Pasadena’s Joeseph Thomas- offense and defense

By SHEL SEGAL
Word has gotten out in the Pacific League. Joeseph Thomas can run the football.
But what some might not yet know – and they’re going to soon find out – is that Thomas can also play defense.
Thomas plays running back, corner back and safety for the Pasadena High football team. He said he came to play both sides of the football out of shear boredom.
“To be honest, I’m really more of an offensive player,” Thomas said. “When it was time for us to be on defense I would go to the sideline, but I didn’t like sitting on the sideline. I liked being in the game. So, I learned corner and safety and that’s how I got on both sides of the ball.”
And while Thomas, a senior, is having success on the gridiron, he’s not afraid to tell you about how well he’s doing in the classroom.
“It’s going really good,” he said of his senior year. “My grades are looking awesome, as usual. I have more than a 3.0. And I’m taking an extra elective to help me out and I’ve joined two clubs. So, things are going great.”
And that elective he’s taking, he said, is art.
“I’m not really a good draw-er, but I’m getting the hang of it,” he said.
During the offseason, Thomas said he stays in the football mode by running track, where he runs the 100, 200 and relay. His fastest time in the 100 is 10.9 and his best 200 time is 21, he said.
As far as how the season is going, Thomas said the Bulldogs have had some ups and downs.
“We started out really well with the first game,” he said. “After that, we got lazy and didn’t take things seriously. Now, we’re trying to bounce back up and get our thing going.”
He added the team’s offensive line should be credited for his rushing success.
“They’re the ones making it possible,” Thomas said.
Pasadena coach Drew Bledsoe had many words of praise for Thomas.
“Joeseph Thomas is a great young man of high character,” Bledsoe said. “He has great discipline and is a team leader. He’s a great driving force of our football team. A lot of guys look up to him.”
Bledsoe added Thomas’ hard work is just starting to pay off.
“He’s been doing fantastic,” Bledsoe said. “The first game of the season he exploded for over 300 yards rushing in one game with several touchdowns. The last couple of games he’s been a workhorse for us on the defensive side of the ball. He’s an all-round special player.”
(Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews.com and followed via Twitter @segallanded).

More from Pasadena Independent