TIMES ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM : These 23 Will Never Pass This Way Again : Rancho Buena Vista, Orange Glen Each Have 4 Players in the Seniors-Only Club

When The Times’ 1989 San Diego Section all-county football team is announced next fall, one thing is certain: there will be no repeat first-team selections.

All 23 players chosen this year are seniors.

Through the season, Rancho Buena Vista, in only its second year of existence, dominated 2-A, and Orange Glen, with Coach Dave Lay in only his second year at the school, dominated 3-A. But experienced players dominated the all-county team.

Chosen by the reporters who cover San Diego County high schools for The Times, the selection process is based solely on players’ performances during the regular season.

Rancho Buena Vista and Orange Glen, the county’s only undefeated teams during the regular season, placed the most players--four each--on this year’s team. Morse, with three players, was the only other school with more than one player selected.

The North County, with seven players selected from the Palomar League and five from the Avocado League, was the most productive area. The city leagues (five from the Eastern, two from the Central and one from the Western) was next best. The Metro Conference, which was down this season, managed only one selection, Southwest’s Will Tate.

Repeaters from last season are Marcel Brown, Point Loma defensive back; Sibian Fuimaono, Oceanside linebacker; and Tamasi Amituanai, Vista defensive lineman.

They are the last 2-time selections until at least 1990.

A look at the first team:

OFFENSE

Jake Nyberg, Orange Glen, wide receiver--Nyberg, who led the county in receptions (72) and had 450 more receiving yards (1,211) than any other player, used to be dragged outside by his father every day after school to play catch. The practice paid off. “He has the best hands of any kid I’ve coached, and that includes the kids I had (as an assistant) at Colorado State,” Orange Glen Coach Dave Lay said. “He doesn’t have blazing speed (4.6 in the 40-yard dash), but it will surprise you. And he’s always open.” Nyberg is being recruited by Brigham Young; Lay said Nyberg would be a prize catch for any school.

Will Tate, Southwest, wide receiver--Last year, Tate had 43 catches and missed breaking Southwest’s season reception record by one. But this season, he caught his 44th pass for the school record and also put his name in the Raiders’ record book for the most receiving yardage in a season (754). He is also the school career reception leader (97). He scored 11 touchdowns this season and was the county’s fourth leading receiver with 17.1 yards per reception. Tate has a 3.2 GPA and hopes to attend UCLA.

Robert Howard, Crawford, tight end--Howard has made the City Central all-league first team three times at three different positions--outside linebacker, strong safety and inside linebacker. A preseason honorable mention All-American at safety, Howard played mostly linebacker on defense, leading the Colts with 91 unassisted tackles, recovering 3 fumbles and making one interception. On offense, he played running back (39 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD), quarterback (2 of 5, 35 yards, 1 TD) and tight end (11 catches, 192 yards, a 17.4-yard average). The 6-foot 2-inch, 190-pound senior also snapped for punts and kicks. He prefers boxing but probably will play safety for a Division I college.

Greg Martinson, Orange Glen, tackle--Lay said this 2-year starter was a big kid who “just kind of waddled around when he first got here.” But Martinson turned into a big terror this year, leading an underrated offensive line that protected quarterback Cree Morris and opened holes for running back Dennis Esposito. “I know he can play at the Western Athletic Conference football level right now,” Lay said. “He hit the weight room his last couple of years here, and now instead of just being big, he’s big, strong and quick.”

Jack Harrington, Rancho Buena Vista, guard--An indication of how much Harrington (6-1, 260) meant to RBV’s running game is his selection as co-Avocado League offensive player of the year. “Jack is the heart and soul of the whole offense,” Coach Craig Bell said. “Jack is such a dominant figure, he just takes over a football game. He very seldom makes a mental error or physical one. He’s as good an offensive lineman as you’ll ever see in high school.” Said Sibian Fuimaono, a rival linebacker from Oceanside: “He never stops attacking you. I hate guys like that.”

Tim Patterson, San Dieguito, center--San Dieguito’s top rusher, Bobby Davis, is a fullback, and he gained most of his yardage running up the middle behind Patterson. A 2-year starter, Patterson was first-team All-Palomar League on the offensive line and second team as a linebacker. Patterson also handled all of the long-snapping duties. “He did everything for us on the offensive line, and one of the main reasons we were able to run so well was because he did the job leading our offensive line up front,” San Dieguito Coach Ed Burke said.

Michael Ivory, Morse, guard--Anytime a guard receives votes for offensive player of the year in a league, he must be doing something right. Ivory, 6-1, 255, did get a couple of votes in the City Eastern League. Running back Jessie Campbell gained 1,044 yards, many coming through holes opened by Ivory. “I think he’s the best offensive lineman in the county,” Morse Coach John Shacklett said. “As far as trapping, pulling . . . he’s a great offensive lineman. He’s a real classic strong side guard.” Ivory went both ways for Morse this year, playing both tackle and end on defense.

