Serra Defensive Back Named to All-Southern Section Team

Serra High defensive back Clayton Lopez, who helped the Cavaliers to a 14-0 season and the Southern Section Division VII title, has been chosen to the CIF All-Southern Section football team by the Amateur Athletic Foundation board of sportswriters.

Lopez, a 5-foot-11, 178-pound senior, was one of 25 players selected to the elite squad, representing all nine Southern Section divisions. Lopez led Serra with eight interceptions and was second on the team in tackles.

He was one of only two players on the team from a Division VII school. The other was Lompoc running back Napoleon Kaufman, the division MVP. Serra edged Lompoc in the championship game, 34-31.

Bishop Montgomery lineman Chris Maumalanga was the only South Bay player named to the All-Division I team. The 6-4, 320-pound senior led the Knights with 86 tackles and nine sacks.

Linebacker Bobby Sylvester of division champion Fontana and tailback Ron Rivers of runner-up San Gorgonio were selected Division I Co-Players of the Year.

The South Bay was well-represented on the All-Division II squad with eight selections, two each from Bay League teams Palos Verdes, Hawthorne, Leuzinger and Rolling Hills.

Named to the offensive unit were running backs Chris Alexander of Hawthorne and Robert Coulter of Rolling Hills, lineman Jim Justice and place-kicker Angel Andrade of Leuzinger and Palos Verdes quarterback Blake Anderson, chosen as an all-purpose player for his additional skill as a kick returner.

Alexander and Anderson were Bay League Co-Players of the Year.

Linebackers Sione Mahe of Hawthorne and Jim Rudberg of Rolling Hills and Palos Verdes defensive back Mark Antrobius were named to the defensive unit. Mahe and Rudberg were the leading tacklers for their teams, while Antrobius led the South Bay with 10 interceptions.

Quarterback Poncho Renteria of division champion Santa Barbara was named Division II Player of the Year.