Coaches love those guys who can fire up a lethargic football team, get them motivated enough to run through walls.
Lester Arnold is just the opposite. He's the Quiet Man.
“Lester brings a calming effect to the team,” said Point Loma coach Mike Hastings, whose Pointers meet St. Augustine for the section Division III championship tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Qualcomm Stadium.
“He's not boisterous, but he is a leader.”
Hastings relayed the story of when he sat the 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior running back against Crawford because of a slight injury, being cautious a week before Western League play was to begin.
Crawford had a few surprises for the Pointers, who struggled in the first half.
“Lester came up to me at the half and told me could go,” said Hastings. “He told me he wanted to suit up. It was like Superman. He's the heart that makes the body go on this team.”
The Pointers went on to win 42-21.
Heading into tomorrow's game, the Colorado State-bound Arnold leads the division with 1,814 yards on 219 carries, with 26 of those rushes finishing in the end zone. That's when he's not playing free safety.
“I lead, I lead by action,” said the 18-year-old, who returned to the No. 1 running back spot he held as a sophomore after Anthony West (now at Nebraska) assumed that role last year.
“I'm a quiet leader. I'm patient as a running back, I use my instincts and I have good vision after my line opens the holes.”
Arnold's goal to start the season was to help the Pointers return to the Division III title game. He wanted 1,000 yards, revised that to 1,500 and now is on the threshold of 2,000.
He might have been closer, but in the semis Steele Canyon put nine players on the line to stop him and junior Josh Wade (97-691-6). Arnold still had 98 yards and a TD on 23 carries.
So what does he expect of St. Augustine, a team that drilled the Pointers 46-14 in last year's final?
“We have a better team than last year,” said Arnold, who has been clocked at 4.6 seconds for the 40. “We're closer, we're more focused. We came together as a team over the summer during a camp in Big Bear.
“Last year we were just there, that's all. This year we're there to finish what we started. The offense has gotten us there, now the defense has to stay focused and stop them.”
Steve Brand: (619) 293-1854; steve.brand@uniontrib.com
