PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS 1988 : Skill Positions in Oxnard Area Rich in Talent

Statistics cannot convey the explosiveness of John Johnson, the punishing style of Freddie Bradley, the second-efforts of Bryant Taylor, the sleight-of-hand of Johnel Turner or the quickness of Jerry Williams.

Cold figures cannot describe the timing of a pass completion from Tim Gutierrez to Matt Young.

But the results of that sort of athleticism are, indeed, reflected in numbers, many of which are Ventura County records. And the most notable aspect of the names and numbers of the 1988 football season in the county was the performance of skill-position players in the Oxnard area.

Five backs--Johnson and Williams of Channel Islands, Turner and Taylor of Oxnard and Bradley of Hueneme--rushed for more than 1,000 yards. Santa Clara’s Gutierrez set several county passing records and established state marks for passing accuracy. Young set 5 county receiving records.

Has there ever been a better group of skill-position players in Oxnard?

“I’ve never seen a better group,” said Steve Dann, the Santa Clara coach of 5 years who played high school football in the county. “I can’t recall a passing combination like Gutierrez and Young. And all those backs with 1,000 yards. In terms of one group at one time, I can’t recall anything close.”

Neither can Joel Gershon, who has coached at Channel Islands for 16 years. He has seen better teams in the county as recently as last season, when his team and Thousand Oaks met in the Coastal Conference final. But he cannot pinpoint a year in which there was greater individual talent from Oxnard.

“There was so much talk last year about the high quality of football in the county. This was a down year in terms of playoff performance,” Gershon said. “Statistics don’t always tell story. The overall quality was not as good, so maybe all the wonderful statistics were not indicative. But there were a great number of impressive individual performances.”

And look for more next season: Gutierrez, Turner and Taylor are juniors.

Gershon’s team played Oxnard and Hueneme, and, of course, included Johnson and Williams. He was asked to rate the running backs.

On Bradley: “He’s a big, strong athlete with lots of desire and heart. He likes the game. I kind of perceive Freddie Bradley as an athlete playing football. He’s not a tailback per se. In college he could end up as a strong safety, down end, linebacker, maybe a fullback. maybe a halfback in a split-back situation. Heck, maybe at tight end.”

On Taylor: “I was impressed with his drive. He has a burning desire to get it done. I saw a real athlete who was hungry, strong and ran with great intensity. He wanted to get into that end zone. You could just feel it.”

On Turner: “He has a lot of gifts. Usually you don’t find that many different talents rolled into one player. In our game against them, I remember a great offensive weapon.”

On Williams: “This was his very first year playing offense in our program. He stepped in and it’s a testimony to his sheer athletic ability and high level of confidence. He doesn’t put mental blocks in front of him. His other dimension is that he’s a great team player, quiet throughout practice, low profile when hanging out with guys, but when it’s game time, that’s when Jerry is most emotional and brings people together and draws out the best in them.”

On Johnson: “Here is a very gifted athlete who dealt with so much adversity this year. He injured his left and right ankles back to back then had arthroscopic surgery in his right knee. He never got back to the point where he could cut. But he never complained or showed frustration. It was a tough situation and yet he was able to have, for anyone else, a great year.”

The football season had other great moments, to be sure.

It was a year in which Oak Park posted a 10-2 record with only 17 players, the Frontier League sent 4 teams to the playoffs and won 3 first-round games, Thousand Oaks successfully replenished its traditionally strong defense with 8 junior starters, Channel Islands soundly defeated Thousand Oaks in a revenge match, and Buena emerged from the depths of the Channel League to become the only county team to advance to the playoff semifinals.

QUARTERBACKS

Left-handed junior Tim Gutierrez of Santa Clara became the most accurate single-season passer in state history after completing 73.1% during the regular season and 70.4% for the entire season. The previous records were held by Tom Tunicliffe of Burbank Burroughs (72.3% in 1979 regular season) and Calaveras-San Andreas’ Barry Johnston (69.1 in 1974 season). Gutierrez, who owes his accuracy to excellent vision and a quick release, threw only 6 interceptions while completing 178 of 253 passes. He threw for 20 touchdowns in leading Santa Clara to an undefeated regular season, the Frontier League title and the second round of the playoffs.

Rick Carpenter shook off assorted injuries, including a fractured thumb, to direct Santa Paula to a 9-3 record that included a 29-27 first-round Division VIII playoff victory over St. Monica. The senior never missed a game and passed for a school-record 2,429 yards. Throwing mostly from the shotgun formation behind a line that did not offer great protection, Carpenter completed 182 of 377 and had 21 touchdown passes.

