PREP FOOTBALL - ROYAL HIGH ASSUMING THE THRONE ROYAL QB TRADITION IN COLE'S HANDS.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Kyle Uebelhardt knows the passion Steve Cole has built up inside.

Uebelhardt had to wait through a regarded college football prospect's senior season to get his chance to play quarterback at Royal High. And though he caddied for eventual Colorado recruit James Cox, he never let anything escape his memory banks.

When Cox left for Boulder, Uebelhardt took over, parlaying his achievements on the field (and in the classroom) into an Ivy League opportunity at Dartmouth.

Now it's Cole's turn to take the snaps for the Highlanders. He's the projected starter as Royal begins fall drills this week in preparation for the Sept. 12 opener against Chaminade of West Hills.

Uebelhardt is confident Cole can carry on the Highlanders' recent trend of producing some of the best quarterbacks in Ventura Cou Cole, who threw just one pass last season, isn't as versatile as Cox and lacks Uebelhardt's arm strength. But Royal coach Gene Uebelhardt sees many of the intangibles Cox and his son Kyle possessed in Cole. And that's a good sign for the Highlanders.

``What he has is character, and we trust him with my football team,'' Gene Uebelhardt said. ``Unlike the past, when we were depending on Kyle to throw for 500 yards or James to break out of the pocket and run for 90 yards, we're depending on Steve to steer the ship.''

Royal figures to have a solid running game with lower-level star Danny Mosier expected to start as a senior. For the second consecutive season, the Highlanders must cope with the loss of a prolific wide receiver, but record-setting David Woolever's accomplishments overshadowed the ability of solid returnee Nick Pinneiri (34 catches, 431 yards, one touchdown).

So Cole won't be lacking support. And he'll have a fan in Hanover, N.H., in Kyle Uebelhardt, who took a similar liking to Cox two years ago as his backup.

``I think when you're on the sideline and not playing much, you have to open up your mind and make the best you can with it,'' said Kyle Uebelhardt, who this summer followed up Cox's most outstanding offensive player award in the Ventura County All-Star Game by earning the same honor.

``I wanted to grasp everything I saw, learn the offense and critique all the other quarterbacks ahead of me. I wanted to see what I could have done differently and take the good qualities that (Cox) had. You just don't want to stay stagnant when you're not playing.''

That's one idea Kyle Uebelhardt stressed to Cole before he graduated. He liked how hard Cole worked in spring practice and when Royal participated in summer passing tournaments. Gene Uebelhardt expected nothing less from his son, just like Cox before him.

``We were lucky to have those guys,'' Gene Uebelhardt said. ``But good things happen to good people. What both of those boys have accomplished trickled down through the entire program. I've had a lot of elementary-school parents ask me about the one guy who's at Colorado and my son who's going to Dartmouth.''

And what tips does Kyle Uebelhardt have for his heir apparent at Royal?

``I guess probably the best advice I could give to Cole is no matter what happens, if you're on a bad team, if you're winning,'' Kyle said, ``try to have the best work ethic you have and your teammates will look up to you. If everyone sees you busting your butt, that can cause the whole team to elevate.

``You're setting the tone for the other 10 guys around you, so try your best.''

Chris Cocoles, [phone]

chris.cocoles(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Former Royal quarterback Kyle Uebelhardt, left, stressed work ethic to his heir apparent, Steve Cole, and coach Gene Uebelhardt will rely on Cole to ``steer the ship.''

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

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