South Coast Team Loaded With Talent of Poly, Paramount

Poly High School of Long Beach, which for many years has dominated The Times’ South Coast All-Star Football Team, has placed five players on this year’s team. But the Jackrabbits have to share the spotlight with Paramount.

The Pirates, who won their second consecutive CIF Southern Section Division III championship Saturday by defeating El Toro, 26-20, also have five players on the team.

Dominguez High has four representatives on the team that was selected by sports writers based on a poll of coaches.

First-team players from throughout Southern California will be honored at a breakfast and awards ceremony at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Anaheim Hilton, 777 Convention Way. The featured speaker will be Stanford football Coach Dennis Green.

The All-South Coast team:

OFFENSE

Mike De La Cruz, Paramount, lineman--He weighs 235 pounds but pulls for trap plays like someone who weighs 160 pounds. He has excellent quickness and is a great blocker, behind whom backs like to hide.

Cleve Aiono, Dominguez, lineman--His coach, Willie Donerson, calls Aiono the “most intimidating lineman I have ever coached.” The 225-pound junior, an outstanding pass blocker, dominated every game he played, Donerson said. Of the Dons’ touchdowns, 80% went to Aiono’s side.

Buster Layton, Wilson, lineman--Layton was a two-year starter at center and on defense for the Bruins. “He was the heart of our team,” said Wilson Coach John Brennan. Layton’s father, Gene, played for the Chicago Bears.

Kevin Murphy, Paramount, lineman--”He was the best tackle in the league, one of the best tackles Paramount has had,” said Paramount Coach Ken Sutch. The 225-pound Murphy made the All-San Gabriel Valley League team.

DeMario Vaughn, Wilson, lineman--Quick for his size, the 6-foot-6, 275-pound Vaughn is a Division I prospect who is being recruited by USC and Colorado. He transferred to Wilson of Long Beach from Lynwood High.

Chris Love, Poly, tight end--Extremely fast, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Love was one of the best athletes on a team of good athletes. A sure-handed receiver, Love is only a junior.

Jack Manu, Paramount, quarterback--Last year’s CIF Player of the Year, Manu had another great season leading the Pirates with his passing (1,054 yards and 16 TDs) and running (650 yards).

Andre Green, Poly, back--The second-fastest runner in the CIF, Green, who gained more than 1,000 yards for the Jackrabbits, runs the 100 meters in 10.5 seconds. He will play wide receiver in college. Arizona, Arizona State and Hawaii are recruiting him.

Leon Neal, Paramount, back--A relentless runner who never quit, Neal was the San Gabriel Valley League’s leading rusher with 1,300 yards, averaging 12 yards a carry. Neal also caught more than 15 passes and has a 3.5 grade point average.

Bruce Walker, Dominguez, back--At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Walker was a dominating force on offense and defense. In a playoff game, he dragged seven Los Alamitos players with him en route to a first down. He gained nearly 1,400 yards and scored 15 TDs.

Joel Rosborough, Jordan, wide receiver--This 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior caught 29 passes for 477 yards and six TDs. He also ran 10 times for 1,623 yards.

Steve Falatea, Jordan, kicker--Jordan’s most valuable player, Falatea averaged 40 yards a punt, was three for five in field goals and missed only one extra point. He also made up his own fake-punt plays and ran for 95 yards.

DEFENSE

Jermaine Busby, Wilson, lineman--A tackle, Busby was a major force on a good defensive team. A disciplined player, he is adept at reading offensive formations.

Mark Ryan, Gahr, tackle--Ryan set a Gahr record with 21 sacks and also had 65 tackles and 45 assists. He made the San Gabriel Valley League first team on defense and the second team on offense. Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton are recruiting him.

Don Sasa, Poly, lineman--In his first year of varsity football, this transfer from Banning High was a fierce pass rusher who had 14 sacks. He was one of the most intense players in the Moore League.

Dan Godfrey, Paramount, linebacker--A three-year starter and team captain, the 6-foot, 190-pound Godfrey was All-San Gabriel Valley League. An outstanding hitter.

