the San Diego Section Division V quarterfinals.
“Matt is clearly the captain of our team and he shows it as much in practice as he does in games,” Allen said. “He's aggressive and puts his whole body into it. He's a special component to our team.”
