Prep Football Playoffs -- Maybe Chun LA Is `The Special One'

HE GAINED 1,629 ALL-PURPOSE YARDS TO LEAD NEWPORT TO THE AAA SEMIFINALS, AND IS MAKING THE AMERICAN GAME PART OF HIS FAMILY'S WORLD.

BELLEVUE - Chun La took three years to be fully accepted as a high-school football player - in his own home.

But now that the most prolific all-purpose runner for Newport's third-ranked Knights is talking about college football, the real wait begins.

"I talk to him about it," said his mother, Fong La. "But I don't think Asian people play college football. He says, `Maybe I am the special one, Mom.' "

In one of Chun La's two worlds, special can be measured in his 1,629 all-purpose yards in 11 games, his 9.1 rushing yards per carry, or his 20 touchdowns, including two on kick returns.

But in his other world - one he lives only second-hand through his mother and older brothers - football is just a distant, violent and foreign concept.

It is American. And his family views his chances of being a serious player of this truly American game with skepticism.

"I wanted him to play tennis. And I wanted him to learn piano, too," Fong La said. "But he didn't want to."

Instead Chun played football and did it well enough to help lead the No. 3-ranked Knights into the semifinals of the Class AAA state playoffs. Newport will play No. 5 South Kitsap at the Tacoma Dome tomorrow at 8 p.m.

Journey across the Pacific

Chun La was born in what-was-then North Vietnam, where his Chinese-born parents ran a small business, in the final year of the war. When the war ended, the Chinese, including the Las, were expelled from the country, and the family's business was seized.

They became refugees in China and applied for sponsorship to relocate to Australia or the United States. Chun La's father died from a stomach ailment only months before an opportunity to move to the United States arrived.

He was not yet 3 years old when his mother moved with her four sons to Bellevue.

He remembers nothing of Asia, though he speaks fluent Cantonese. It is Bellevue and football and Godfather's Pizza he knows best.

His oldest brother, Yung, figures it's just as well that way.

"It was very, very tough," said Yung La, 29, who became the 14-year-old father to the family when his father died and then suddenly became an American high-school student who couldn't speak English. "None of us knew the language when we first came over. We were as blind as anybody. . . . Things have been improving."

`My little boy'

Fong La had trouble with the idea of her youngest son playing football as a 5-foot-6 freshman.

"He's my little boy, so I don't want him to get hurt," she said. "He was just 2 years old (when his father died), and I just tried to take care of him. I was scared for my son if something happened."

She at first refused to sign the necessary form to allow her son to play as a freshman.

Chun persevered. "Finally, I convinced her by talking about it every day," he said. "I said, `I know I won't get hurt. I promise you I won't get hurt. I promise.' "

So she signed. He came home from his first game with a bruised and bleeding hand.

She's still not sure she did the right thing by allowing him to play.

"I know I've still got a lot to prove to my mom," said Chun, who's now 5-8, 163 pounds and bigger than any of his three brothers. "She still thinks I'm too small."

He also can't help noticing the black-and-white face of college football.

"It sort of seems like that," he said. "Most of the big names come from other races - not the Asian race."

He fights to be the special one in a sport where most linemen outweigh him by 75 pounds or more.

In a sport that requires strength and speed, La still seeks improvement. (He bench presses 165 pounds and runs 40 yards in 4.7 seconds.)

In a sport that remains largely misunderstood in his own home, "I know I still have a lot to prove," he said.

In many ways, he's just starting to get the chance. Both his mother and Yung began watching him play for the first time a month ago, and his mom has even rearranged her work as a seamstress to accommodate Newport's Friday night games.

"He's pretty good," Yung La said. "I was surprised."

TACOMA DOME SEMIFINAL CARD --------------------------------------

Players to watch at tomorrow's five high-school football semifinal games at the Tacoma Dome:

CLASS AAA No. 2 Newport (11-0) vs. No. 5 South Kitsap (11-0), 8 p.m. Chun La, Newport, halfback - The 5-foot-8, 163-pound senior led the KingCo Conference in all-purpose yardage, and now has 1,629 in 11 games. He averages 95.8 rushing yards per game, 9.1 per carry and has scored 20 touchdowns, including two on kick returns. Sacha Sarieddine, Newport, halfback - The 6-1, 182-pound senior was third in KingCo rushing, but leads the Knights with 96.2 yards per game. He averages 8.7 per carry and has 16 TDs, all rushing. Casey Fisher, South Kitsap, WR/DB/KR - The 5-8, 155-pound junior, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds, is the Wolves' top game-breaking threat. He returned two kicks for touchdowns in the final four games of the regular season. He has seven TDs, three by returns. Mac Morrison, South Kitsap, fullback - The 6-1, 220-pound junior has 332 rushing yards (6.5 per carry) despite missing 2 1/2 games with a knee injury. He has seven TDs, including two in a first-round 21-3 victory over Juanita.

