1991 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS : Offensive Linemen Dominate Team : Football: Players of the year chosen from Artesia and Wilson. Norm Flowers named coach of the year.
They are big and silent, rarely drawing attention to themselves except when they make mistakes on the field, but for 1991, offensive linemen dominate The Times’ South Coast All-Star High School Football Team.
Pulling, trapping and blocking in a world of dirt and grass, there were so many good offensive linemen this past fall that no tight end was chosen to the all-star team to allow another spot for these essential players.
Twelve schools are represented on the 23-man all-star team, led by Long Beach Wilson with four and Long Beach Poly and Artesia High of Lakewood with three each.
The offensive player of the year is quarterback Aaron Flowers of Artesia, who ranked second in the CIF Southern Section in passing during the regular season. Aaron’s father, Norm Flowers, was named coach of the year after leading the Pioneers to an 11-1 record. Artesia was 4-6 in 1990.
The defensive player of the year is linebacker Frank Russell of Wilson, who was also a standout running back.
The team members will be honored at a breakfast at 9 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel.
The all-South Coast team, based on a poll of coaches:
OFFENSE
Shawn Tippet, Artesia, wide receiver--Quick and speedy, the 5-foot-10, 155-pound senior ranked second in receptions in the CIF Southern Section during the regular season. He finished with 81 catches, 1,430 yards and 10 touchdowns. “He never knew what half-speed was,†Coach Flowers said.
Anthony Cobbs, Poly, wide receiver--The leading receiver for the Jackrabbits, he was mentioned by more Moore League coaches on ballots than any other wide receiver. “He stretched defenses,†co-Coach Thomas Whiting said about the 6-foot-2 1/2, 185-pound senior.
Robert Gilmore, Lynwood, lineman--The 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior is being recruited by Washington, Oregon, Oregon State and Colorado. “He is an intelligent player and has good feet. He will overpower you,†Coach Ben Carpenter said.
Mark Hernandez, St. John Bosco, lineman--Another in a long line of husky, talented offensive linemen for the Braves, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound all-Mission League selection was a two-year starter. “He is a real hard worker who put in a lot of time in the weight room this year,†Coach Gabe Soumakian said.
Al Espinoza, Paramount, lineman--â€He is the best center we have had in some time,†Coach Ken Sutch said. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound snapper never let down in practice, either, playing every down like it was his last.
Steven Bell, Dominguez, lineman--At 5-feet 11-inches and 220-pounds, he is the smallest lineman on the all-star team. But he was a big-play guard for the co-champions of the San Gabriel Valley League, particularly when he pulled. “He was very aggressive on sweeps. We ran his way a lot, and he is the main reason for our success,†Coach Willie Donerson said.
Dan Moreno, Wilson, lineman--A center, the 6-foot, 220-pound senior “was the heart of our offensive line,†Bruin Coach John Brennan said. Moreno was a blocker in a wing-T offense that featured four backs, and he was instrumental in springing them for many long runs that led to Wilson’s first outright Moore League title in 24 years.
Robert Jenkins, Dominguez, back--He followed Bell often and the result was 1,245 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns. But Jenkins earned many of those yards on his own. “We have a one-back set,†Donerson said. “He is the only back, everyone knows he is getting the ball and he still plowed over everybody.â€
Garnett Overby, St. Anthony, back--The 6-foot-1 1/2 quarterback did his best work on the ground, where he averaged 9.3 yards per carry and scored 13 touchdowns. “He is a gifted athlete,†Coach Dave Radford said, “and he maximized his gifts.†Overby accounted for two-thirds of the team’s 3,000 yards.
Dione Tyler, Millikan, back--The 5-foot-7, 165-pound senior was on the all-South Coast team last season. He averaged 12 yards a carry and scored 13 touchdowns. “He was never stopped all year,†Ram Coach Dave Shawver said.
Aaron Flowers, Artesia, quarterback--At the throttle of an offense known as “Airtesia,†the 6-foot, 165-pound junior lived up to preseason billing as one of the state’s best passers with 3,951 yards and 34 touchdowns. In 389 pass attempts, he threw just nine interceptions. “He has the ability to read defenses and he is a real accurate passer,†Norm Flowers said.
DEFENSE
Fia Ili, Poly, lineman--Voted the team’s most valuable player, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound junior end is “relentless getting to the ball and is a dominant force against option teams,†according to co-Coach Jerry Jaso. He was on the all-star team last year.
Ryan Lua, Poly, lineman--At 6-foot-4, 215-pounds, the junior tackle is incredibly strong, Poly coaches say.
Steve Ruffner, St. Anthony, lineman--â€A mega-leader,†according to Radford, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior played running back, outside linebacker and various positions on the defensive line. “He made positive things happen on both sides of the line,†Radford said.
Demarco Ford, Wilson, lineman--Quick-footed, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound tackle had 12 sacks and was in on 92 tackles. He is one of the strongest linemen on the all-star team--he bench-presses 320 pounds.
