Top Awards Go to Paramount, Poly and Gahr

Senior quarterback Jack Manu, who led Paramount High School to a second consecutive CIF Division III championship, is The Times’ South Coast prep Back of the Year. Manu threw for 1,054 yards and ran for 650 yards for the Pirates this season.

Lineman of the Year is Don Sasa of Long Beach Poly. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior led the Jackrabbits’ defense with 14 sacks in his first year as a varsity player. Sasa had transferred from Banning High.

Coach of the Year honors go to Steve Silberman of Gahr High School in Cerritos. Silberman, in his second year at Gahr, ended the season with a 7-4 overall record. It was the Gladiators’ first winning season since 1981, and they made their first appearance in the CIF playoffs in 13 years.

The three top honorees were announced Sunday at the 31st annual Times all-star football awards brunch at the Anaheim Hilton.

In the Southeast area, Ivan Wilson of South Gate is Back of the Year, Puna Peko of Whittier is Lineman of the Year and Gary Cordray of South Gate is Coach of the Year.