CLASS AA No. 3 Lake Stevens (11-0) vs. No. 10 Eastside Catholic (10-1), 5 p.m. Ryan Bundy, Lake Stevens, RB/LB - The 6-1, 190-pound senior is a two-way weapon for the Vikings. On offense, he has scored 16 TDs and 109 points. He was fourth in Western AA Conference rushing with 639 yards during the regular season. On defense, he is second on the team in tackles with 101. Does his best hitting in another sport - baseball. Has accepted baseball scholarship from University of Washington. Tony Human, Lake Stevens, running back/safety - The 5-11, 180-pound senior led the WesCo AA in rushing with 1,046 yards on 159 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per carry. In the playoffs, he has run for 206 yards and two touchdowns in wins over Rainier Beach and Aberdeen. Nate Marti, Eastside Catholic, fullback/strong safety - The 6-0, 180-pound senior leads the Crusaders with five interceptions on a defense that has allowed only 8.7 points per game, including four shutouts. Was starting QB when season began, but has played four positions on a team hit hard by injuries.

CLASS A No. 1 Eatonville (11-0) vs. No. 2 Montesano (11-0), 2:30 p.m. Bobby Lucht, quarterback, Eatonville - The state's all-time leading passer, Lucht can play with the big boys. The 6-1, 185-pound senior has thrown for more than 8,000 yards in four seasons with a national-record 131 TDs. This year, Lucht has completed 138 of 259 attempts for 2,478 yards, 43 TDs and nine interceptions. He's a big-time player at a small school. WSU is among his suitors, but Montana or Montana State suit his outdoor tastes. Zack Gallagher, Eatonville, running back - Playing on a team known for its passing attack, the 5-11, 190-pounder has thrived with 1,708 yards rushing on 174 carries, averaging nearly 10 yards a pop. A strong senior known for his tackle-breaking runs, he has scored 18 TDs. Dan Doll, Eatonville, split end - The 5-9, 165-pound senior is one of Lucht's favorite targets. He has caught 46 passes for 1,040 yards and 19 TDs. He's small but quick. Rob Rasmussen, Eatonville, split end - The 5-11, 175-pound junior leads the Cruisers in receiving with 55 catches for 1,053 yards and 19 TDs. He has good speed and runs well after the catch. Brian Talley, Montesano, quarterback - The 6-4, 170-pound junior has completed better than 65 percent of his passes (67 of 101) for 1,579 yards with 19 TDs and nine interceptions. He's strong and throws well on the run. Brian Winkelman, Montesano, wide reciever - He's big, strong, fast and has great hands - the complete receiver at 6-1, 195. The senior has caught 34 passes for 842 yards - 24.8 yards per catch - and 10 TDs. He has 19 TDs total. He's an excellent baseball player (center field) and considered a draft prospect.

CLASS B-11 No. 1 Toutle Lake (11-0) vs. No. 10 Tacoma Baptist (9-2), noon Kevin Grabenhorst, Toutle Lake, quarterback - Son of Coach Scott Grabenhorst, the 5-10, 165-pound junior has thrown just one interception in 189 attempts. He has completed 116 passes for 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Fighting Ducks run a short passing game that Grabenhorst runs to near perfection. Shon Peil, Tacoma Baptist, quarterback - The strong-armed Peil (6-0, 180), a junior transfer from Wilson High School in Tacoma, has completed 101 of 180 passes for 1,817 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

CLASS B-8 No. 2 Crescent (Joyce) (11-0) vs. No. 4 Pateros (8-1), 9:30 a.m. Ryan Sage, Crescent, QB - The 5-8, 125-pound sophomore completed 50 of 78 passes for 727 yards during the regular season. Patrick Hunter, Pateros, QB - The 6-1, 172-pound junior, who was an all-state pick as a sophomore, completed 76 of 139 passes for 1,570 yards and 18 TDs with two interceptions this season. He also rushed 74 times for 591 yards and 15 TDs. In a double-overtime loss to Sprague-Harrington, the only defeat of the season for the Billy Goats, he had a hand in all 56 of team's points, rushing for five TDs and two two-point conversions and throwing for three TDs and two two-pointers.