Seniors to Clash in Lions Club East/West All-Star Grid Classic

Some of the best of the local graduated senior prep players will take their final curtain call in the 21st annual South Bay East/West All Star football game sponsored by the West Torrance Lions Club tonight at 7:30 at El Camino College.

Unlike previous games that matched the area’s best city players against the CIF’s best, this year’s contest features teams split geographically.

North Torrance Coach Steve Schmitz and Dale Washburn of Serra High coach the East while Dan Phillips of Rolling Hills and Les Congelliere of Redondo are coaches of the West.

City powerhouses Carson and Banning, which together have won the last nine Los Angeles City titles (Banning seven, Carson two), lead the list of high schools with six players each on the East squad. Torrance follows with four. Hawthorne, Inglewoood, Leuzinger, St. Bernard, South and Westchester each have three each on the West team.

Holieway at Quarterback

All-American quarterback Jamelle Holieway of Banning will spearhead the East offense, flanked by running backs Andrew Dunn of Miraleste, Jon Jackson of Carson and LeRoy Holt of Banning and receivers Derek Hill of Carson and Steve Williams and Bennie Thomas of Serra. All-City Curt Jones of San Pedro and Mike Hendrex of Mary Star will share the tight end duties.

The East’s big offensive front line features LeRoy Ale (6-3, 220) of Carson, Willie Dillard (6-2, 220) of Gardena, Cortney Hall (6-3, 235) and Brian Williams (6-4, 220) of Banning and Mary Star’s Gil Marquez (6-1, 210) and Ernie Villareal (6-2, 220).

On defense, the East will be stabilized by Russell Boone of Serra, Steve Pierce of Torrance, Darren Madison of North Torrance and Randy Vinson of Carson on the line. Banning standout Sam Sutherland will join Lyndon Earley of Gardena, Anthony Iacono of San Pedro and Ryan Rasnick of North Torrance in the defensive backfield. Shrine Game player Mauricio Gutierrez of Gardena and Ty Bradford and Rick Kirkwood of Torrance will tend to the East’s linebacker chores.

The smaller West squad will rely on Rolling Hill’s Dan Speltz, Bay League player of the year, and Floyd Brewer of Westchester at quarterback, with running backs Steve Brown of St. Bernard, Vea Manu of Culver City and Brian Browning of Inglewood. Dominic Clemente of Bishop Montgomery and Tony Nettles of St. Bernard head the receiving corps, with tight ends Ken Dossey of South Torrance and Inglewood’s Derek Washington.

West’s Line

The West’s offensive line includes John Hill (6-2, 210), Ruben Jaurequi (6-2, 215) of Leuzinger, Palos Verdes’ Howard Jenson (6-1, 215), Sean Germon (6-0, 190) of Rolling Hills and Kevin Bachiero (6-0, 195) of South High.

Bay League back of the year John Wesselman of West Torrance will join teammate John Pass, Brent Verch of El Segundo and Don Toombs of Mira Costa in the defensive backfield for the West. St. Bernard’s Jeff Holmes, Mark White of Hawthorne, Andres Orneles of Inglewood, Brian Pool of Westchester and Marvcus Patton of Leuzinger complete the West’s linebacker list, while Sean Ferris of Westchester, Bill Bartz of Rolling Hills and Lee Faukaho of Redondo highlight the defensive line.