RUNNING BACKS

Senior John Johnson of Channel Islands capped a 3-year career by rushing for 1,185 yards and 8 touchdowns in 161 carries for a 7.4 average. But statistics did not tell the entire story. Johnson missed only 1 game despite suffering a series of injuries, and, a week after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery at midseason, he rushed for 104 yards in a victory over Huntington Park. Johnson ranks third in the county in career rushing yards with 3,475, and he scored 42 touchdowns and 264 points in his career.

Oxnard’s Bryant Taylor, an explosive fullback who has little in common with the plodders who usually play the position, led the county with 18 touchdowns and rushed for 1,250 yards in 180 carries for a 6.9 average. Oxnard employed a wishbone attack, and defenses had to worry about stopping Taylor before turning their attention to quarterback Johnel Turner. Taylor, a junior whose longest run was 87 yards, was often in the secondary before defenses could react.

RECEIVERS

Nearly every entry in the county record book for receiving now reads Matt Young of Santa Clara. The senior wide receiver set single-season records for 81 catches and 1,438 yards, for most catches in a game (15) and for career catches (118) and career yardage (2,099). Young also intercepted 7 passes at cornerback and returned 2 for touchdowns. A big reason that quarterback Tim Gutierrez became the state’s most accurate passer, Young runs precise routes, jumps well and has exceptionally sure hands.

Buena’s best all-around player in the mind of Coach Rick Scott was Jim Collins, who rewrote the school record book for receiving and was the team’s top defensive back. Collins, a senior with 4.45 speed in the 40, had 56 catches for 1,030 yards and 7 touchdowns. Whether the target of a short hitch pass or a long bomb from quarterback Jason Isaacs, Collins was the most dangerous Bulldog. He also had 7 interceptions and was assigned to each opponent’s top receiver.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Senior Rick McCathron was a fixture on the Thousand Oaks’ offensive line for 2 years, helping the Lancers to the Coastal Conference title in 1987 and a co-championship of the Marmonte League this season. McCathron, a certain Division I player, was the player the Lancers ran behind for tough yardage.

The play of Matt Biesecker was characteristic of Buena’s storybook season. The senior was the team’s best run blocker and also held off pass rushers. And after having played linebacker as a junior, Biesecker moved to nose tackle and also enjoyed a standout season on defense.

Jim Caballero of Santa Clara bucks the stereotype of dumb linemen. The two-way starter holds a 3.4 grade-point average and was the Saints’ quiet leader. Caballero, who is being recruited by most schools in the Pacific 10 Conference, headed a Santa Clara line that allowed only 6 sacks in nearly 300 pass attempts.

Extremely quick off the line, Jose Montelongo of Channel Islands this season never met a linebacker he could not block. The intense, emotional Montelongo excelled at cross-blocks in the Raiders’ wing-T, opening holes that allowed 2 Channel Islands running backs to gain more than 1,000 yards.

Royal resuscitated its program under first-year Coach Gene Uebelhardt, and one of the primary reasons was the play of Scott Barrett, whose quickness out of his stance gave him an advantage. When the Highlanders posted an upset victory over Channel Islands in the final minute, Barrett was tireless in his blocking.

KICKER

A key to Buena’s 10-3 season was the maturation of Ty Hewitt, who grew from a nervous junior to a senior who could be relied upon in clutch situations. Hewitt led the county with a school-record 11 field goals in 13 attempts. He made 30 of 31 extra-point attempts and had 63 points. Hewitt was also the Bulldogs’ starting split end.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Ranked as one of the top 50 players in the state during the preseason, Freddie Bradley of Hueneme disappointed no one with his play. Bradley, a senior, was a spirited defensive end who could rush a quarterback or turn a sweep inside equally well. On offense, Bradley was a punishing runner. Playing for a team that had few other weapons, he gained 1,067 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 179 carries for a 6.0 average.

Santa Clara’s JR Perez does not put periods after the initials in his name. Period. No one who watched him play is about to argue because Perez is as ferocious a tackler as played in the county. Intense and vocal, the senior quickly fired up the Saints any time they became lifeless. Perez, a two-way starter, has attracted the attention of most Pac-10 schools.

