Littleton High football squad could see turnaround year

Ulises Velazquez is skilled rusher looking ahead to hoped-for season

Jim Benton
jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Posted 7/21/20

Ulises Velazquez is a 5-foot-7 senior running back and defensive back on the Littleton High School football team who is getting ready for his last high school football season — if there is one …

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Littleton High football squad could see turnaround year

Ulises Velazquez is skilled rusher looking ahead to hoped-for season

Posted

Ulises Velazquez is a 5-foot-7 senior running back and defensive back on the Littleton High School football team who is getting ready for his last high school football season — if there is one during the 2020 fall season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He played in seven games last season and rushed for 123 yards on 45 carries and is the top returning Lions rusher from a year ago.

“I was a junior last year and we had seniors and most of them had played a lot more than me,” said Velazquez. “I’ve been lifting weights since the gyms reopened. I lifted weights to get stronger and better. I worked on footwork also, helping the position I play.

“I usually do other workouts, like core muscles. I’m just trying to get faster and stronger. I’ve got my fundamentals down.”

Littleton coach Zeric Martinez sees a lot of potential in Velazquez.

“He is a rising senior for us,” said Martinez. “He’s a dedicated team leader who since I have been here has fully committed himself to the football program.”

Velazquez has high hopes for the Lions this season.

“This year we’re getting some new players from other schools, which is helpful,” admitted Velazquez. “They are all athletic. There’s this one player who came from Arapahoe and he’s a good quarterback. He’s athletic and a good player.

“For this season we’re going to start winning games. We’ll have a better team.”

Martinez cautions that the new players might take some time before coming eligible because of the new transfer rules.

Littleton has been winless for the past two seasons and has only one record above the .500 mark over the past 10 campaigns.

“Winning is one of the goals for the season, and less injuries of course,” said Velazquez. “I want to help the team out and help winning games. Wow, Littleton’s record is crazy.”

So, Velazquez is practicing his pep talks.

“I just feel like some players once we are scored on, they get their heads down and they don’t get back up,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to teach them and try to help our team not get down and get back up and just keep fighting no matter what. Yeah, a win is better than a loss.

“Sometimes I do give a pep talk. I just say, hey we’re not done yet, we have to keep going and we can still score. We have to keep our heads up, not blend in and try to get up.”

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