Stardom Fits These Players to a T : Exceptional Talent Makes 47 Athletes the Top of Orange County’s Crop

This year’s tiptoe through the talent pool looks at 47 of the top high school football players in Orange County. Included among them are 34 players at the skill positions--12 quarterbacks, 12 running backs, 9 receivers and 1 kicker.

Every player listed is exceptional and has been categorized according to talent or special circumstances.

Five of the players have stood apart during their prep careers, we’ll start with them.

THE BEST (EVER?)

Pat Blottiaux, kicker, Servite: Blottiaux wasn’t among the county leaders in scoring last season, but that has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with the team he plays for. Servite’s potent offense (which averaged 27 points a game) doesn’t lend itself to a lot of chip field-goal attempts--running backs Derek and Eddie Brown combined for 21 touchdowns last season. That means Blottiaux is usually kicking from other area codes. The average length on his attempts last season was 47 yards. Still, he made better than 50% of his attempts. He made a kick of 52 yards against Marina in 1986, and kicks of 47, 48 and 52 yards in a 1985 playoff game against Millikan of Long Beach. Back in 1985, Servite Coach Leo Hand said Blottiaux would kick a 60-yarder by the time he was a senior. It sounded silly then, but . . .

Kaleaph Carter, running back, Edison: The guy has led his team in rushing the past two seasons--gaining 1,015 yards in 1986--and scored 30% of Edison’s points last season. How much do the Chargers depend on him? Carter rushed for only 50 yards in games against Santa Monica and Crespi, and Edison lost both games. So what’s next for Carter? Linebacker. He will play both ways his senior season. More than a few think linebacker is where Carter will play in college. He certainly has the strength. At 6 feet, 205 pounds, he was second in the state last year in the shotput with a best of 63-0. When a reporter asked Carter what he thinks about the new position, he sighed as if he was already exhausted. The better he plays will determine how long a season Edison will play.

Bret Johnson, quarterback, El Toro: What do you make of Bret Johnson? He isn’t tall enough to accomplish the things he does. And the things he does don’t look right. Johnson doesn’t drop back, he runs. He doesn’t roll out, he sprints. Last regular season, he completed 65% of his passes, threw for 1,934 yards, 20 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. He led El Toro to a perfect record and the Southern Conference championship. He wins games, it seems, simply because his personality demands it. He has grown during the summer, making him close to the 6-foot 1-inch player he was advertised to be last season. There are some, such as Fountain Valley Coach Mike Milner, who think Johnson’s will separates him from the rest. Milner has gone so far as to say Johnson is the best high school quarterback in Orange County history. He’s certainly nothing like anyone has ever seen.

Robert Lee, running back, Santa Ana: As a little-known sophomore in 1985, he rushed for 231 yards against Mission Viejo in the Southern Conference final, and led the Saints to a 32-21 victory. As a bloated junior--he weighed as much as 250 pounds--he staggered and stumbled for four games, gaining only 189 yards. He trimmed down and then went on to rush for 1,930 yards, score 25 touchdowns and lead the Saints to another Southern Conference final where they lost, 26-10, to El Toro. This season, he’s looking sharp at 190 pounds. He can run over, around and just plain by defenders. When he is on his game, people have been known to recall the names of such Orange County greats as Isaac Curtis and Myron White. If he has another exceptional season, and everything points to it, they’ll be reminiscing about Robert Lee some day, too.

Todd Marinovich, quarterback, Capistrano Valley: He started at quarterback as a freshman at Mater Dei, and since that time, there has probably been more written about him than any other Orange County high school athlete. He’s regularly in the papers, has been on national television and in national magazines that have nothing to do with sports. As he starts his senior year (is it four years already?) he has become everything they said he would. He is Orange County’s all-time leader in passing yardage with 6,730 yards. He is fewer than 2,100 yards shy of Ron Cuccia’s (L.A. Wilson) national record of 8,804. Considering he threw for 2,111 last season, that record seems within reach.

Along with Johnson, he is the quarterback other county quarterbacks are compared to. At 6-4, 208 pounds, he seems to have the perfect physique for a quarterback and is being actively recruited by that college for perfect quarterbacks--Stanford.

