Tatum, Boseman, Toomalatai Honored at Times’ Breakfast

Coach Ron Tatum and quarterback Stais Boseman of Morningside High and offensive lineman Fitu Toomalatai of Banning were the South Bay award winners Sunday at The Times’ All-Star football breakfast at the Guest Quarters Hotel in Santa Monica.

Boseman, who was The Times’ South Bay basketball player of the year last season, was named back of the year.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound junior rushed for 1,367 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 10 yards per carry, and passed for 1,173 yards and 16 touchdowns. He led Morningside (11-2) to the Southern Section Division VIII title, including a 27-20 victory over Temecula Valley in the championship game.

Boseman’s knack for producing big plays carried into all phases of the game. Aside from leading Morningside in rushing and passing, he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and returned a fumble that he caused 53 yards for a touchdown. He finished the season with 20 TDs. As a free safety, he led the team with six interceptions.

Previously Boseman had been honored as the Ocean League co-player of the year with Culver City quarterback Dameron Ricketts (The Times’ Westside back of the year), the Division VIII player of the year and the top junior in the state by Cal-Hi Sports news wire.

Tatum, named South Bay coach of the year, guided Morningside in his seventh season as coach to its first Southern Section football title. The Monarchs came back to win the Division VIII title after losing consecutive league games to Redondo and Beverly Hills that cost the team the Ocean title.

“It was gratifying the way we came back,” Tatum said. “There are a lot of league champions, but only one CIF champion.”

Tatum has coached three Southern Section champions at Morningside. Last spring, he guided the girls’ track team to its second consecutive 2-A Division title and first state title.

Toomalatai, the lineman of the year, was a driving force behind Banning’s third appearance in the City Section final in four years. The 6-2, 250-pound tackle anchored an offensive line that many considered the best in the City, helping the Pilots rush for an area-leading 3,396 yards.

An All-City pick, Toomalatai is the first Banning player to win lineman of the year since Bob Whitfield, the All-American for Stanford, in 1988. Banning (12-2) lost to Dorsey, 33-30, in the 4-A Division final at El Camino College.