Hart’s Rifleman Riddled Record Book

Although no area team won a City or Southern section division title, there was plenty to celebrate in 1991.

The biggest cheers came from the Santa Clarita Valley, long the home of some of the area’s top quarterbacks. Jim Bonds (Hart, UCLA) and Ken Sollom (USC, Michigan) both led Santa Clarita schools to Southern Section championships, but neither quarterback had a season to match Ryan Connors’ effort in 1991.

The slightly built senior from Hart became the first quarterback in Southern Section history and only the third in the state to pass for 4,000 yards in a season. He threw for 4,144 yards and 39 touchdowns and all but erased Bonds’ name from the school record book.

In a 13-game season, Connors’ average numbers would constitute career-high totals for most players. He averaged 318.8 yards and three touchdowns, plus 36.2 pass attempts and 22.3 completions a game.

Hart was 9-4 behind Connors and led area teams in offense, piling up more than 5,000 yards, an average of 408.6 a game, 331.7 through the air.

Connors heads the 1991 All-Valley team that is announced today and is one of three Hart players to make the 23-player team. Kennedy and Sylmar, which reached the City 4-A semifinals, also each placed three players on the team, which includes athletes from 15 schools.

The following is a look at the team:

OFFENSIVE BACKS

After the graduation of Ontiwaun Carter, the school’s all-time leading rusher, Kennedy High’s running game seemed in perilous shape. But the tailback position was turned over to Elijah Raphael, and the senior responded with the best season by a running back in the area. Raphael led all rushers with 2,070 yards and 30 touchdowns and helped the Golden Cougars advance to the City 4-A semifinals.

One of only three repeat selections on the team, Sylmar’s Tobaise Brookins matched a solid junior season with a nearly duplicate senior year. After rushing for 1,674 yards in ‘90, he gained 1,605 yards this season. Last year he led area backs with 282 carries, and only Raphael’s 309 attempts bettered his 254 total among Valley runners. Brookins, who will visit Cal, Colorado and Washington, scored 25 touchdowns.

Perhaps the quietest player among the all-star selections, soft-spoken Erik Thomas made ample noise as he helped lead Quartz Hill to a share of the Golden League title. The senior running back was a second-team selection last season when he rushed for 1,449 yards. He improved his two-year total to 2,660 after rushing for 1,211 yards. He also scored 14 touchdowns this season.

RECEIVERS

Not surprisingly, the biggest numbers belong to a Hart receiver. The Indians have boasted one of the best passing attacks among area schools the past 10 years, but even Hart fans were made dizzy by the 1991 team. Junior Deriek Charles led area receivers with 85 catches for 1,090 yards, an average of 6.5 catches for 83.8 yards each game. And he was one of six Hart receivers to catch at least 25 passes.

Alemany’s Richard Dice is a repeat selection from 1990. A tight end as a junior, Dice was moved to the outside in ’91 and responded with 44 catches for 695 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also doubled as one of the Mission League’s top hitters as a defensive back.

Poly has made its living for the past two years under Coach Fred Cuccia as a power running team. Despite that emphasis, senior Michael Vreeland emerged as one of the area’s top receivers. Although Poly completed just 56 passes for 948 yards, Vreeland accounted for 38 catches for 677 yards. Of the team’s eight touchdown passes, he caught seven.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

The first area lineman to make news this year came from Agoura. In November, just after the Chargers limped through a disappointing 2-8 season, senior Steve Hochman announced that the recruitment for his services was over before it had really begun. Hochman, a powerful base blocker, committed to Miami, currently the nation’s No. 1 college team.

Hart’s Sean McCarthy spent the entire season in a modified retreat from his tackle position. But that’s life for an offensive lineman in a run-and-shoot offense. With Hart passing on nearly every down, McCarthy allowed quarterback Ryan Connors to search the field. McCarthy played particularly well in Hart’s opener, neutralizing Canyon’s Chuck Osborne.

Poly and Quartz Hill forged winning seasons on the strength of their running games. Each offense flourished behind a big offensive tackle. Poly’s Francisco Flores (270) and Quartz Hill’s Randy Clemons (260) rank among the biggest players in the area. Flores will visit Colorado and Vanderbilt among others, and Clemons is traveling to USC and Washington.

