Times All-South Coast Team : Meaner by the Dozen: Poly Leads the Pack

At Poly High School, huge, well-coached football players put on green jerseys, step onto striped fields and intimidate opponents with a combination of grace, speed and power. This has been going on, it seems, forever.

Poly was so good (11-1) this season that 12 of its players have made The Times’ All-South Coast team, seven from a defense that registered six shutouts and held the opposition to less than 60 yards a game.

Four more Poly players made the second team.

The all-South Coast team is usually dominated by Moore League teams. Besides Poly, Millikan, the only team to beat the Jackrabbits, has four players on the team, and Jordan has two.

Cerritos, which finished second to Lynwood in the San Gabriel Valley League, placed three players on the first team. Lynwood placed two.

The 23 first-team members will be honored at The Times’ Football Awards Brunch Sunday morning at the Anaheim Hilton hotel. Featured speakers will be Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott Jr., superintendent of the Air Force Academy, and Bruce Johnson, defensive coordinator at the academy.

Awards for back of the year, lineman of the year and coach of the year will be announced at the brunch. Those selections will be published Dec. 19.

The Times selects two offensive and two defensive teams from 10 geographic zones in Southern California.

The following Southeast area players were selected for The Times’ first team based on information supplied by coaches, college scouts and staff writers:

OFFENSE

Quarterback--Cliff Mosley, Millikan (5-8, 152, Sr.). Millikan Coach Dave Radford likes to joke about Mosley’s size, but he’s a giant on the field, completing 53% of his passes for 1,774 yards and 15 touchdowns, and, with 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash, also was the Rams’ leading rusher. One of his TD passes handed Poly its only defeat. “He’s magic,” said Radford.

Receiver--Ed Robinson, Millikan (6-0, 175, Sr.). His 59 catches broke the single-season Millikan record that had been held for 19 years. He has speed, good hands, jumping ability and can concentrate on the ball. Robinson scored four touchdowns against Jordan and made the TD catch that beat Poly. He excelled as a defensive back, too, with six interceptions.

Receiver--Eric Morgan, Poly (6-0, 170, Sr.). Thomas Whiting, co-head coach of Poly, calls Morgan “probably the best receiver in Southern California.” Morgan, who has great hands, feet and work habits, caught 35 passes and scored six TDs. “He probably could be one of the best quarterbacks if we chose to play him there,” Whiting said.

Receiver--Chris Roscoe, Poly (6-3, 180, Sr.). An exceptional athlete with great speed and competitive desire, Roscoe caught 30 passes and scored four TDs. Whenever he gets the ball, he’s dangerous. One of the area’s most exciting players.

Line--Eric Golston, Poly (6-2, 225, Sr.). Whiting describes this guard as the “meanest, nastiest, offensive lineman I’ve ever been associated with. . . . He likes to hurt people and get rewarded for it.” Golston has excellent ability, too--he can run, has great balance, quickness and strength.

Line--Adam Mapuatuli, Poly, (6-0, 240, Sr.). He was the boss of Poly’s offensive line. Unlike most of his teammates, Mapuatuli is not a great athlete, but he gets everything out of his ability by working hard. He never played center before this season and had to snap the ball to a player who had never played quarterback. An excellent blocker.

Line--Kevin Newton, Cerritos (6-4, 240, Sr.). Newton was a three-year starter for the Dons at tackle and distinguished himself as a blocker and a pulling lineman. A hard worker with a good attitude, Newton also does well in the classroom with a 3.0 grade-point average.

Line--Craig Baker, Millikan (6-2, 215, Sr.). Most teams double-team the nose tackle. Millikan didn’t have to with the tenacious Baker. “He makes his block,” said Millikan Coach Dave Radford. How effective is Baker? “He ties your shoelaces and you don’t go anywhere,” Radford said.

