ALL-VALLEY FOOTBALL TEAMS

OFFENSIVE BACKS

Few players have overcome the anonymity of playing at a small school as dramatically as has Derek Sparks, Montclair Prep’s junior running back. Although he competed for a team that plays at the lowest level in the Southern Section, few questioned his credentials. Last season at perennial City Section power Banning, he was named the state’s sophomore player of the year by Cal-Hi Sports. Sparks emerged as the Valley’s most productive back this season. He was the leading rusher with 1,944 yards and the leading scorer with 210 points on 35 touchdowns. His 32 rushing touchdowns tied him for sixth place on the all-time Southern Section list.

Perhaps the most courageous performance of the season was turned in by Canyon’s senior tailback, Chris Peery, who underwent surgery on his groin the week before the first game of the season. But with Peery back at full speed by mid-season, he helped the Cowboys overcome a 1-3-1 start and sweep to their seventh Golden League title in eight years. Peery, an All-Valley selection two years ago, rushed for 1,220 yards and was third in the area with 27 touchdowns.

Kennedy Coach Bob Francola had little trouble with play selection this season: Just give the ball to Ontiwaun Carter. The junior running back flourished under a demanding workload, leading Valley City Section rushers with 1,563 yards in an area-high 252 carries, and he missed parts of two games because of a thigh injury. Carter rushed for 1,190 yards as a sophomore and he has a two-year total of 2,763.

Alemany’s drive to the Division I playoffs after a last-place Del Rey League finish last season was piloted by the area’s leading passer, Joey Rosselli. The senior left-hander, who also pitches for the baseball team, passed for an area-high 2,402 yards, completing 169 of 288 passes (58.7%) with 17 touchdowns.

RECEIVERS

Canyon averaged 336 yards a game to lead area schools with a diversified attack that featured more than just Chris Peery up the middle. The Cowboys gained more yardage through the air than on the ground (2,289 yards to 2,080), and most of the damage was done by Clint Beauer. The senior dominated the area receiving ranks, catching an area-high 75 passes for 1,235 yards, nearly 500 more yards than his closest pursuer.

Hart regained the Foothill League title behind the area’s most versatile player. Hart senior Howard Blackwell rushed for 1,217 yards and 24 touchdowns and also caught 44 passes for 777 yards and eight touchdowns. With 32 touchdowns and 194 points, Blackwell trailed only Derek Sparks for the area scoring lead, averaging 16.1 points a game. Counting 15 punt returns for 252 yards, Blackwell handled the ball 228 times for 2,246 yards, an average of 9.8 yards.

One of the key factors in Crespi’s 7-4 season was the play of Christian Fauria, whose brother Quinn was an All-Valley selection last season. Christian bolstered Crespi’s defense as a defensive end but is best remembered for his play at tight end. Fauria had 57 catches for 664 yards and six touchdowns.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Van Nuys, a longtime doormat, surged to the Mid-Valley League title without benefit of an outstanding skill-position player. Instead, the Wolves dominated opponents along the line of scrimmage. Nobody in the league played better on either side of the ball than Edvin Babayova, who shared the league MVP award.

Tim DeGroote protected quarterback Rob Westervelt, opened holes for Howard Blackwell and was named to the All-Foothill League team. Coach Mike Herrington calls the junior the best center in the school’s history.

After more than four decades without a playoff victory, Notre Dame recorded two this season. Only Montclair Prep and Thousand Oaks rushed for more yards than the Knights, whose running backs more often than not followed John DiSante through gaping holes into the secondary. Like DeGroote, DiSante returns next year.

Kennedy Coach Bob Francola patiently endured the mistakes that John Jones committed last season as a junior lineman because he knew he had a major talent on his hands. Francola’s patience paid dividends a year later and now Division I college coaches are waiting to reap the reward.

KICKER

Cleveland’s Frank Diana slugged it out in the trenches on the offensive and defensive lines but still managed to convert all 15 of his point-after attempts and four of five field-goal tries. Coach Steve Landress calls Diana, an All-City soccer selection last season, one of the school’s best athletes.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Some have argued that the area’s most valuable player in ’89 is Sylmar’s Jerome Casey. The senior rushed for 1,447 yards and caught 14 passes for 378 yards to account for 1,825 yards in total offense in just 10 games. Not bad numbers for the Valley Pac-8 Conference’s best defensive player. As a defensive back, he led Sylmar with 70 solo tackles.

