Edison’s Shrock is named league MVP

Several local athletes win top year-end awards in coaches’ poll.Local prep football players dominated the 2005 All-Sunset League football team.

Area players -- four from league champion Edison and one from Huntington Beach -- received five of the seven major awards handed out by the league.

The all-league team was selected by the six league coaches.

The league’s most valuable player award went to Edison senior Brian Shrock. The three-year quarterback threw for 2,564 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 665 yards and 15 touchdowns.

He set Edison career records for passing yards (6,374) and touchdown passes (50), tied the school record for touchdown passes in a game (five, which came in a Sept. 9 win at San Clemente) and is second on the school’s all-time list in completion percentage (63%).

“Brian had an amazing career here, and he’s very deserving of this honor,� Edison coach Dave White said. “He had a terrific year.�

Hunter White, son of Dave White, was named the defensive player of the year. A junior, he had 60 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked field goals. As a receiver, he had 26 receptions totaling 400 yards.

Another Edison junior, Dominique Vinson, was selected as defensive back of the year. Vinson had three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. As an offensive receiver, he averaged 19 yards on his 22 receptions and had five touchdowns.

Senior Romney Fuga was the fourth Edison player to nab one of the top awards, as he was named co-offensive lineman of the year, sharing the honor with Esperanza senior Joe Hawley.

Fuga had 10 1/2 sacks and was named Edison’s offensive lineman of the game five times this year.

“Romney’s the best two-way lineman I’ve ever coached,� said White, who has been Edison’s head coach for the past 20 years.

Huntington Beach junior Stephen Gabbard ran roughshod on league opponents, and coaches took notice, naming him the offensive back of the year.

Gabbard rushed for nearly 1,600 yards and averaged 6 yards per carry.

The yardage is the second most by an Oiler in a single season, Huntington Beach coach Mike Groscost said.

“He was obviously a mainstay for us,� Groscost said of Gabbard. “He is one of the strongest kids on the team and just a dream player to coach. It was a pleasure to coach him and watch him run the ball. What’s great is that we get him back for another year.�

Rounding out the key league awards were Esperanza senior Rocky Taloa, who was named offensive player of the year, and Los Alamitos senior Toby Turpin, who was named defensive lineman of the year.

Below is a listing of the local players named all-league:

Most Valuable Player: Brian Shrock, Edison, Sr.

Offensive Player: Rocky Taloa, Esperanza, Sr.

Defensive Player: Hunter White, Edison, Jr.

Offensive Back: Stephen Gabbard, Huntington Beach, Jr.

Defensive Back: Dominique Vinson, Edison, Jr.

Co-Offensive Linemen: Romney Fuga, Edison, Sr.; Joe Hawley, Esperanza, Sr.

Defensive Lineman: Toby Turpin, Los Alamitos, Sr.

FIRST TEAM

Edison: Austin Baca, defensive end, Sr.; Davey Baldwin, linebacker, Sr.; Jimmy Flanagan, wide receiver, Sr.; Sampson Fuga, defensive end, Sr.; Stephan Holmquist, linebacker, Sr.; Gabe Moreno, defensive end, Sr.; Ernie Sagiao, linebacker, Soph.; Chris Talataina, lineman, Sr.

Huntington Beach: Curtis Crandell, safety, Sr.; Eric Jaso, cornerback, Sr.; Jordan Marquette, offensive lineman, Sr.; Mitch Roemer, running back, Sr.

Marina: Charlie Orrison, linebacker, Soph.; Kurt Willingham, defensive lineman, Sr.

SECOND TEAM

Edison: Michael Bogard, defensive back, Soph.; Martin Coleman, offensive lineman, Jr.; Freddie Estrada, defensive back, Sr.; Thomas Marcin, wide receiver, Sr.; Ceasare Nieto, running back, Soph.; Matt Schoenberger, offensive lineman, Sr.

Huntington Beach: Ryan Bautista, cornerback, Sr.; Skyler Fancher, offensive lineman, Jr.; Finau Fiaseu, offensive lineman, Jr.; Justin Niutapuai, defensive lineman, Soph.; Johnny Olivé, fullback, Soph.

Marina: Andre Gatlin, running back, Sr.; Josh Jordan, safety, Jr.; Dustin Overton, defensive back, Sr.; Michael Prindle, offensive tackle, Jr.; Kirk Sorensen, linebacker, Jr.

Honorable Mention

Edison: Devon Bahrami, running back, Jr.; Chad Blauer, kicker, Sr.; Justin Christjaener, wide receiver, Sr.

Huntington Beach: Tyler Haunreiter, linebacker, Jr.; Adam Pierce, offensive lineman, Sr.; Rohan Powar, linebacker, Sr.; Andrew Schneider, linebacker, Sr.; Jeremy Thuve, offensive lineman, Sr.

Marina: Tom Burns, offensive tackle, Sr.; Ian Cable, offensive tackle, Jr.; Alex Cerda, tight end, Sr.; Josh Martinez, receiver, Jr.; Victor Ordonez, outside linebacker, Sr.20051229ioxzc9knMARK DUSTIN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Edison’s Brian Shrock threw for 2,564 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 665 yards and 15 touchdowns.