Back--Andre Wooten, Cerritos (6-0, 175, Sr.). Wooten accounted for half his team’s total offense, rushing for 1,597 yards on 248 carries, an average of 6.4. “He’s a Tony Dorsett type,” said Cerritos Coach Wayne Manzo. “He can run over you and he has the moves to go in and out.” His hard work served as an example for younger players. In practice he would run an extra 20 or 30 yards on handoff drills.

Back--Leonard Russell, Poly (6-2, 205, Jr.). It was said that this guy was too short, too light and too slow. So he went out and gained 1,355 yards and scored 13 TDs. He was hard to bring down, shrugging off tacklers the way a bull does flies. And he rarely fumbled.

Kicker--William Ulmer, Cerritos (5-11, 150, So.). The only sophomore on the all-South Coast team, Ulmer kicked six field goals, including one from 44 yards, and 17 extra points. He gained confidence as the season progressed.

DEFENSE

Line--Stacey Elliott, Poly (6-5, 215, Sr.). One of four repeaters on the all-South Coast defensive team, Elliott is an end whose forte is rushing the quarterback and using his height and leaping ability to knock passes down. “He’s good enough to play linebacker in college,” said Jerry Jaso, Poly’s co-head coach and defensive coordinator.

Line--Gilbert Moxley, Poly (6-2, 230, Sr.). When Moxley, a tackle, charged into the offensive guard, the guard usually ended up a yard deep in the backfield. “He hammers you,” said Jaso. His strength and aggressiveness enabled Moxley, who could not be intimidated, to make spectacular plays.

Line--Dennis Brown, Jordan (6-5, 280, Sr.). An All-American choice, Brown made the All-South Coast team for the third straight year. He had 69 unassisted tackles, 15 sacks and three fumble recoveries this season. He has great speed and routinely runs down swift backs. Against Poly, he had four sacks and 10 tackles. Oh, he did get knocked down once, which was so unusual that Coach Mike Ono pointed it out to his players when he showed the game film. “He does amazing things,” said Ono, “and he’s a fine, well-mannered person.”

Line--Ronald Murphy, Lynwood (5-11, 163, Sr.). Another repeater on the team, Murphy, an end, led the San Gabriel Valley League in sacks with 15. “Pound for pound he’s one of the most physical players we’ve had,” said Lynwood Coach Larry Anderson. “He’s not big but he’s just a super-aggressive player.” Known for making big plays, Murphy blocked five punts and caused many fumbles over the last two seasons. Projected as a college strong safety.

Linebacker--Brian Tuliau, Poly (6-2, 215, Sr.). Tuliau is a great “reader,” which means he quickly diagnoses plays and gets to the right spot, where he either stuffs the run or defends the pass. Returned one interception 45 yards for a TD. Coaches say he can sense where the quarterback is going to throw.

Linebacker--David Riley, Poly (6-4, 205, Sr.) Tall and rangy but extremely strong, Coach Jerry Jaso compares him to former pro player Ted Hendricks. “He puts his hands on the tight end and stuffs him,” Jaso said. Riley flies around until he finds the ball carrier. He loves to hit people.

Linebacker--Charles Burnham, Jordan (6-2, 185, Sr.). Burnham, a leader on the field, missed three games with a broken leg but still was second on the Panthers in tackles with 32. Jordan was allowing only six points a game with Burnham. Without him, they have an average of 33. His best talents are hitting and getting into the passing lanes.

Back--Anthony Burnett, Lynwood (6-2, 185, Sr.). Burnett is being highly recruited as a cornerback and safety, but he also had to play quarterback this year, a new position for him. He ran for 500 yards and threw for 800. He couldn’t play defense all the time because he had to confer with the coach on offensive strategy, but still he was in on 50 tackles. One of the area’s greatest athletes.

Back--Mark Carrier, Poly (6-2, 175, Sr.). One of the top free safeties in the country, Carrier, who loves to hit and make the big play, is a repeater on the team. “Mark is a coach on the field,” said Jerry Jaso, Poly’s co-head coach. Carrier has extraordinary ability to diagnose plays and Jaso said he fills the weak-side run lanes as well as anyone he’s seen. “A tremendous kid, he will be a great success in life,” Jaso said.

