SUMMER FOOTBALL UPDATE: Aron Kaye returns to Godinez and finds some ‘new heroes’

Godinez High School players go through drills Monday on campus. (Photo courtesy Godinez football)

Godinez High School’s football players have been working hard preparing for the season opener on Friday, Aug. 27 vs. Santiago, according to new coach Aron Kaye.

Kaye is back for his second tenure as Godinez High’s head coach. He was the Grizzlies original head coach and led the team for eight years. Now, he’s looking forward to a new challenge.

“When we first opened the school, I referred to our original freshmen and sophomores as my heroes because they knew those first couple of years without seniors were going to be rough,” Kaye said. “And yet they kept coming every day ready to get better.

“This group of young men remind me a lot of them, and they are my new heroes.  They just show up every day and get to work, and that’s so much fun to watch. “

Godinez had a five-week summer session and resumed workouts on Monday. Godinez did not field a varsity team during the abbreviated spring season that started in March.

“Our student athletes have been so receptive to what we are trying to teach, and one can tell they are hungry to play and play well,” Kaye said. “We have around 70 young men in the program now and while obviously not near where we want to be, it’s a good start. We placed a heavy emphasis on fundamentals during our summer session and will continue to do so as we install more of our scheme.”

A number of players have led the way.

“A big part of what we do is teaching about character and leadership and in a very short time one can see our men adapt accordingly,” Kaye said. “Ignacio Ramirez (WR/DB) is one of the many underclassmen who had a very good summer.” 

Kaye, a former assistant coach at Irvine and University, said he has been impressed with the team’s work ethic.

“We have a lot of learning to do and as I said before, the kids are excited to learn,” he said. “It is so exciting to be back at GFHS. It has such a familiar feel to it. We have several coaches from our staff back coaching with us and several alumni coaching as well.  They are so excited to be back.

“They really want to get the program back on it’s feet and I can’t tell you how much fun it is to have them around.  As well, our alumni, faculty and administration have been so supportive and we have been visited by several alumni throughout the summer, all of them so excited at getting our program up and running again.  We have a lot of work to do, but everyone is excited by the challenge ahead of us.”  

2021 GODINEZ SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 20, Magnolia, home

Friday, Aug. 27, vs. Santiago, home

Friday, Sept. 3, Capo Valley Christian, home

Friday, Sept. 10, Santa Ana Valley

Friday, Sept. 17, at Rancho Alamitos

Thursday, Sept. 23, at Bolsa Grande

Friday, Oct. 1, Garden Grove, home

Friday, Oct. 15, at Ocean View

Thursday, Oct. 21, Westminster, home

Friday, Oct. 29, at Laguna Beach

Home games at Santa Ana Valley

—Tim Burt, OC Sports zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com