Conway, Ale and Newell Chosen for Times Awards

Hawthorne quarterback Curtis Conway, Carson linebacker Arnold Ale and El Segundo Coach Steve Newell were South Bay award-winners Sunday at The Times’ High School Football Awards brunch at the Anaheim Hilton.

Conway was named back of the year, Ale was chosen lineman of the year and Newell received the coach of the year award.

Conway accounted for 2,351 yards in total offense to lead Hawthorne to the Ocean League tri-championship, the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference playoffs and a 9-2-1 record.

The junior, who has run the 100 meters in 10.6 seconds, passed for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 834 yards and 21 TDs. Conway passed or ran for 39 of Hawthorne’s 42 touchdowns.

Ale is the leading tackler for Carson (11-0), which plays Granada Hills Friday night at East Los Angeles College in the L. A. City 4-A championship game. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior has 104 tackles, including 42 behind the line of scrimmage for a total of minus 218 yards.

Ale also holds the Carson single-season record with 22 sacks.

Newell guided El Segundo to its best season ever. The Eagles were picked to finish tied for last in the six-team Pioneer League in a preseason poll of league coaches, but ended up finishing second behind Leuzinger.

El Segundo then beat Lompoc in the first round of the Northwestern Conference playoffs for its first post-season win since 1970. A second-round win over Monrovia put the Eagles in the semifinals for the first time in the school’s 60-year history. They were beaten by Burroughs of Burbank to finish with a 9-4 mark.