Erik Taylor, University City, tackle--At 6-6, 245, Taylor was an imposing figure in the City Western League. His strength and agility paved the way for running back Darnes Taylor (no relation), the county’s fourth-leading rusher with 1,251 yards during the regular season. Taylor, who scored 1,100 on the SAT, is a two-time all-league selection and has attracted interest from top football schools such as USC and Washington. “He’s perhaps the best offensive lineman that we’ve ever had,” University City Coach Steve Vukojevich said. “He’s so big, but he’s so agile.”

Cree Morris, Orange Glen, quarterback--When Lay came to Orange Glen 2 years ago, he installed a passing offense similar to the one he used as offensive coordinator at Colorado State, one that helped Kelly Stouffer become a first-round NFL draft choice. This year, Morris executed Lay’s sophisticated attack as well as could be asked and led the county with 2,512 yards passing and 23 touchdowns in the regular season. “He’s a classy, drop-back passer,” Lay said. “And he executed at his position as well as any high school kid could. In college, he’s not going to get any more sophisticated than this, and he’s showed he can handle it.”

Scott Garcia, Rancho Buena Vista, running back--With at least one game remaining and possibly two, Garcia has already set section records for most yards gained in a season (2,187) and most rushing touchdowns (33). Garcia, a 5-10, 185-pound senior, has been the bullet in RBV’s “Pound ‘Em” rushing attack. “He’s had about as good a season as a running back has ever had in the history of San Diego high school football,” Bell said. “He owes that to some great ability and some teammates who really like to block and are good at it.”

Brian Giles, Granite Hills, running back--Giles followed an impressive junior season with an even bigger senior year, rushing for 1,592 regular-season yards on 234 carries. Giles, the Grossmont League 3-A offensive player of the year, scored a school-record 20 touchdowns and was second in the county in scoring with 136 points, 5 short of the Grossmont record set by former Eagle running back Robert Padillo. Giles’ strongest attributes were his consistency and versatility. He rushed for more than 100 yards in all 11 games and had 2,124 all-purpose yards.

Andy Trakas, Patrick Henry, kicker--Coach Chris Miller calls Trakas the “finest, most prolific high school field goal kicker I’ve had the pleasure of being associated with.” Trakas made good on 7 of 11 field goal attempts this fall, with a long of 47 yards coming against Chula Vista. The only reason Trakas’ percentage wasn’t higher is because Miller didn’t hesitate to send him in for attempts of 50 yards or more. Against Morse, Trakas missed a 57-yard attempt by inches. “Most of the time, a high school’s red zone is 20 yards and in,” Miller said. “With us, it was 40 yards and in.” Trakas’ kickoffs traveled an average of 56.4 yards.

DEFENSE

Tamasi Amituanai, Vista, defensive lineman--One county county filled out his ballot at defensive lineman by writing: “Big kid from Vista.” He meant Amituanai, who weighs 305 pounds but is agile and runs a reported 4.96 in the 40-yard dash. “A college scout suggested to me that we run him downhill to better his time,” Vista Coach Dick Haines said. “But he doesn’t need to. His speed is what amazes people.” Amituanai, a repeat selection, was a first-team All-Palomar League offensive and defensive lineman. All of this during a season in which Vista went an uncharacteristic 0-10.

Bruce Marshall, Helix, defensive lineman--Marshall had an impressive season at nose guard for the Highlanders, who had one the county’s toughest defenses against the rush. Marshall was the Grossmont League 3-A co-defensive player of the year. “Bruce is the finest player at his position that we’ve had at Helix in my 15 years here,” Helix Coach Jim Arnaiz said. “I think the best thing that can be said about Bruce is that he is what we will measure all future nose guards by. Just as we measure our quarterbacks to (high school All-American) Jim Plum and our defensive backs to (college All-American) Chuck Cecil.”

Junior Moi, Rancho Buena Vista, defensive lineman--Bell talks about Moi and all-county linebacker Al Aliipule as if they were the same person. Maybe that’s why he uses them as bookends. “They are very similar,” Bell said. “We ask them to do the exact same thing. They are both very dominant players. They are hard for people to block, and they run down backs from behind.” Moi (6-4, 220) was the Avocado League’s defensive player of the year.

Ty Morrison, Morse, defensive lineman--Morrison, 6-4, 221, is one of the county’s most recruited players. He was the City Eastern defensive player of the year last season and shared that honor with Point Loma’s Marcel Brown this year. “He’s big, fast, has good hands and is a great blocker,” Shacklett said. Morrison also played well at tight end, but he made his mark on the defensive line.

Al Aliipule, Rancho Buena Vista, linebacker--Aliipule (6-3, 225) has played all season despite an injured left shoulder suffered in Week 3. It kept him out of just one game. “It’s probably a coach’s dream to have guys like that on defense,” Bell said of Aliipule and Moi. The two spend a great deal of time together and it has been reported that when college recruiters call, they’ll talk to one and then ask to speak with the other.

