Montebello Coach and Back, Lynwood Lineman Honored

Adan Avina of Montebello High School is The Times’ Southeast Back of the Year.

His coach, Doug Rihn, won Coach of the Year for leading the Oilers to 12 straight victories.

Melvin Johnson of Lynwood, a 270-pound tackle, is the top lineman.

They were honored Sunday at the 29th annual Times’ Football Awards Brunch in the Anaheim Hilton.

Avina topped all scorers in the Southeast Section area with 132 points. Among his scoring runs were punt returns of 91, 89, 74 and 44 yards and a 95-yard kickoff return.

Johnson, a 6-2 senior, was a three-year starter for Lynwood. He had 75 tackles and six quarterback sacks this season.

Rihn is coaching the same high school he played for in the early 1970s. He started coaching as an assistant at Montebello in 1980 and became head coach in 1981.

In the South Coast area, Al Taylor of Wilson is Coach of the Year, Donald Levingston of St. Anthony is Back of the Year and Bob Pierce of Wilson is the top lineman.