Buena had a defense that toughened when opponents ventured inside the 20-yard line. And toughest on the line was rangy Mark Brondos, who excelled as a pass rusher. Brondos also played on the offensive line and was acknowledged as the team’s best pass blocker. The senior made key tackles in victories over Oxnard and Dos Pueblos.

LINEBACKERS

Channel Islands’ Marmonte League co-championship was spearheaded by Jerry Williams, an overachiever who played with emotion and excellence at linebacker and fullback. Williams pursued ballcarriers relentlessly and was especially adept at shedding blocks. At fullback, Williams helped form a double 1,000-yard backfield by rushing for 1,085 yards and 16 touchdowns in 144 carries for a 7.5 average. He was also the team’s punter.

In his first season as a full-time player, junior Lance Martin of Thousand Oaks developed into the leading tackler on the best defense in the county. Martin, who was injured as a freshman and was used sparingly last season, made 111 tackles and earned a reputation as a linebacker unafraid of taking on blockers. Extremely strong and possessing quick feet, Martin should be a dominant player next season.

Danny White of Buena played quarterback as well as linebacker last season. Allowed to concentrate on tackling this season, White became the quarterback of a defense that got stronger as the year wore on. Although the senior was part of an excellent linebacking corps, teams routinely ran away from White’s side of the field. But when he was one on one with a ballcarrier, White delivered crunching tackles.

Royal fielded one of its best defensive teams ever under defensive coordinator Jim Bauer. The anchor of the unit was middle linebacker Steve Zamora, who led the team with 115 tackles, 75 of which were unassisted. Zamora stuffed running plays from tackle to tackle as well as any linebacker in the county. The senior served as captain of a defense that recorded 2 shutouts and held 6 opponents to less than 2 touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Better known as the quarterback in Oxnard’s wishbone offense, Johnel Turner was also the Yellowjackets’ best defensive player. Turner played strong safety, but the quickness with which he filled holes had some opposing coaches calling him a linebacker. When Turner injured a shoulder and was relegated to playing only offense the last 2 games, Oxnard allowed 79 points. At quarterback, the junior rushed for 1,085 yards and 10 touchdowns in 127 carries and passed for 646 yards and 5 scores.

Chris Cole of Santa Paula led the entire Southern Section with 179 yards in interception returns. The senior had a team-high 7 interceptions and was always assigned to cover the opposition’s fastest wide receiver. Despite missing 2 games because of a broken rib and punctured lung, Cole was also Santa Paula’s leading receiver, making 47 receptions for 715 yards. He scored 6 touchdowns.

Thousand Oaks started 8 juniors on defense, but the Lancers allowed an average of only 194 yards a game, the best in the county among Division II schools. The strong safety must be the most versatile player in the Lancer defensive scheme, and Steve Rudisill played the position at a dominant level. The junior intercepted 2 passes and excelled at covering tight ends, but Rudisill’s primary contribution was his jarring tackles.

Ventura had a disappointing season, but two-way starter Chris Thomas exceeded expectations. The swift senior was a breakaway receiving threat on offense and effectively prevented breakaway plays as a cornerback. Thomas made 35 catches and scored 9 touchdowns. His 766 receiving yards were a single-season school record. He intercepted 2 passes, returning 1 for a score. Including kick returns, Thomas had 12 touchdowns.

HONORABLE MENTION

Quarterbacks: Tim Albrendt, Ventura; Jeremy Anthony, Nordhoff; Wayne Cook, Newbury Park.

Running backs: Kwinn Knight, Santa Clara; Mike Lindsay, Thousand Oaks; Paul Rezac, St. Bonaventure.

Receivers: Steve Blundell, Nordhoff; Brian Kane, Oak Park; Mitch King, Camarillo; Matt Wolcott, Westlake.

Offensive Linemen: Jack Gattenio, Ventura; Mike Wootten, Oak Park.

Defensive Linemen: Sam Alvarez, Santa Paula; Steve Brooks, Buena; Trevor Cull, Newbury Park; Mario Gonzales, Santa Paula.

Linebackers: Brian Baldwin, Nordhoff; Kasha Clemons, Santa Clara; Richard Harris, Buena; Chris Johnson, Camarillo; Lance Northcutt, Rio Mesa; Nick Ochoa, Thousand Oaks; Allen Waldrop, Westlake.

Defensive Backs: Kelly Carmack, Newbury Park; Anthony Gonzalez, Thousand Oaks; Brennon Neff, Fillmore; Rod Jones, Channel Islands; Tim Ross, Royal.

