PREP WEDNESDAY: ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM : Mater Dei’s Blanton Tops County Team : Football: Quarterback one of three Monarchs on first team. Esperanza’s Kirschke named lineman of the year.

Mater Dei’s record-setting quarterback, Billy Blanton, who passed for 3,545 yards and 36 touchdowns, heads the list of selections for The Times’ 33rd All-County football team.

Blanton, The Times’ county back of the year, set county single-season passing records for yardage and touchdowns in leading Mater Dei to the Southern Section Division I championship. Blanton capped a remarkable senior season by passing for 257 yards in a 35-14 rout of Eisenhower Friday at Anaheim Stadium.

Travis Kirschke, Esperanza’s talented junior defensive tackle, is The Times’ county lineman of the year. Esperanza won 27 consecutive games over the past two seasons with Kirschke in the lineup before losing to Los Alamitos, 8-0, in the Division III championship game.

Blanton’s passing yardage surpassed that of former Trabuco Hills quarterback David Lowery, who held the previous record of 3,325 yards set in 1988. Blanton’s 36 touchdowns eclipsed the 32 by former Loara standout Bob Caffrey in 1979.

Bishop Amat Coach Mark Paredes, who has played or coached in the Angelus League since 1970, said Blanton “was the best quarterback in the Angelus League since Pat Haden.” Haden led Bishop Amat to a section championship in 1970.

Kirschke became the first junior to earn lineman of the year honors since Santa Ana’s Oscar Wilson in 1988. Wilson also won in ’89.

“Travis is the best lineman to ever play at Esperanza,” Aztec Coach Gary Meek said. Meek also said Kirschke, coming off his sophomore season, would have been the third-best lineman in a camp full of seniors.

Division I champion Mater Dei placed four players on the first two teams. Blanton, versatile tight end David Knuff and hard-hitting linebacker Jason Thies are first-team selections. Offensive tackle John Grootegoed is a second-team pick.

Division VI champion Valencia also placed four players: wide receiver Kevin Alexander and safety Ryan Roskelly on the first team, three-year starting tackle Scott Williams and rugged running back Willie Barnes on the second.

On the first team, Irvine running back Scott Seal and Kirschke are the only juniors and Tustin kicker Zack Matthews is the only sophomore.

The first-team offensive line, headed by Dana Hills’ 280-pound tackle, Alfredo Diaz, averages 246 pounds. The first-team defensive line averages 250 pounds.

The players were chosen based on ballots returned from coaches at 60 county high schools. Twenty-eight schools are represented on the first and second teams.

The first team will be honored Jan. 12 at the Anaheim Marriott. The guest speaker at the ceremony will be Ram quarterback Jim Everett, who will present trophies to the back, lineman and coach of the year, Terry Henigan of Irvine.

Blanton is also a candidate for the Glenn Davis Trophy, which is presented to the outstanding player in Southern California.