JUST NEXT

Tommy Adams, wide receiver, Capistrano Valley: The fastest of the county’s big-play players--he has run the 100-yard dash in 9.9 seconds--Adams caught 20 passes last season and scored 12 touchdowns.

Jose Avalos, offensive and defensive guard, Santa Ana: Avalos was a key component in the success of Saints’ running back Robert Lee, who gained more than 1,000 yards and scored 19 touchdowns during the regular season.

Adam Brass, defensive back, El Toro: Brass, beginning his third season as a starter, was all-Southern Section last season with seven interceptions.

Derek Brown, running back, Servite: Brown gained 1,134 yards on 150 carries (7.6 average), scored 11 touchdowns and set a school single-season rushing record with 334 yards against Mater Dei.

Jeff Dooley, wide receiver, Trabuco Hills: Dooley accounted for more than half of Trabuco Hills’ 1,323 passing yards last season with 723 yards in receptions.

Mike Edwards, defensive back, Valencia: Edwards, a three-year starter, intercepted six passes for a defense that allowed only 53 points during the regular season.

Mike Petko, linebacker, Servite: One of the county’s best athletes--he’s Servite’s fastest player--Petko is 6-4, 225, everywhere at once on a football field and may play some offensive line this season.

Sergio Rocha, defensive tackle, Santa Ana: Rocha was a main contributor to a defense that limited opponents to an average of 12 points a game and recorded three shutouts during the regular season.

Ray Smith, linebacker, Westminster: The bearded one returns. Smith--6-1, 245 and very mobile--has been a three-year starter and an all-Southern Section selection.

Cory Wayland, offensive and defensive lineman, El Toro: An aggressive pass rusher who was pretty much overlooked last season--although it’s hard to overlook someone 6-5, 240 pounds--because he played on the same defense with Scott Ross (now at USC) and Scott Spalding (UCLA).

BLUE CHIPS

Eric Brougher, quarterback, Woodbridge: Brougher, an all-Pacific Coast League selection, operated out of the no-huddle offense and completed 79 of 154 passes (51.3%) for 926 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season.

Frank Busalacchi, defensive tackle, Foothill: This is all you need to know about Busalacchi--he’s 6-6 and 250 pounds. Any questions?

David Chisum, quarterback, Sunny Hills: Chisum may develop into a Division I quarterback, if he will just steer clear of roofs. He threw for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns last season, but did not participate in summer passing league because of a back injury incurred when he fell off a roof from which he was clearing leaves.

Jason Frank, quarterback, Servite: Frank, at 6-4, 225, has tremendous potential, though his junior season was exemplified by the fact that he was eighth in the county in passing yardage (1,350) and tied for first in interceptions with 12.

Marc Jewell, offensive guard, Sunny Hills: An all-Freeway League selection, Jewell is 6-0, 210, and Coach Tim Devaney says he may be the best guard he has had at the school.

Keef Leasure, running back/linebacker, Valencia: Leasure was the third back in the Tiger offense but still managed 558 yards on 77 carries (7.2-yard average). He also will play linebacker.

George Koutures, wide receiver, Irvine: Koutures pulled the hat trick, plus one, last season, playing wide receiver, quarterback, running back and returning punts at various times.

Jeff Pease, linebacker, Mission Viejo: At 6-3, 228, Pease is extremely mobile and was an all-South Coast selection last season.

Doug Saunders, safety, Esperanza: An exceptional athlete, he was a second baseman and pitcher on the Aztecs’ baseball team. This will be Saunders’ second season as a starter.

Pete Schmitt, tight end, Laguna Beach: Schmitt, 6-4, 245, was an all-Southern Section tackle and helped the Artists (8-2) to their best record since 1968. He’ll move to tight end this season.

Steve Shin, center, Sunny Hills: An almost carbon copy of Jewell, Shin was an all-league selection, is 6-0, 225, and Devaney says he is the best center he has had at the school.

Art Smith, defensive lineman, Western: Smith (6-2, 245), an All-Orange League player, had more than 60 tackles last season, including 8 sacks.

Matt Spence, running back, Capistrano Valley: A do-everything back at Mater Dei--he was its leading rusher (549 yards) and second-leading receiver (31 receptions)--Spence has transferred to Capistrano Valley, where he figures to do pretty much the same thing.

