THE COUNTY’S TOP FOOTBALL PLAYERS : Carey vs. Kirschke Should Be Worth Seeing

The faces, races and places for the 1992 high school football season:

The matchup--or rematchup--not to miss: Los Alamitos quarterback Tim Carey vs. Esperanza defensive lineman Travis Kirschke. The Empire League showdown on Oct. 30 will feature the county’s top skill-position player against the county’s top lineman.

Carey, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior, went from unknown to unstoppable last season. He passed for 2,501 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Kirschke, a 6-5, 255-pound senior, has been a favorite among recruiters for two years. In fact, one recruiter said he would have offered Kirschke a scholarship when he was a sophomore.

Esperanza, with Kirschke anchoring the defensive and offensive lines, won 27 consecutive games during a two-year period. That streak was stopped by Los Alamitos, which beat the Aztecs, 8-0, in last year’s Southern Section Division III championship game. Carey threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Don Ruberio for the game’s only touchdown.

Kirschke and Co. have a long memory.

Carey, of course, hopes to avoid getting too close to the Aztecs’ massive lineman.

“I hope our guys up front see more of Kirschke than Tim does,” Los Alamitos Coach John Barnes said.

Pressure? What pressure? Quarterbacks Derek Uhl (Mater Dei) and Aron Garcia (Irvine) have huuuuge shoes to fill.

Uhl has to replace Billy Blanton, who set county records for yards passing (3,485) and touchdown passes (36). Oh yeah, Blanton also led the Monarchs to the Southern Section Division I title, the school’s first division championship in football since 1965.

Uhl, a junior, was a meager two of seven for 14 yards a year ago.

Garcia’s chore is only slightly less difficult. He replaces Jason Minici, who led the Vaqueros to the Division II title last season.

Minici threw for 2,447 yards and 17 touchdowns in 1991 and holds every passing record at Irvine.

Garcia, who played mostly wide receiver last season, was one of four for 15 yards as a quarterback.

Don’t sweat it guys. It’s only a (gulp) game.

A year away, but ready now: Chris Draft, Valencia’s 6-0, 190-pound linebacker/running back could be the best junior in the county. He’s certainly high on 1993 recruiting lists.

Draft made an impact--quite literally at times--as linebacker a year ago. He was used sparingly at running back because the Tigers had seniors Ryan Roskelly and Willie Barnes.

But there were glimpses of his ability. On his first varsity carry, Draft went around end for 16 yards, trampling two would-be tacklers in the process. This season, he’ll start at running back.

As a back, Draft gained 1,200 yards and scored 20 touchdowns on the freshman team two years ago.

The Pacific Coast League arms race: Pat Barnes of Trabuco Hills improved his stock last season. Matt Johner of Estancia bottomed out. Justin Vedder of Laguna Hills takes the spotlight.

--Because of his size, Barnes might be an even better college prospect than Carey. Blanton broke the single-season yardage record of former Trabuco Hills’ quarterback David Lowery. Don’t be surprised if Barnes brings that record back to Trabuco Hills. He passed for 2,920 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.

--Johner, a sensation as a sophomore, fizzled last season. He completed only 73 of 159 for 809 yards. Worse yet, he threw only three touchdown passes and had 10 passes intercepted.

Part of the reason was the Eagles’ offensive line, which didn’t do much of a job protecting him.

--Vedder took over midway through the season and helped the Hawks win the Division VII title. Of course, the team was dominated by running back David Webber, who gained 2,048 yards. This season, Vedder will get to do a little more than just hand off.

Where do I play at today, coach? Santa Margarita’s Sean O’Brien could be the county’s most versatile recruit. He’s being wooed by USC as a linebacker, by Cal as a tight end, and by Colorado as a quarterback. He’s also a good punter and kicker.

And what position was he honored at last season? Defensive back. O’Brien was named to the all-Division V team as a defensive back.

Five guys you won’t see in the playoffs but are darn good anyway:

--Phillip Fulivai, defensive tackle, Santa Ana Valley. The Falcons were 0-10 last season, but not many teams ran to Fulivai’s side.