Sibian Fuimaono, Oceanside, linebacker--The Avocado League’s defensive player of the year as a junior, Fuimaono again was the leader for Oceanside, which spent time as the state’s top-ranked team. Fuimaono succeeded despite a shakeup in the coaching staff after the first week and a new defensive scheme that didn’t take hold until the league season. Fuimaono (6-0, 215) has outstanding speed and lateral quickness.

Leonard Hill, Lincoln, linebacker--At 5-11, 175, Hill’s size is not that of a typical middle linebacker. But his demeanor is. He’s aggressive, gets angry and is always around the ball. It didn’t take long for the public address announcer--or opponent--to know who wore No. 55. Just follow the ball. Hill averaged 13.5 tackles, intercepted 4 passes and batted down 12 others, had 6 sacks, recovered 5 fumbles and caused 4 others. On offense, Hill started at center and helped Orlanzo Edwards rush for 1,257 yards.

Dan Stehly, Orange Glen, linebacker--Stehly, one of the team captains, loved to fly around and hit people, and he did it so successfully that he was named the Palomar League’s co-defensive player of the year. “He’s just an all-time tough player,” Lay said. Stehly anchored a defense that was overlooked because of Orange Glen’s dominating offense. But a final look at the numbers shows that Orange Glen allowed just 12.3 points per game, seventh best in the county. Stehly also played tight end on short-yardage situations and caught a touchdown pass in the Pirates’ 35-13 Palomar League title-clinching victory over San Dieguito.

Marcel Brown, Point Loma, defensive back--Brown is another repeater. Point Loma Coach Bennie Edens said Brown (6-3, 205), “has everything he needs physically to play major college football.” Edens has called Brown the “impact player of the (City Eastern) league.” Other coaches seem to agree; Brown was chosen as the City Eastern League co-defensive player of the year. He was selected to the all-state junior team last season by Cal-Hi Sports. Brown also has been a starter for the basketball and baseball teams.

Darrell Lewis, Morse, defensive back--Lewis (6-2, 180) rarely came off the field in 1988. He led Morse in tackles and also played on offense and returned punts and kickoffs. “He was important on both sides of the ball,” Shacklett said. “He’s a Mr. Hustle-type of guy. He really blossomed this year into the kind of player I thought he could be.” Lewis intercepted 3 passes and returned 2 of them for touchdowns.

John Tejcek, Mt. Carmel, defensive back--Tejcek stars on the Mt. Carmel basketball and baseball teams as well, so it’s no surprise that he was a do-it-all for the football team. Along with playing well enough at safety to earn Palomar League co-defensive player of the year honors, Tejcek played quarterback and running back. He ranked 13th in the county in rushing with 1,044 yards on 217 carries and also scored 12 touchdowns.

Kim Q. Berkshire, Rick Hazeltine, Jim Lindgren, Scott Miller, Jeffrey Parenti and Don Patterson contributed to this story.

THE TIMES’ 1988 ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM Defense BACK John Tejcek Mt. Carmel 6’0”, 190 lbs. Senior LINEBACKER Al Aliipule Rancho Buena Vista 6’3”, 225 lbs. Senior LINEBACKER Dan Stehly Orange Glen 6’2”, 215 lbs. Senior LINEMAN Ty Morrison Morse 6’4”, 221 lbs. Senior LINEMAN Bruce Marshall Helix 6’1”, 240 lbs. Senior LINEMAN Tamasi Amituanai Vista 6’3”, 305 lbs. Senior LINEMAN Junior Moi Rancho Buena Vista 6’4”, 220 lbs. Senior LINEBACKER Leonard Hill Lincoln 5’11”, 175 lbs. Senior LINEBACKER Sibian Fuimaono Oceanside 6’0”, 215 lbs. Senior BACK Darrell Lewis Morse 6’2”, 180 lbs. Senior BACK Marcel Brown Point Loma 6’3”, 205 lbs. Senior Offense QUARTERBACK Cree Morris Orange Glen 6’6”, 200 lbs. Senior CENTER Tim Patterson San Dieguito 6’4”, 215 lbs. Senior TACKLE Greg Martinson Orange Glen 6’2”, 270 lbs. Senior TACKLE Erik Taylor University City 6’6”, 245 lbs. Senior GUARD Jack Harrington Rancho Buena Vista 6’1”, 260 lbs. Senior GUARD Michael Ivory Morse 6’1”, 240 lbs. Senior WIDE RECEIVER Jake Nyberg Orange Glen 6’1”, 180 lbs. Senior WIDE RECEIVER Will Tate Southwest 6’0”, 160 lbs. Senior RUNNING BACK Scott Garcia Rancho Buena Vista 5’10”, 185 lbs. Senior RUNNING BACK Brian Giles Granite Hills 5’11”, 190 lbs. Senior KICKER Andy Trakas Patrick Henry 5’10”, 165 lbs. Senior TIGHT END Robert Howard Crawford 6’2”, 190 lbs. Senior