Chris Spoden, guard, Los Alamitos: Spoden, 6-3, 235, was an all-league selection last season and a big part of an offense that averaged 25 points a game in the regular season.

Randy Stark, tight end, Capistrano Valley: Stark, the brother of Stanford quarterback Scott Stark, is 6-3, 226, and yet another weapon in the ridiculously potent Capistrano Valley offense.

Linton Weatherspoon, running back/nose guard, La Habra: The last of the storied Weatherspoons--brothers Anthony and Chuck were outstanding backs at La Habra--Linton is 6-0, 228, and will play running back and nose guard.

SELF-MADE PLAYERS

Kevin Capps, linebacker, La Habra: Capps may be the hardest hitter, pound for pound, in the county. An all-Southern Section linebacker last season, Capps is 5-7.

Joaquin Garcia, running back, Anaheim: Garcia was one of only 30 players on the Anaheim team in 1986 after the Colonists were 3-7 in 1985. He rushed for 1,106 yards during the regular season and helped the Colonists to a 6-4 record and a playoff berth.

Lani Machado, running back, Tustin: Machado’s running style--no style at all--is to simply keep moving forward. He ran, usually straight ahead, for 965 yards during the regular season.

Paul Maund, running back, Orange: A running block at 5-10, 190, Maund ran for 1,219 yards during the regular season and helped the Panthers to a playoff berth.

3 WHO WON’T BE QBs AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

Damon Fisher, Bolsa Grande: Fisher, 5-10, who rushed for 134 yards in a playoff game against Fullerton and passed for only 49--admits he’d rather play running back. He’ll probably end up there, or defensive back, in college.

Sean Therien, Saddleback: In the seven games he played, Therien ran Saddleback’s option offense exceptionally well. However, an adequate arm will probably mean Therien will either be receiving the pitches in the option after high school or playing defensive back.

Jason Moler, Esperanza: An outstanding athlete, Moler will be the running half of a quarterback tandem in which Joey Sugar will provide the passing. Moler also plays defensive back and is an exceptional catcher on the Aztec baseball team--either of those positions seem to be his future.

EXCEPTIONAL PLAYERS ON TEAMS THAT AREN’T

Sean Cheatham, running back/safety, Rancho Alamitos: He has played both ways, virtually every down, for the last two seasons and been the best player for the Vaqueros (2-16-1 in those two seasons).

Brian Fleming, wide receiver/kicker, Laguna Hills: Among Fleming’s 36 receptions last season were 6 touchdown catches that accounted for all of Laguna Hills’ (2-8) touchdown receptions.

Brian McGinley, running back, Garden Grove: McGinley, all 5-7 of him, was battered around last year as an all-Garden Grove League tailback playing for a team that won twice and averaged only 10 points a game.

Tony Osendorf, quarterback, Savanna: Osendorf has been an all-Orange League second-team quarterback the last two seasons. Savanna has gone 1-9 in league in that time.

Jeff Yourstone, quarterback, Katella: Yourstone’s performance for the Knights (3-7) is exemplified by a game he had against Orange, throwing for one touchdown, rushing for another and intercepting a pass.

YOU WON’T SEE THEM, BUT YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT THEM

Collins Solomon, running back, Sunny Hills: Played in one game at tailback last season and will start there this season. Extremely quick.

Andy Thompson, wide receiver, Huntington Beach: The last in a long line of Thompson brothers (four) to play for the Oilers. Will start at wide receiver and defensive back.

Mark Ramstack, quarterback, Mater Dei: At 6-3, 190, Ramstack has the size to be a quarterback and the athletic ability to be a very good one. He’ll also be the point guard on the Monarch basketball team.

Oscar Wilson, tight end, Santa Ana: A 6-3, 210-pound sophomore, Wilson simply outgrew the lower divisions where he broke several players’ bones.

Donny Macintyre, quarterback, Dana Hills: He transferred too late from Sunnyvale High--where he played varsity quarterback his freshman and sophomore seasons--to be the Dolphins’ quarterback, so he was used as a running back, wide receiver and defensive back. He’ll play quarterback this season in a sprint-out offense.