Back--Eugene Burkhalter, Poly (6-1, 175, Jr.). His teammates call this strong safety “Easy” because he’s so quiet. He’s not easy on ball carriers, however. “He hits people, they stay hit,” Jaso said. He missed three tackles all season.

Back--Michael Coulson, Poly (5-9, 162, Sr.). The best at man-to-man pass coverage in the area, according to Jaso. Possessing great feet, balance and speed, Coulson was always matched one-on-one against the opponent’s best wide receiver. The cornerback returned a punt 78 yards in a playoff victory against St. Paul.

All-South Coast Team

First Team Offense

Po. Name, School Ht. Wt. Yr. QB Cliff Mosley, Millikan 5-8 152 Sr. WR Eric Morgan, Poly 6-0 170 Sr. WR Chris Roscoe, Poly 6-3 180 Sr. WR Ed Robinson, Millikan 6-0 175 Sr. RB Andre Wooten, Cerritos 5-11 180 Sr. RB Leonard Russell, Poly 6-2 205 Jr. OL Eric Golston, Poly 6-2 225 Sr. OL Adam Mapuatuli, Poly 6-0 240 Sr. OL Kevin Newton, Cerritos 6-4 240 Sr. OL Dan Hampton, Millikan 6-2 215 Sr. OL Craig Baker, Millikan 5-9 185 Jr. Ki William Ulmer, Cerritos 5-11 150 So.

Second Team Offense

Po. Name, School Ht. Wt. Yr. QB Bobby San Jose, Wilson 6-2 180 Sr. WR Rob Donlan, St. Anthony 5-10 165 Sr. WR Allen Trent, Mayfair 5-6 140 Jr. WR Darren Wood, Lakewood 6-2 185 Sr. TE Michael Vaughn, Poly 6-3 220 Sr. RB Lamont Speed, Compton 6-0 165 Sr. RB Austin McCowan, Lynwood 5-6 160 Jr. OL Brian Kane, Lakewod 6-3 260 Sr. OL Vince Castillo, Artesia 6-3 235 xx. OL Rory Dairy, Compton 5-11 190 Sr. OL Emmanuel Onwutuebe, Lynwood 5-11 225 Jr. Ki Adam Scolaro, Poly 6-0 170 So.

First Team Defense

Po. Name, School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Stacey Elliott, Poly 6-3 245 Sr. DL Gilbert Moxley, Poly 6-2 230 Sr. DL Dennis Brown, Jordan 6-5 280 Sr. DL Ronald Murphy, Lynwood 5-11 163 Sr. LB Brian Tuliau, Poly 6-2 215 Sr. LB David Riley, Poly 6-4 205 Sr. LB Charles Burnham, Jordan 6-3 210 Sr. DB Anthony Burnett, Lynwood 6-2 185 Sr. DB Mark Carrier, Poly 6-2 175 Sr. DB Eugene Burkhalter, Poly 6-1 175 Jr. DB Michael Coulson, Poly 5-9 162 Sr.

Second Team Defense

Po. Name, School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Demetrius Camper, Poly 6-5 215 Sr. DL Scott Brown, Artesia 6-1 195 Sr. DL Scott Ewart, Lakewood 5-11 185 Sr. DL Vegas Matautia, Jordan 6-2 200 Sr. LB Mark Odom, Poly 6-0 205 Jr. LB Rick Wildt, Lakewood 6-2 190 Sr. LB Scott Mulhearn, Cerritos 6-1 195 Sr. LB Jeff Mills, St. Anthony 6-1 200 Sr. DB Kevin Adams, Compton 5-10 171 Sr. DB Eddie Stokes, Cerritos 5-9 160 Sr. DB Tyler Smith, Wilson 5-9 160 Sr.