Have you ever wondered which football superstar everyone is talking about at PV High this year? Most likely they are talking about senior running back Matt Lopes. He and his amazing teammates led the Sea Kings to the C.I.F. finals against the West High Warriors, and won 35-14. When West shut down PV’s passing game, jersey number 7, Matt Lopes, answered the call by rushing 188 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries.
“It was my goal at the beginning of the year to win C.I.F, and I kinda thought we could and then we went 0-3. Then it started to get less likely, but I still thought we had a chance because we were playing great teams. So ya, I always thought we had a chance”, said Matt Lopes.
This Sea King has been on the football team since freshman year. This football player isn’t just a football star; he also plays baseball here at PV High. He actually used to play soccer. His football career resulted from soccer.
“I actually was on the select soccer team and I couldn’t play, I like missed to many practices and I couldn’t play in the tournament. So, I kinda just got over soccer and my dad played football in college so he asked me if I wanted to play football and then that’s how it started”, said Lopes.
Lopes like most successful athletes are driven by a hard work ethic. To improve his game, Matt Lopes spends hours reviewing film.
“After I lose a game I do nothing really, just go home and think about the game and watch the film and see what I can do better, so we can win next time. In a win I celebrate a little bit and then watch the film and still see how I can get better”, said Lopes.
Besides reviewing film, Lopes possesses the drive and mental focus to push through pain. Like other world class athletes, Lopes is a player that plays through the pain and never lets injuries stop him. He always tries to play even though he is injured.
“I have never really had any really major injuries like I’ve never torn something or broke something but, this year my shoulder has hurt the whole year and I mean it affects you. If you let it affect you it will affect you. If you keep playing through it and now that’s what I did and it now since it’s over I can now recover”, said Lopes
For Matt, winning the C.I.F championship this year was his favorite moment in his football career. He says that in the C.I.F finals he wasn’t scared but determined to win the game. He wasn’t really nervous but if anything confident.
Matt’s future plans include playing football in college.
“I do plan on playing in college, my top schools right now are Duke, Harvard, and USC”, said Lopes.
Matt Lopes is truly a Palos Verdes Sea King and an amazing football player. Thanks to him and our Sea King football team we are now C.I.F final champions, something that we haven’t won since 1965. Good job Sea Kings!