Anthony Vento started a recycling program at Allen Academy as a sophomore. Now that he's a senior, Vento will finally get a chance to convert the football energy he has stored up for two years.

Allen coach Eddie Luna did not allow Vento to play on defense as a sophomore or junior because Luna wanted to reduce the injury risk for the Rams' only quarterback.

Quarterbacks in 6-man football do more blocking and often get less time in the spotlight than their counterparts in 11-man. However, Vento absorbed plenty of punishment.

Cleared by his coach to play both ways this season, Vento is ready to hand out some of the hits he received as a quarterback over the last two years.

"I love offense, too ... don't get me wrong," Vento said. "Say you're playing quarterback and the other team comes in and just destroys you. When you're playing defense, you have a way to get back at them. Defense is such a beautiful thing in that sense. I think it's about time."

In the Rams' first preseason scrimmage, Vento played nose guard, defensive end and cornerback.

"He wanted to play defense the last two years, and he's good enough to play defense, but I just didn't want to take a chance on him getting hurt," Luna said. "He's the type of kid who just goes all-out. I told him in the spring that I was going to turn him loose and he was going to play defense and wherever we needed him."

Luna took over the Allen program two years ago, replacing Matthew Lewis after the Rams were winless during 2006.

"My freshman year was an ugly experience," Vento said. "We lost every game. There wasn't much leadership. I don't think the coaches believed in us much. Because of that, it will be so much sweeter to have a good season this year. You've gotta go through the bad to appreciate the good."

Things weren't great immediately for Vento. When he was a sophomore, Vento was sensitive and very hard on himself, according to his coach. Luna set out to break him of those habits.

"Last year he came a long way," Luna said. "This year, too. I'm really proud of him. I think he's grown up. You can't show your negative emotions, because that's going to bring everybody down. You've got to correct those little mistakes and forget them. Worrying about it just leads to more mistakes."

Vento sees his maturity as a result of growing up. Live and learn. Play and learn.

"It sounds bad, but when you get older you kind of get used to making mistakes," Vento said. "Not that you like making mistakes, but it's something you have to get acquainted with.

"I learned to handle myself in a better fashion. When you get down on yourself and belittle yourself, it doesn't better your game at all. You notice that over time."

Near the middle of his sophomore year, Vento noticed hundreds of pounds of paper being discarded at Allen. He organized a recycling program that has expanded to bins all around the campus, and he makes weekly visits to a recycling center.

"I'm not much into the global-warming thing, but I've always been one not to waste," Vento said. "Around Christmas time, people were throwing away several hundred pounds of paper. I thought that could be used for something else.

"Eventually I bought a couple of bins. Last year I called environmental services and got 20 or 30 of those little green bins. It's kind of grown since then. I have bins all over campus. I pick up stuff every week. It's a good community service. It looks good on your resume.

"It's important, and it keeps me out of trouble."