Sandy post., September 02, 1982, Page 32, Image 32

Gresham Outlook Today Magazine Wed . Sept. 1, 1982; Sandy Post. Thur».. Sept. 2, 1982 — 3
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Not a pleasant sight for opposing defenses — Tony Domingue with the ball.
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An end w ho's center of a tte n tio n
Tony Domingue would Just as soon avoid the issue.
When somebody asks him how it feels to be looked at
as one of the best high school football players around,
the rangy 8-5, 223-pound Reynolds senior merely shrugs.
nest player around where?" he asks. "Reynolds
High, the league or what?"
How about the United States, Tony?
At least in the opinion of a least one football magazine
— which lists Domingue’s hometown as "Reynolds,
Ore." — the Lancer tight end-defensive tackle looks to
be your basic hot property when college recruiting
season rolls around.
No surprises there Domingue finished last season
with 27 catches for 525 yards and nine touchdowns He
was also a first-team ail-state selection at tight end, the
only junior on the elite team.
The sight of Domingue rumbling downfield while peel­
ing off would-be tacklers last season was certainly
something to behold. But if you think that was the crown­
ing achievement of Dom ingue* prep career, think
again.
"H e ’s looking even better this season,’ says Reynolds
assistant coach Carl Collins.
One reason for that might be a weight-lifting program
Domingue was on during the summer.
“ I ’m up to around 223 compared to 217 last season," he
say*. " I did it mainly to just get stronger."
Domingue moved into the Reynolds district when he
was in the eighth grade. He came from southeast
Portland, the Cleveland High School area, to be exact.
Lancer follower* will note that it’s the same area from
whence came Tim Reed, who did a fair job of terrorizing
opposing ball carriers during his years in a Reynolds
uniform.
Oddly, despite his size, Domingue was a running back
as a sophomore for the Lancer JV team He might have
been a pretty good one, too, but w.th guys like Dane
Gjesdal, Vince Wappler, Melvin Renfro, et. al already
on hand, Domingue wasn’t getting a whole lot of ex­
posure.
'Everyone considers me on offen­
sive player. But as far as hitting
goes, I've always felt it was better
to give than receive.' — Tony Dom­
ingue.
"1 was a running back at a school full of running
backs," he says. "W e’ve had good runners as long as
I ’ve been here."
Thus it was that last year, No. 88 found his position at
tight end Or vice versa.
" I didn’t really find my spot, they just put me there
one day," he says."
If the Reynolds staff made one smart move, that was
it After the first few games of the Lancers* unbeaten
Wilco League season, even the people in the press box
were wondering, "Who IS that guy, anyway?"
After a few more games, Domingue was a bona fide
star on a team of star*. He went both ways, playing
defensive tackle whan Reynolds didn't have the bail. It
was a position he played with relish
" I probably got more recognition on offense," he says.
"Everyone considers me an offensive player. But as far
as hitting goes, I ’ve always felt it was better to give than
receive."
Domingue will be doing both again this year. But he’ll
be catching passes from a different quarterback and
playing under a new head coach in Ed Sowash.
"There haven't been any problems (in adjusting to
Sowash’s coaching style after playing under Craig
Ruecker last ye ar)," he says. "H e’s not putting too
much on us at one time that we can’t pick up."
Adjusting to new quarterback Rod Gjesdal hasn't been
a problem, either But there are differences
"Jack threw a softer ball than Rod does," Domingue
says. " I think (Gjesdal’s) having been a pitcher in
baseball might have something to do with it. But as far
as accuracy goes, they’re about the same "
Considering his ability and reputation, Domingue can
be expected to draw most of the opposition's attention
when Reynolds is on offense. That, he says, could be a
fatal mistake
"The teams we beat will be the ones who don't play us
honest," Domingue says. "Our other receivers are as
fast and catch as good as anyone's. Teams will have to
play us honest "
As the lone returning starter and a senior, Domingue
will naturally be expected to provide the Lancers with
leadership on the field. That, plus his status as a major
college prospect, might put considerable pressure on
Domingue. I t ’s something he shrug* off, however.
" I expect people do expect me to be a leader, but I ’’ '
not feeling any pressure," he says. " I'm just going to
work on the fundamentals and get the job done."
Which is what got him there in the first place.
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