Column: Mission Hills Alemany defender is also a one-man band

During a high school season in which passing a football for more than 400 yards has become almost routine and scoring five touchdowns in a single game gets you a pat on the back but no special award, let’s take a moment to single out someone who doesn’t get much attention -- a defensive player.

When 6-foot-1, 235-pound defensive end Dodrey Nevens isn’t busy trying to sack quarterbacks for Mission Hills Alemany, he can be hired to entertain people as a one-man marching band.

He plays bass guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, tuba and trombone.

His life in music began in the fifth grade. He kept getting into trouble in class by continually tapping his fingers on his desk like a drummer.

“One day my teacher got tired of me and kicked me out of class and told me to go try out to play the drums,” Nevens said.

He became the lead drummer in the school rock band, then joined the jazz band and marching band in sixth grade, and has been enjoying music ever since. Combined with his football exploits (he has three sacks and 32 tackles for the 6-1 Warriors), Nevens has a good rhythm going. Before games, he prepares by listening to music.

“I listen to jazz or gospel music because it calms my spirit and gives me time to think,” he said.

He transferred to Alemany from View Park Prep and has become an immediate standout on defense.

“He’s smart,” Coach Dean Herrington said. “He knows how to read blocks.”

And, if anyone needs a versatile musician, Nevens is more than willing to bring out one of his many musical instruments and start performing.

Shootout coming

It’s Week 8 of the football season, and the people at Fox Sports West have decided to make the Big VIII League game on Friday night between Corona Centennial (5-2, 2-0) and host Corona Santiago (5-2, 2-0) their featured game.

Considering how many points might be scored, the amount of TV timeouts and the number of plays each team hopes to run with a no-huddle offense (think 100 each), the advice to fans is bring a sleeping bag and be grateful you won’t have to be keeping statistics.

“The scoreboard may go out of order,” Santiago Coach Jeff Steinberg said.

I’ve never spoken to a coach who thinks his team needs to score on every possession. But that’s what Steinberg is thinking.

With Alabama-bound quarterback Blake Barnett of Santiago having passed for eight touchdowns in his last two games (498 yards passing last week), Steinberg is hoping his team can give the Huskies a little competition. It won’t be easy.

Santiago’s defense gave up 56 points to Santa Margarita and 57 points to Hart. Centennial, since a season opening 38-18 loss to Santa Ana Mater Dei, hasn’t been held to fewer than 41 points.

If you like offense, head to Corona on Friday and be sympathetic to the poor sportswriters with 10:30 p.m. filing deadlines.

Eastern League showdown

For once, Garfield-Roosevelt isn’t the biggest game in the Eastern League. It’s Garfield (5-2, 3-0) at South Gate (6-1, 3-0) on Friday. Garfield is one of the top three teams in City Section Division I. South Gate is the Division II title favorite.

“It’s going to be a great test,” Garfield Coach Lorenzo Hernandez said.

South Gate running back Lavell Thompson is averaging 14 yards a carry. Garfield quarterback Stevie Williams is known for his running, passing and making big plays.

Get ready for a packed stadium.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: LATSondheimer