THE TIMES 1991 ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM

FIRST-TEAM CLOSE-UPS OFFENSE Name: DAVID KNUFF School: MATER DEI Year: SENIOR Position: Tight End Knuff was Mater Dei’s big-play receiver all year. He caught 67 passes for 1,196 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was also impressive as a linebacker, where he made 70 tackles and had seven sacks. Name: ERIC FEGRAUS School: LAGUNA BEACH Year: SENIOR Position: Wide Receiver Fegraus was the county’s second-leading receiver in the 10-game season. He caught 47 passes for 786 yards on a team that won two games. Fegraus was a three-year starter and also competes on the school’s in basketball and volleyball teams. Name: KEVIN ALEXANDER School: VALENCIA Year: SENIOR Position: Wide Receiver Alexander saved his best for the big game, catching seven passes for 161 yards and a touchdown in a 27-7 victory over Tustin in the Division VI championship. In the 10-game season, Alexander caught 28 passes for 446 yards for a run-oriented team. Name: GAVIN MOLINAR School: BUENA PARK Year: SENIOR Position: Offensive Lineman Molinar played a big role in Buena Park’s drive to the Freeway League championship, opening holes for the running back or protecting the quarterback. Molinar earned All-Southern Section honors as a junior. Name: ALFREDO DIAZ School: DANA HILLS Year: SENIOR Position: Offensive Lineman Diaz is the biggest player on the team. He used his size to provide the blocking for running back Marcus Jenkins as Dana Hills advanced to the Division II championship game. Name: CURT CANNON School: IRVINE Year: SENIOR Position: Offensive Lineman Cannon was the leader on Irvine’s offensive line. He was a two-year starter who progressed from an honorable mention selection as a junior to become a first team all-league selection this season. Name: MATT IZZI School: ESPERANZA Year: SENIOR Position: Offensive Lineman Izzi was an effective pulling guard all season in Esperanza’s most productive running play, “The Buck Sweep.” He was a three-year starter and earned first-team all-league honors as a junior and senior. Name: LIA TOGIA School: RANCHO ALAMITOS Year: SENIOR Position: Offensive Lineman Togia opened the holes for Jeff Byrd, who shared the county’s rushing lead, and he was equally effective as a linebacker. Rancho Alamitos’ running game was one of the best in the county the past two years and Togia was an all-league selection as a junior and senior. Name: BILLY BLANTON School: MATER DEI Year: SENIOR Position: Quarterback Blanton made headlines every week and became the most publicized prep in the county since Bret Johnson and Todd Marinovich. Notre Dame, Washington State, California, USC, Colorado, Oregon and University of the Pacific are among the colleges he’s considering. Name: SCOTT SEAL School: IRVINE Year: JUNIOR Position: Running Back Seal, an aggressive runner who loves contact, rushed for 1,759 yards to help lead Irvine to the Division II championship. He started as a sophomore last year, gaining 950 yards in the county’s best league. Name: KEVIN POLA School: SANTA ANA Year: SENIOR Position: Running Back Pola rushed for 1,262 yards and 14 touchdowns to lead Santa Ana to the Sunset League title. He doubled as a linebacker and was the league’s most valuable player. Name: ZACK MATTHEWS School: TUSTIN Year: SOPHOMORE Position: Kicker Matthews, just 15 years old, made quite an impact by kicking 13 field goals (sixth on the county’s single-season list). He connected from 42, 34, 43 and 47 yards in his second varsity game, against Capistrano Valley.

FIRST-TEAM CLOSE-UPS DEFENSE Name: DAVE ERIKSON School: DANA HILLS Year: SENIOR Position: Linebacker Erikson made a successful transition from a defensive lineman as a junior to middle linebacker this season in leading Dana Hills to the Division II championship game. He combined strength with intelligence (4.0 grade-point average) to develop into a Division I college prospect. Name: GAVIN BROWN School: EL MODENA Year: SENIOR Position: Linebacker Opponents discovered it was difficult to run or throw passes with Brown playing at outside linebacker. He was an all-league selection as a junior and a senior, was considered one of the county’s fiercest hitters and added an interception in 1991. He also doubled as a tight end and had two touchdown catches this fall. Name: JASON THIES School: MATER DEI Year: SENIOR Position: Linebacker Thies was Mater Dei’s best defender with 104 tackles and five sacks at inside linebacker. He was a three-year starter who combined with David Knuff and Parker Gregg to form the county’s best linebacking corps. Thies also played tight end and caught two touchdown passes. Name: BRYANT JACKSON School: LOARA Year: SENIOR Position: Defensive Lineman Jackson is strong and surprisingly mobile for a guy who weighs 275 pounds. His strong suit is pass rushing and his quarterback-sacking ability earned him the defensive player of the year award in the Empire League. Name: ADRIAN IOJA School: GARDEN GROVE Year: SENIOR Position: Defensive Lineman Ioja helped Garden Grove finish the regular season with a 10-0 record, marking the first time the school had won 10 consecutive games in 68 years. Ioja combined size, speed and strength to overpower opposing linemen. Ioja is also a fine tight end, ferocious blocker and an outstanding wrestler. Name: TRAVIS KIRSCHKE School: ESPERANZA Year: JUNIOR Position: Defensive Lineman Kirschke was named the most valuable player in the Empire League. He is powerfully built with tremendous hand strength. Kirschke is one of the most dominating players in the state and will be among the top recruits in the nation next season. Name: MATT KENELEY School: MISSION VIEJO Year: SENIOR Position: Defensive Lineman Keneley is a physical player who is truly advanced for his age. He had eight sacks and 39 lead tackles, remaining effective despite playing on both sides of the line since the fifth week of the season. Keneley is also an honor student with a 3.5 grade-point average. Name: AARON HERR School: IRVINE Year: SENIOR Position: Defensive Back Herr had never played organized football until he enrolled at Irvine, and he was a bench-warmer as a freshman. But he developed into a two-year starter who intercepted eight passes this season for the Division II champions. Name: MARCO DOMINGUEZ School: LOS ALAMITOS Year: SENIOR Position: Defensive Back Dominguez started 36 games for Los Alamitos over a three-year span and had six interceptions for the Griffins as a senior. He shared the Empire League’s defensive back of the year award with Esperanza’s Jason Long. Dominguez’s brother, Ed, was the league’s offensive lineman of the year. Name: RYAN ROSKELLY School: VALENCIA Year: SENIOR Position: Defensive Back Roskelly was a force on both sides of the line for the Division VI champions. Valencia’s defense recorded five shutouts in 14 games with Roskelly in the secondary. Valencia scored 511 points in 14 games with Roskelly and second-team selection Willie Barnes in the offensive backfield. Name: JASON LONG School: ESPERANZA Year: SENIOR Position: Defensive Back Long became Esperanza’s career interception leader when he picked off his 12th pass in the Division III semifinals against Montebello Schurr. He was the second-leading tackler on a team that allowed an average of 5.1 points in the regular season, the best in the Southern Section.