Granada Hills fielded the best defense among area City teams, allowing only 157.9 yards a game. The Highlanders dominated offenses with the area’s best defensive skill-position players. Leading the Granada Hills effort in the secondary were Leon Glasgow and Derrick Stewart. Glasgow shared the team lead in interceptions with three and also gained 471 yards in 94 carries and scored six touchdowns as a running back. Glasgow will be pursued by Division I recruiters, but the good news for Highlander fans is that Stewart is only a junior.

Birmingham missed the playoffs despite a 5-3-1 overall record but no blame can be directed toward Danny Larson. The senior quarterback-defensive back led area City passers, completing 118 of 231 (51.1%) for 1,445 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Larson, the Mid-Valley League co-Player of the Year, made as strong an impact in the secondary.

Grant claimed honors as the area’s most surprising team, sweeping to the East Valley League title. Although Grant featured balance, the show belonged to Marlowe Lewis, who shared the league’s MVP award with Casey. As Grant’s quarterback, Lewis rushed for 759 yards and passed for 805 more. But his future in college lies with his defensive prowess.

No player made a bigger impression in the first week of the season than Notre Dame’s Errol Small, who rushed for 213 yards in the Knights’ opening win over Alemany. Small finished the season as the area’s fourth-leading rusher (1,467 yards) despite playing regularly as the Knights’ best defensive back.

LINEBACKERS

El Camino Real’s stunning upset of Granada Hills in the City quarterfinals focused attention on one of the area’s overlooked players. Senior Jamal Anderson anchored the Conquistadore defense and fueled the team’s ground-oriented attack. Anderson punched enough holes in defenses to rush for 1,153 yards.

Granada Hills’ loss to El Camino Real also spoiled Brett Washington’s bid for a number of school rushing records. The burly fullback, who also anchored the team’s defense, rushed for 1,156 yards for a two-year total of 1,772. Luckily for him and Granada Hills, he returns next year.

San Fernando stumbled to a 5-6 record and lost in the first round of the City playoffs. But when the Tigers built a five-game win streak, they did it with defense. At the center of that effort was Vincent Hall, who also doubled as fullback.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Taft lost many key players from last year’s West Valley League championship team to graduation, but Gregory Bernard returned and led the Toreadors to a second consecutive title. He dominated on the line and shared the league’s MVP award with Anderson.

The accomplishments of Notre Dame’s Owen Taylor mirrored those of Bernard. Taylor led Notre Dame to its second consecutive San Fernando Valley League title and was named the league’s best lineman.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Jake Brescher Birmingham Receiver 6-2 170 Sr. Billy Markowitz Alemany Receiver 5-10 170 Sr. Chad Fotheringham Hart Tight End 6-6 215 Sr. Nick Avila Grant Lineman 6-3 265 Sr. Jade Freeman Antelope Valley Lineman 6-2 255 Sr. Dan Hunt Crespi Lineman 6-1 235 Sr. Jason Keiderling Reseda Lineman 6-6 260 Sr. Colin Havert Chaminade Back 6-0 200 Sr. Michael Jones Montclair Prep Back 6-2 210 Sr. Bryan Martin Granada Hills Back 6-2 175 Jr. Rob Westervelt Hart Back 6-3 205 Sr. Chris Afarian Notre Dame Kicker 5-6 140 Sr.

DEFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Jason Blatt Montclair Prep Lineman 6-3 220 Sr. Eric Hanes Canyon Lineman 5-11 200 Sr. Steve Manos Agoura Lineman 5-10 175 Jr. Curtis Hudson Cleveland Lineman 6-1 240 Sr. Kirk Langer Granada Hills LB 5-10 185 Sr. Joe Mahoney Crespi LB 6-2 180 Sr. London Woodfin Sylmar LB 6-3 225 Sr. Todd Cribari Agoura Back 5-10 170 Sr. John DePaco Hart Back 5-10 160 Sr. Felix Goodson Chaminade Back 6-1 170 Sr. Mark Santos Canyon Back 5-10 170 Jr.