Orange County Prep Review : An Interesting Name? These Football Players Easily Lead the Field

Parents, like to have a word with you. You know how you’ve been feeling guilty because you didn’t pass on the kind of athletic genes to put your kids on All-Whatever lists?

Well, all is not lost. You can take charge. Below is a list of some of the more interesting names of high school football players in Orange County this season. The players have their parents to thank for their inclusion on this list.

Talent is no factor here. It doesn’t matter if these guys are bench warmers or All-Southern Section players; if they have an interesting name, chances are they made the list.

First, several modest suggestions for nicknames: Taxman--Mike Audet, Tustin lineman.

Mr. Excitement--Damon Bland, Santa Ana lineman.

Candy Man--Ron Chocklet, El Toro running back.

The Executioner--Daren Dudgeon, El Toro lineman.

Mr. Excitement, Part 2--David Dudman, Saddleback running back and linebacker.

Mr. Sunshine--Sunny Silverman, Anaheim defensive back.

Shorty--Paul Toulouse, Westminster lineman.

They really are the world: Ed St. Croix, Valencia wide receiver.

Mike England, El Toro running back.

Wes Holland, Bolsa Grande wide receiver and defensive back.

Larry Monaco, El Modena tight end.

Bryant Poland, Savanna wide receiver.

It’s always Happy Hour when these two get together: Jose Cueva, Bolsa Grande kicker.

Nacho Garcia, Valencia wide receiver and defensive back.

Three reasons for Orange County to annex Long Beach: Demetreius Pride, Millikan tight end.

Shawn Rambo, Wilson defensive back.

Boonlert Thaopraseuth, Wilson lineman.

Their majesties: Sterling Coberly, Newport Harbor kicker.

Jeff King, Foothill lineman.

Jeff Noble, Huntington Beach tight end and linebacker.

Mike Prince, Edison tight end and defensive back.

Royal Wilbon, Santa Ana wide receiver.

One reason El Toro is No. 1 in Orange County are these animals: Brian Lamb, lineman.

Rick Mink, lineman.

Tom Wolfe, lineman.

Orange County’s best nickname: Ditto. It belongs to Tafea Tafea, Saddleback fullback and linebacker. Tafea (by coincidence?) also wears No. 33. Sorry, Ed Matemate (Santa Ana fullback), looks like he beat you to it.

Players with Hollywood names and some suggestions for their shows: Zack Zsakacs, Edison tight end and linebacker:

An action suspense series in which Zack plays a thrill-seeking probate lawyer who knows what life is all about: “Death and Zsakacs.”

The show would co-star Mike Moneymaker (Esperanza quarterback) as the greedy tax adviser.

Nick-John Haiduc, Servite wide receiver and Blaise Bryant, Cypress running back:

Could only be a western. Nick-John (what a great name) plays the strong, silent sheriff who’s always bailing his mischievous but trigger-happy sidekick, Blaise, out of trouble.

Dax Hammers, Westminster running back and linebacker:

Talk about a natural. It would have to be a sensitive, heartwarming series with plenty of grenade launchers and semi-automatic weapons. How about simply, “Dax,” to appeal to the same family-oriented audience as “Webster.”

Thor Ballew, Bolsa Grande wide receiver and defensive back:

It’s got to be something mysterious, something magical, something like, “Thor: The Man, the Myth.”

Two who’ve already made it in Tinsel Town: Perry Mason, Newport Harbor lineman.

James (Jim) Dean, La Habra running back and linebacker.

Two more reasons for the annexation of Long Beach: Marcus El-Mongo, Poly running back.

Philandus Jackson, Poly defensive back.

You’ve heard of people with two first names, but how about: Daxon Dorsch, Laguna Beach wide receiver.

Keef Leasure, Valencia running back and defensive back.

Xerxes Irani, Foothill lineman.

Phebes Rhine, El Modena tight end and defensive lineman.

Try saying these 10 times fast: John DiGiambattista, Servite defensive back.

Don Soukphouangkham, Santa Ana Valley linebacker.

Names as big as all outdoors: John Mountain, Foothill running back.

Hector Santa Cruz, Saddleback running back and defensive back.

J. J. Santa Cruz, El Toro running back.

Your guess is as good as ours: Doobie Escobedo, Huntington Beach running back and linebacker.

Justin Rumps, Santa Ana Valley wide receiver and linebacker.

The Tustin girls’ cross-country team placed fourth at the prestigious Stanford Invitational last week, with 238 points. Coached by Tom Coffey, who once helped coach a tyke named Mary Decker in the early ‘70s, Tustin finished behind Arroyo Grande, Calif.; Carson City, Nev., and Reed, Nev.

Senior Laurie Reider and sophomore Olivia Fields are two reasons the Tillers are a top team. Another is Erin Cunningham, who leads a frosh class that is 38-0 against other freshman runners this year.

Success is nothing new for Tustin. Under Coffey, who has been coaching there for 14 years, the Tillers’ girls’ team won Century League championships in 1981, 1983 and 1984.

For its success, Tustin was rewarded with a berth in the Sea View League this season.

Reward may be the wrong word.

The Sea View League may be the toughest when it comes to girls’ cross-country. Five of the last six 4-A champions are members of the league. University won in 1980, 1981 an 1982, Tustin won in 1983 and Newport Harbor in 1984.

Newport Harbor was a heavy favorite to repeat last season but was upset by Palos Verdes.

“We’ve got a very good team and I’m just hoping to place third,” Coffey said.

Prep Notes A couple of football teams got their first victories of the season Friday. Irvine beat Villa Park, 21-16, in Irvine Stadium to run its record to 1-4. Sonora (1-4) beat Santiago (1-4), 14-10, but before first-year Coach Steve Silberman could celebrate he had to endure a Santiago drive that ended on the Sonora eight-yard line as time expired. “We’re still making a lot of mistakes, but we’re making less each week, so that’s good.” Asked what he did to celebrate the victory, Silberman said: “Not much. I told the players this was great, but now we have to get ready for Sunny Hills next week.” Sunny Hills is 5-0. Enjoy it while you can, coach.