Malculm Hunt, Dominguez, linebacker--A repeater on the South Coast team, Hunt had 168 tackles and made almost all of the Dons’ tackles against Paramount. He was the San Gabriel Valley League’s most valuable defensive player.

Willie McGinest, Poly, linebacker--The 6-foot-6 senior, also a basketball star, had 90 tackles and 15 sacks. Jerry Jaso, Poly’s co-head coach, said McGinest is one of the most dominating defensive players he has seen in the Moore League in many years. UCLA, USC and Notre Dame are recruiting him.

Scott Thielman, Millikan, linebacker--Millikan Coach Dave Radford calls Thielman, a two-year starter, the finest linebacker in the Moore League. “He could have tackled Bronco Nagurski,” Radford said. Thielman had 17 unassisted tackles and assisted on 80.

Keith Baker, Millikan, back--Baker had four interceptions this season for the Rams. A free safety who was effective against both the run and pass, he is expected to be a Division I college player.

Donn Cunnigan, Gahr, back--He was voted by coaches as the best defensive back in the San Gabriel Valley League. A hard hitter, he had 48 solo tackles, assisted on 67 and had two interceptions. On offense he averaged eight yards a carry and caught 23 passes for 361 yards.

William Johnson, Dominguez, back--He had seven interceptions in the first six games. A two-way starter, he was All-San Gabriel Valley League for three years.

Jason Jones, Poly, back--Only 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds but one of the hardest hitters in the area, Jones played cornerback, safety, running back and wide receiver. A repeater on the South Coast team, Jones probably will play at a community college.

Prep Football All-Stars 1989 Offense Name: DeMario Vaughn Position: Lineman School: Wilson Height: 6-6 Weight: 275 Year: Senior Name: Kevin Murphy Position: Lineman School: Paramount Height: 6-1 Weight: 225 Year: Senior Name: Cleve Aiono Position: Lineman School: Dominquez Height: 6-1 Weight: 225 Year: Junior Name: Buster Layton Position: Lineman School: Wilson Height: 6-1 Weight: 225 Year: Senior Name: Mike De La Cruz Position: Lineman School: Paramount Height: 5-8 Weight: 235 Year: Senior Name: Chris Love Position: Tight End School: Poly Height: 6-3 Weight: 200 Year: Junior Name: Jack Manu Position: Quarterback School: Paramount Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Year: Senior Name: Bruce Walker Position: Back School: Dominquez Height: 6-4 Weight: 245 Year: Senior Name: Leon Neal Position: Back School: Paramount Height: 5-9 Weight: 165 Year: Junior Name: Andre Green Position: Back School: Poly Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Year: Senior Name: Joel Rosborough Position: Wide Receiver School: Jordan Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Year: Junior Name: Steve Falatea Position: Kicker School: Jordan Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 Year: Senior Defense Name: Don Sasa Position: Lineman School: Poly Height: 6-3 Weight: 225 Year: Senior Name: Jermaine Busby Position: Lineman School: Wilson Height: 5-10 Weight: 225 Year: Senior Name: Mark Ryan Position: Lineman School: Gahr Height: 6-0 Weight: 195 Year: Senior Name: Willie mcGinst Position: Linebacker School: Poly Height: 6-6 Weight: 220 Year: Senior Name: Scott Thielman Position: Linebacker School: Milikan Height: 5-11 Weight: 185 Year: Senior Name: Malculm Hunt Position: Linebacker School: Dominquez Height: 5-8 Weight: 160 Year: Senior Name: Dan Godfrey Position: Linebacker School: Paramount Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Year: Senior Name: Jason Jones Position: Back School: Poly Height: 5-9 Weight: 165 Year: Senior Name: Don Cunnigan Position: Back School: Gahr Height: 6-2 Weight: 205 Year: Senior Name: Keith Baker Position: Milikan School: 6-0 Height: 180 Weight: Senior Year: Senior Name: William Johnson Position: Back School: Dominquez Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Year: Senior