The First Team

Offense

Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. TE David Knuff Mater Dei 6-3 205 Sr. WR Kevin Alexander Valencia 5-11 165 Sr. WR Eric Fegraus Laguna Beach 6-0 170 Sr. OL Curt Cannon Irvine 6-5 240 Sr. OL Alfredo Diaz Dana Hills 6-5 280 Sr. OL Matt Izzi Esperanza 5-9 230 Sr. OL Gavin Molinar Buena Park 6-4 250 Sr. OL Lia Togia Rancho Alamitos 6-0 230 Sr. QB Billy Blanton Mater Dei 6-2 195 Sr. RB Kevin Pola Santa Ana 6-0 220 Sr. RB Scott Seal Irvine 6-1 195 Jr. PK Zack Matthews Tustin 5-9 170 So.

Defense

Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Adrian Ioja Garden Grove 6-3 230 Sr. DL Bryant Jackson Loara 6-1 275 Sr. DL Matt Keneley Mission Viejo 6-6 260 Sr. DL Travis Kirschke Esperanza 6-4 235 Jr. LB Gavin Brown El Modena 6-4 205 Sr. LB Dave Erikson Dana Hills 6-3 230 Sr. LB Jason Thies Mater Dei 6-1 210 Sr. DB Marco Dominguez Los Alamitos 6-2 195 Sr. DB Aaron Herr Irvine 6-0 170 Sr. DB Jason Long Esperanza 6-0 175 Sr. DB Ryan Roskelly Valencia 5-11 175 Sr.

Second-Team Selections

Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. TE Rod Lippincott Edison 6-2 210 Sr. WR Gilbert Arriola Brea-Olinda 5-7 135 Sr. WR George Sagen Los Alamitos 6-0 180 Jr. OL John Grootegoed Mater Dei 6-1 280 Sr. OL Jim Herlehy Santa Margarita 6-3 235 Sr. OL Tom Rauterkus Servite 6-3 265 Sr. OL Dan West Capistrano Valley 6-2 210 Sr. OL Scott Williams Valencia 6-1 225 Sr. QB Pat Barnes Trabuco Hills 6-3 195 Jr. RB Willie Barnes Valencia 5-8 185 Sr. RB David Webber Laguna Hills 5-10 195 Sr. PK Nathan Morreale University 5-11 165 Sr.

Second-Team Selections

Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Nick Cantu Tustin 6-2 210 Sr. DL Greg DeFelice Laguna Hills 5-8 175 Sr. DL Chris Miller El Toro 6-2 255 Sr. DL Ingmar Northcott Marina 5-11 235 Sr. LB Jason Braun Villa Park 6-3 235 Sr. LB Darin Mangnall Newport Harbor 6-0 185 Sr. LB Jason Wright Loara 6-1 240 Sr. DB Brad Belanger Savanna 5-9 165 Sr. DB Brandon Hoalton Garden Grove 6-3 165 Sr. DB Steve Jackson Marina 6-0 185 Sr. DB Alfred Romo El Modena 6-0 190 Sr.

The Times All-Orange County team is selected from ballots sent to county coaches.