Sean Estrada, Artesia, linebacker--It was not easy to get by this 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior, who was a three-year starter. Estrada made 163 tackles this season. “He does not let people block him,†Coach Flowers said.
Frank Russell, Wilson, linebacker--This player is outstanding on both sides of the line. As a tailback, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior rushed for 730 yards. But it was on defense where he stood out with 110 tackles, 54 of them unassisted. He had three sacks and two key interceptions to seal victories for the Moore League champion Bruins, who advanced to the semifinal game of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs.
Sam Santana, Paramount, linebacker--Santana is being recruited heavily by several schools. Sutch calls the 6-foot, 212-pound senior “the best linebacker we have ever had.†He accounted for 111 tackles, including 68 unassisted, and five sacks. He also played tight end.
Johnny Nansen, Jordan, linebacker--Another of the area’s best two-way players, Nansen accounted for 1,700 yards on offense and 35 tackles and five sacks on defense. His totals would have been higher if the 6-foot, 200-pound senior had not been hampered by a hand injury he suffered when Moore League play began.
Greg Sii, Jordan, back--The 6-foot, 200-pound junior also played linebacker. He had nine sacks, two interceptions and 47 unassisted tackles. He also was involved in 32 other tackles.
Paul Guidry, Gahr, back--An unheralded player on a losing team, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior nevertheless received more votes from San Gabriel Valley League coaches than any other defensive player. Guidry had five interceptions. He also scored 13 touchdowns as a wide receiver and running back. He is considering several Pac-10 schools.
Kevin McKenzie, Wilson, back--Here is another two-way starter. He rushed for 1,086 yards on offense--a school record--and was the third-leading tackler on the team behind Russell and Ford. “He is very versatile,†Coach Brennan said.
Matt Reed, Lakewood, kicker--A soccer player, he did all the kicking for the Lancers, but excelled at punting where he averaged 46.6 yards to lead the Southern Section. “He had very few punts returned. . . . He really puts them up there,†Coach Mark Rose said.
1991 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS: Long Beach OFFENSE
Name Position School Ht. Wt. Year Shawn Tippet Wide Receiver Artesia 5’10†155 Senior Anthony Cobbs Wide Receiver Poly 6’2 1/2†185 Senior Robert Gilmore Lineman Lynwood 6’4†260 Senior Mark Hernandez Lineman St. John Bosco 6’5†250 Senior El Espinoza Lineman Paramount 6’2†250 Senior Steven Bell Lineman Dominguez 5’11†220 Senior Dan Moreno Lineman Wilson 6’0†220 Senior Aaron Flowers Quarterback Artesia 6’0†165 Junior Robert Jenkins Back Dominguez 5’10†221 Junior Garnett Overby Back St. Anthony 6’1 1/2†180 Senior Dione Tylor Back Millikan 5’7†165 Senior
DEFENSE
Name Position School Ht. Wt. Year Sam Santana Linebacker Paramount 6’0†212 Senior Johnny Nansen Linebacker Jordan 6’0†200 Senior Greg Sii Back Jordan 6’0†200 Junior Paul Guidry Back Gahr 5’10†175 Senior Kevin McKenzie Back Wilson 6’1†170 Junior Fia Ili Lineman Poly 5’11†215 Junior Ryan Lau Lineman Poly 6’3†280 Junior Steve Ruffner Lineman St. Anthony 6’3†205 Senior Demarco Ford Lineman Wilson 6’1†205 Junior Sean Estrada Linebacker Artesia 6’2†215 Senior Frank Russell Linebacker Wilson 5’10% XXXXX Senior Matt Reed Kicker Lakewood 5’7†165 Senior
All-South Coast Second Team
Player School Pos. Height Weight Year Offense Cordell Horner Lakewood WR 5-11 165 Jr. Gabe Anguiano Artesia WR 6-4 195 Jr. Mike Ramirez Millikan OL 6-1 225 Sr. Keith Hopkins Lakewood OL 6-6 235 Sr. Chris Golz Millikan OL 6-5 265 Sr. Simona Toomalatai Poly OL 5-11 255 Jr. Greg Almazan Artesia OL 6-2 200 Sr. Thyya Ung Paramount RB 5-7 162 Jr. Louie Major Artesia RB 6-0 185 Sr. Tovar Ingram Lynwood RB 5-11 170 Sr. Ray Domingo Lakewood QB 6-2 185 Sr. Defense Larry Harris Wilson DL 6-0 190 Sr. Madden Alefosio Jordan DL 6-0 190 Sr. Speary Fonua Artesia DL 5-10 190 Sr. Eric Huerta Artesia DL 5-11 195 Sr. Saieed Galloway Dominguez LB 5-10 225 Sr. Juan Esquivel Cerritos LB 5-11 195 Jr. Junior Ili Poly LB 5-9 205 Sr. Bishop Cohen Wilson LB 6-1 195 Sr. Joe Nuez Lakewood DB 5-9 175 Jr. Bobby Richardson Jordan DB 5-8 165 Sr. Jared Lucero St. John Bosco DB 5-10 170 Sr. Geoff Prince Wilson K 5-10 170 Jr.
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