KICKER

Ted Corcoran will leave a huge hole in the Chaminade athletic department when he graduates this spring. He is a rarity among high school athletes--a four-year starter in football. Corcoran, who pitches for the baseball team, scored 84 points on 10 field goals (in 17 attempts), 22 conversion kicks, one two-point conversion and five touchdowns. He also excelled as the team’s middle linebacker and averaged 8.7 yards a carry as a running back.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Perhaps the best athlete on the All-Valley team played at Antelope Valley. Freddie Edwards, a repeat selection, was the back of the year in the Golden League, the area’s only Southern Section Division I league. As a tailback, he rushed for 1,338 yards and scored 19 touchdowns, but he was probably even better as a defensive back. He led the league with five interceptions. USC and Washington among others are recruiting him.

Possibly joining Edwards in the Pacific 10 Conference next year will be Kennedy’s Ronnie Gipson, who follows in the footsteps of former Kennedy defensive back Dion Lambert of UCLA. Gipson attacked the line of scrimmage from the secondary, providing support for Kennedy’s stingy run defense. He is planning trips to Oregon and Oregon State among others.

Birmingham’s Vince Lampkin faces a pleasant recruiting dilemma. He might go to either Colorado as an option quarterback or Nebraska as a defensive back. Some schools are even looking at him as a wide receiver. After his senior season, it appears he could handle all those jobs. He led Birmingham to a 7-3 record, passing for 746 yards and rushing for 470.

Brian Roberson of Sylmar specialized in the big play, scoring 15 touchdowns in five different ways. He rushed for five scores, caught five touchdowns passes and also scored on punt, kickoff and interception returns to help lead Sylmar to the City 4-A semifinals. He finished with four interceptions, including a 98-yard return for a score.

San Fernando’s tradition of producing top skill position players was extended in 1991 by James Woods, a defensive back who doubled as a linebacker against running teams. He had two interceptions and, as a wide receiver, averaged 26.8 yards a catch and scored three times.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Canyon Coach Harry Welch boldly calls Chuck Osborne “one of the great players in America.” Osborne started the year at defensive end but soon moved to nose guard. Thereafter, no team could contain him. Welch calls Osborne his best defensive player in 10 years, a tribute most recently bestowed on UCLA graduate Randy Austin.

Osborne might be Canyon’s best, but there is at least one title that will elude him. Saugus lineman Chris Finicle set a Santa Clarita Valley record with 19 sacks this season and played a key role in the Centurions’ turnaround from patsy to proven team.

Defense has been the key ingredient in the success of Crespi the past three seasons. This year’s group was anchored by defensive end Alex Pupich, who also excelled as a tight end. He finished with 30 catches for 553 yards and six touchdowns.

A second-team selection in 1990, Herbert Cosey of El Camino Real moved up to the first team this season. Not even a lackluster season by the Conquistadores (3-7) could disguise Cosey’s worth. Although he played numerous positions this year, he projects as a nose guard in college.

Sylmar’s first year as a City 4-A team proved a success and that is reflected in the All-Valley team, which includes three Spartans. Sylmar Coach Jeff Engilman called Manuel Vasquez the area’s top defensive lineman. Like Cosey, he has the ideal frame for a nose guard.

All-Valley Second Team

Offense

Player School Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos Cody Smith Crespi Sr. 6-2 220 QB Terry Barnum Alemany Sr. 5-10 185 RB Jermaine Pledger Poly Sr. 5-9 170 RB LaKarlos Townsend San Fernando Sr. 5-10 175 RB Ed Williams Canyon Soph. 5-9 147 RB Doug Distaso Hart Sr. 6-1 185 WR John Gamm Chatsworth Sr. 5-9 160 WR Jason Adal Chaminade Sr. 6-0 245 OL Troy Bregel Kennedy Sr. 6-3 240 OL Eryk Simmons Crespi Sr. 6-2 265 OL Joshua Van Deventer Canyon Sr. 6-5 226 OL Peter Holt Antelope Val. Sr. 5-10 170 K

Player Comment Cody Smith Mission League MVP passed for 2,044 yards. Terry Barnum Already committed to play at USC. Jermaine Pledger Had 317-yard game; finished with 1,329 yards. LaKarlos Townsend Had 875 yards, 20 TDs despite knee injury. Ed Williams Set school rushing record with 1,554 yards. Doug Distaso Second in Valley with 61 catches, 1,071 yards. John Gamm Led area City players with 41 catches. Jason Adal All Mission-League selection. Troy Bregel Good bloodlines; brother of ex-49er Jeff. Eryk Simmons Two-time All-Mission League selection. Joshua Van Deventer Best Canyon blocker since Brent Parkinson. Peter Holt Converted 8 of 17 field-goal attempts.