--Tom Hess, defensive back/running back, Corona del Mar. He was an All-Southern Section Division VI pick a year ago and has put on 20 pounds.

--Ed Hwang, center, Los Amigos. Might be the best lineman in the Garden Grove League.

--Tony Parish, defensive back/running back, Marina. He scored both touchdowns for Marina in its 21-13 loss to Fontana in the first round of the Division I playoffs.

--Chris Stone, wide receiver, Buena Park. He makes body-twisting, mind-boggling catches. But the Coyotes don’t have anyone to get the ball to him.

In this corner . . . : Boxing match of the future? Tony Gonzalez (Huntington Beach) vs. Nicky Sualua (Mater Dei).

Gonzalez, a 6-5, 215-pound tight end, used to box as a youth and doesn’t get pushed around much on the field.

Sualua, a 5-11, 240-pound defensive tackle/running back, is the Monarchs’ no-nonsense enforcer.

The winner would be crowned the strongest player in the county.

The Wright spot at the right time: While everyone has gone ga-ga over the Los Alamitos passing game, Griffin running back Marchant Wright has been almost overlooked.

With teams prepared to deal with Carey and talented receivers Ruberio and George Sagen, Wright could be in a position to do some damage. After a slow start, he gained more than 700 yards last season.

What’s in a name? Canyon quarterback Gunnar Strunz.

Whether he lives up to his name in the Comanches’ run-and-shoot offense is the question.

This season’s surest bet: Rancho Alamitos.

The Vaqueros have 18 starters returning from a team that finished 9-2-1 a year ago. With Jeff Byrd and Leon Vickers returning at running back and Marshall Brown again running the show at quarterback, the Vaqueros could have three 1,000-yard rushers this season.

No way this team should fail to win the Garden Grove League title.

Big fish, little pond: Mike Jacot is back for Southern California Christian this season. He had 2,037 yards rushing and scored a county-record 37 touchdowns in 1991.

Jacot also set a county record with 222 points in leading the Flames to the Division X title. He was named the division’s player of the year.

SCC has dropped to Division XI this season, so look for similar numbers from Jacot.

Turned in his sneakers for cleats: Ray Jackson came to Mater Dei to play basketball for the Big Guy, Coach Gary McKnight. Now, he finds himself playing for Coach Bruce Rollinson, the Intense Guy.

Jackson will not play basketball this season to concentrate on football. He impressed recruiters with his play at safety last season. He intercepted two passes during the regular season and made several chiropractor-type hits.

“Ray felt his best chance would be in football,” Rollinson said. “We met with his family and it was decided he would concentrate on one sport. Gary is comfortable with the decision. That’s not to say he’s thrilled with it.”

Too bad for McKnight, who will now have to make do with only nine returning players this season.