Kickers: Ernest Rittenhouse, Camarillo; Jeremy Dewey, Newbury Park.

Awards Ceremony

First-team players and their coaches and parents are invited to the Times football awards brunch, scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday at the Anaheim Hilton.

The winners of the coach-of-the-year, back-of-the-year and lineman-of-the-year awards will be announced for each team at the brunch.

But 1988 will be best remembered for the bumper crop of skill-position talent from the plains of Oxnard.

PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS 1988: First Team

OFFENSE Name: Matt Young Position: Receiver School: Santa Clara Height: 6-2 Weight: 175 Year: Senior Name: Jim Collins Position: Receiver School: Buena Height: 6-2 Weight: 175 Year: Senior Name: Rick McCathron Position: Lineman School: Thousand Oaks Height: 6-4 Weight: 245 Year: Senior Name: Scott Barrett Position: Lineman School: Royal Height: 6-0 Weight: 230 Year: Senior Name: Jose Montelongo Position: Lineman School: Channel Islands Height: 5-9 Weight: 210 Year: Senior Name: Jim Caballero Position: Lineman School: Santa Clara Height: 6-4 Weight: 270 Year: Senior Name: Matt Biesecker Position: Lineman School: Buena Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 Year: Senior Name: Tim Gutierrez Position: Quarterback School: Santa Clara Height: 6-1 Weight: 175 Year: Junior Name: Rick Carpenter Position: Quarterback School: Santa Paula Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Year: Senior Name: Bryant Taylor Position: Back School: Oxnard Height: 6-2 Weight: 188 Year: Junior Name: John Johnson Position: Back School: Channel Islands Height: 5-11 Weight: 190 Year: Senior Name: Ty Hewitt Position: Kicker School: Buena Height: 5-7 Weight: 145 Year: Senior PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS 1988: First Team

DEFENSE Name: Freddie Bradley Position: Lineman School: Hueneme Height: 5-11 Weight: 205 Year: Senior Name: JR Perez Position: Lineman School: Santa Clara Height: 6-4 Weight: 260 Year: Senior Name: Mark Brondos Position: Lineman School: Buena Height: 6-6 Weight: 215 Year: Senior Name: Steve Zamora Position: Linebacker School: Royal Height: 6-0 Weight: 220 Year: Senior Name: Lance Martin Position: Linebacker School: Thousand Oaks Height: 6-1 Weight: 210 Year: Junior Name: Jerry Williams Position: Linebacker School: Channel Islands Height: 6-0 Weight: 185 Year: Senior Name: Danny White Position: Linebacker School: Buena Height: 6-3 Weight: 210 Year: Senior Name: Johnel Turner Position: Back School: Oxnard Height: 6-0 Weight: 185 Year: Junior Name: Chris Cole Position: Back School: Santa Paula Height: 5-10 Weight: 165 Year: Senior Name: Steve Rudisill Position: Back School: Thousand Oaks Height: 6-1 Weight: 165 Year: Junior Name: Chris Thomas Position: Back School: Ventura Height: 6-2 Weight: 180 Year: Senior PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS 1988: Second Team

OFFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Dan Madsen Newbury Park R 6-0 180 12 Carlos Cardenas Hueneme R 5-9 160 12 Mark Lloyd Thousand Oaks OL 6-1 225 12 Brent Jacques Oxnard OL 6-1 255 12 Russell Edwards Channel Islands OL 6-2 210 12 Larry Pearson Channel Islands OL 6-0 215 12 Mike Fowler St. Bonaventure OL 6-2 220 12 Jason Isaacs Buena QB 6-1 170 11 Pat Ledesma Royal QB 5-8 165 12 Keith Burke Westlake RB 5-11 160 12 Jason Stein Oak Park RB 6-1 175 12 Jess Garner Oak Park K 6-2 180 12

DEFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Chris Foster Thousand Oaks DL 5-9 210 11 Jason Meek Simi Valley DL 5-11 230 12 Randy Hunt Fillmore DL 6-6 270 12 Matt Pearson Santa Clara LB 5-10 205 12 Jeff Moore Thousand Oaks LB 6-0 185 12 Jason Phipps Buena LB 6-2 205 12 Lucio Vera Channel Islands LB 5-11 180 12 Kevin Smith Rio Mesa DB 5-7 140 12 Donny Mays Channel Islands DB 6-1 165 12 Zachary Achen Camarillo DB 5-11 170 11 Tom Lunsford Buena DB 6-1 175 12