Defense

Player School Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos Jeremiah Aguolu Harvard-Westlake Sr. 5-10 175 DB Brian Brison San Fernando Sr. 5-9 180 DB David Doyle Saugus Sr. 5-10 170 DB Joel Hansen Quartz Hill Sr. 5-9 160 DB Anthony Jones Kennedy Sr. 6-1 180 DB Eliel Swinton Montclair Prep Jr. 5-11 187 DB Harold Boudreaux Van Nuys Sr. 6-1 190 LB Albert Contreras Sylmar Sr. 6-2 225 LB Bobby Rodgers Kennedy Sr. 6-1 190 LB Ralph Gutierrez Quartz Hill Sr. 6-4 230 DL Carl Taylor Antelope Valley Sr. 6-1 253 DL

Player Comment Jeremiah Aguolu Scored school- record 140 points. Brian Brison Top defender also averaged 9.8 yards a carry. David Doyle Led Saugus with 3 interceptions. Joel Hansen All-Golden League selection Anthony Jones Led Kennedy with 3 interceptions. Eliel Swinton Averaged area-high 197 yards a game. Harold Boudreaux 3rd among area City rushers with 1,431 yards. Albert Contreras Middle linebacker doubled as offensive guard. Bobby Rodgers Linebacker with speed of defensive back. Ralph Gutierrez First-team All-Valley pick in ’90. Carl Taylor Helped Antelopes share Golden League title.

* 1991 STATISTICAL LEADERS C14

* VENTURA COUNTY TEAM C15

* GLENDALE TEAM C15

1991 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS OFFENSEName: Francisco Flores Position: Lineman School: Poly Height: 6-5 Weight: 270 Year: Senior Name: Steve Hochman Position: Lineman School: Agoura Height: 6-4 Weight: 245 Year: Senior Name: Sean McCarthy Position: Lineman School: Hart Height: 6-3 Weight: 260 Year: Senior Name: Richard Dice Position: Wide Receiver School: Alemany Height: 6-3 Weight: 205 Year: Senior Name: Michael Vreeland Position: Wide Receiver School: Poly Height: 6-2 Weight: 175 Year: Senior Name: Randy Clemons Position: Lineman School: Quartz Hill Height: 6-4 Weight: 260 Year: Senior Name: Ryan Connors Position: Quarterback School: Hart Height: 6-1 Weight: 175 Year: Senior Name: Tobaise Brookins Position: Back School: Sylmar Height: 5-11 Weight: 180 Year: Senior Name: Elijah Raphael Position: Back School: Kennedy Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Year: Senior Name: Erik Thomas Position: Back School: Quartz Hill Height: 5-11 Weight: 188 Year: Senior Name: Deriek Charles Position: Wide Receiver School: Hart Height: 5-8 Weight: 15 Year: Junior Name: Ted Corcoran Position: Kicker School: Chaminade Height: 6-2 Weight: 225 Year: Senior DEFENSE Name: Chuck Osborne Position: Lineman School: Canyon Height: 6-3 Weight: 245 Year: Senior Name: Alex Pupich Position: Lineman School: Crespi Height: 6-5 Weight: 195 Year: Senior Name: Manuel Vasquez Position: Lineman School: Sylmar Height: 6-1 Weight: 265 Year: Senior Name: Alex Sawatzke Position: Linebacker School: Kennedy Height: 6-2 Weight: 230 Year: Senior Name: Herbert Cosey Position: Lineman School: El Camino Real Height: 6-1 Weight: 250 Year: Senior Name: Chris Finicle Position: Lineman School: Saugus Height: 6-1 Weight: 200 Year: Senior Name: Freddie Edwards Position: Back School: Antelope Valley Height: 6-1 Weight: 170 Year: Senior Name: Ronnie Gipson Position: Back School: Kennedy Height: 6-2 Weight: 173 Year: Senior Name: Vince Lampkin Position: Back School: Brimingham Height: 5-10 Weight: 171 Year: Senior Name: Brian Roberson Position: Back School: Sylmar Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Year: Senior Name: James Woods Position: Back School: San Fernando Height: 6-1 Weight: 190 Year: Senior