A Look at the County’s Top Players

Name School Yr. Hgt Wgt QUARTERBACKS Pat Barnes Trabuco Hills Sr. 6-4 207 Tim Carey Los Alamitos Sr. 6-4 180 RUNNING BACKS Jeff Byrd Rancho Alamitos Sr. 5-10 175 Erick Fielding Mission Viejo Sr. 5-10 185 Scott Seal Irvine Sr. 6-1 205 Jaime Worthem Orange Jr. 6-2 200 WIDE RECEIVERS Grant Pearsall Villa Park Jr. 6-1 177 Don Ruberio Los Alamitos Sr. 6-1 170 George Sagen Los Alamitos Sr. 6-0 180 Chris Stone Buena Park Sr. 6-2 170 OFFENSIVE LINE Brian Boudreaux El Modena Sr. 6-1 245 Chris Conrad Brea-Olinda Sr. 6-7 270 Brian Davies Irvine Sr. 6-3 230 Donovan German Villa Park Sr. 6-2 210 Sean Gully Irvine Sr. 6-5 240 Ed Hwang Los Amigos Sr. 6-1 230 Bill McMullen Los Alamitos Sr. 6-3 245 Kyle Murphy Edison Sr. 6-4 250 Travis Pulliam Esperanza Sr. 6-3 265 Jim Stewart Esperanza Sr. 6-2 205 TIGHT ENDS Tony Gonzalez Huntington Beach Jr. 6-5 215 Blake Spence Capistrano Valley Sr. 6-4 225 KICKERS Micah Knorr Orange Sr. 6-3 172 Zach Matthews Tustin Jr. 5-9 180 DEFENSIVE LINE Jorge Avalos Santa Ana Sr. 6-2 250 Don Coleman Woodbridge Sr. 6-5 200 Phillip Fulivai Santa Ana Valley Sr. 6-1 232 Travis Kirschke Esperanza Sr. 6-5 255 Brent Noonan Santa Margarita Sr. 6-2 215 Beau Ralphs Newport Harbor Sr. 6-2 245 Nicky Suala Mater Dei Sr. 5-11 240 Ryan Watkins Brea-Olinda Sr. 6-6 260 LINEBACKERS Chris Draft Valencia Jr. 6-0 195 Parker Gregg Mater Dei Sr. 6-1 235 Ryan Holmes El Modena Sr. 6-3 235 Jake Iverson Kennedy Sr. 6-3 210 Ryan Jones Irvine Sr. 6-2 225 Travis McCullough Esperanza Jr. 6-2 210 Leon Vickers Rancho Alamitos Sr. 6-1 205 Brian Willmer Sunny Hills Sr. 6-3 224 DEFENSIVE BACKS Brian Barajas Mater Dei Sr. 5-11 175 Cody Charley Estancia Sr. 6-1 175 Tom Hess Corona del Mar Sr. 6-2 200 Ray Jackson Mater Dei Sr. 6-2 197 Sean O’Brien Santa Margarita Sr. 6-4 220 Jonathan Wimbish Huntington Beach Sr. 6-1 180

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Name Comment/1991 performance Pat Barnes 2,950 passing yards, 22 touchdowns Tim Carey 2,501 passing yards, 21 touchdowns Jeff Byrd Rushed for 1,506 yards, 21 touchdowns Erick Fielding Versatile athlete played defensive back Scott Seal School-record 1,765 yards, plus 17 TDs Jaime Worthem 985 yards rushing, 6 TDs in eight games Grant Pearsall 22 receptions for 248 yards Don Ruberio Had winning TD in Division II title game George Sagen All-Division III; led county with 77 catches Chris Stone Had 36 receptions for 583 yards in 1991. Brian Boudreaux Second-team All-Century League Chris Conrad Second-team All-Orange; scouts love size Brian Davies Team’s best offensive lineman Donovan German Technique makes up for lack of size Sean Gully Recruiters love his size and speed Ed Hwang 3-year starter goes to center from guard Bill McMullen Best player on a good offensive line Kyle Murphy Might be best offensive lineman in county Travis Pulliam First-team All-Empire; dominating blocker Jim Stewart Overcomes lack of size with quickness Tony Gonzalez Strong as a bull, good speed Blake Spence Best tight end in the county Micah Knorr Great range; accuracy a question Zach Matthews 13 field goals in ‘91; great accuracy Jorge Avalos Two-time first-team All-Sunset League Don Coleman Second-team All-Sea View League in ’91 Phillip Fulivai First-team All-Century League Travis Kirschke Best lineman in county; bluest of chips Brent Noonan Quickness makes him tough to block Beau Ralphs First-team All-Sea View; good against run Nicky Suala Team-high 14 sacks; also plays fullback Ryan Watkins Second-team All-Orange; size to improve Chris Draft Can dominate; also plays running back Parker Gregg Takes over the defense this season Ryan Holmes Has size and intensity to be impact player Jake Iverson Second-team All-Garden Grove, improved Ryan Jones Team-high 129 tackles, one interception Travis McCullough First-team All-Empire; junior to watch Leon Vickers Hard hitter, good quickness Brian Willmer First-team All-Freeway; three-year starter Brian Barajas 11 interceptions ‘91; also plays receiver Cody Charley Second-team All-Pacific Coast; covers well Tom Hess First-team All-Division VI Ray Jackson Two interceptions; a fierce hitter Sean O’Brien First-team All-Division V; 3 interceptions Jonathan Wimbish Two interceptions; also plays quarterback