PREP WEDNESDAY: ALL-COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM : Carey, Kirschke Named Back and Lineman of Year

Los Alamitos quarterback Tim Carey, who is nearing county single-season passing records in yardage and scoring, and blue-chip lineman Travis Kirschke, who has led Esperanza to a 39-2 record over the past three seasons, head the list of selections for the 34th All-County football team.

Carey, The Times Orange County back of the year, has passed for 3,202 yards and 34 touchdowns. He needs 284 yards and three touchdown passes in his final game to surpass the marks of former Mater Dei quarterback Billy Blanton set last year.

Kirschke, The Times’ lineman of the year, has led Esperanza to a divisional championship game three consecutive seasons. Esperanza and Los Alamitos will meet for the fourth time in the past two seasons Saturday night for the Southern Section Division II title at Cerritos College.

Carey also ranks eighth on the county’s career passing list with 5,703 yards in two seasons. Los Alamitos has won 20 consecutive games with Carey at quarterback since losing to Esperanza, 28-7, in the seventh week of the 1991 season.

Carey’s biggest game this season came in a showdown against Esperanza for the Empire League title. Despite playing on a muddy field, Carey completed 10 of 20 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-14 victory.

Carey has orally committed to Stanford after considering Washington State, USC, Colorado and California.

Los Alamitos’ run-and-shoot offense has outscored 13 opponents, 480-97, and four members of the Griffins’ offensive unit are first-team selections. Joining Carey is his favorite target, wide receiver George Sagen, and Caleb Kemp and Bill McMullen, two linemen who help provide pass protection.

Kirschke becomes the first player to be named lineman of the year two consecutive years since Santa Ana’s Oscar Wilson in 1988-89. Kirschke earned the same honor in the Empire League three seasons in a row.

Kirschke’s career statistics are also impressive. He has 27 tackles for a loss, 26 sacks, 112 unassisted tackles, eight fumbles caused and seven fumbles recovered. Kirschke has trips planned to Washington, Notre Dame, UCLA, USC and Colorado.

“He is the best defensive lineman in the history of Orange County,” UCLA defensive coordinator Bob Fields said.

Rancho Alamitos also had four players selected to the all-county teams. The Vaqueros are represented by safety Marshall Brown and linebacker Leon Vickers on the first team and running back Jeff Byrd and two-way lineman Adam Maldonado on the second.

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

The first team will be honored Sunday at the Anaheim Marriott. The guest speaker at the brunch will be Saddleback College offensive coordinator Bill Cunerty, who helped the Gauchos win the community college national championship.

Carey and Kirschke are also candidates for the Glenn Davis Trophy, which is presented to the outstanding player in Southern California.

First-Team Offense

Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. WR Brian Finneran Santa Margarita 6-4 185 Jr. WR George Sagen Los Alamitos 6-0 180 Sr. TE Tony Gonzalez Huntington Beach 6-5 215 Jr. OL Joe Ireifej Marina 6-1 255 Jr. OL Caleb Kemp Los Alamitos 5-11 220 Sr. OL Bill McMullen Los Alamitos 6-3 245 Sr. OL Kyle Murphy Edison 6-4 250 Sr. OL Travis Pulliam Esperanza 6-3 265 Sr. QB Tim Carey Los Alamitos 6-4 175 Sr. RB Scott Seal Irvine 6-1 205 Sr. RB Jim Sebreros Garden Grove 5-7 165 Sr. PK Doug Stuckey Newport Harbor 5-10 170 Sr.

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First-Team Defense

Pos. Name School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Travis Kirschke Esperanza 6-5 255 Sr. DL Beau Ralphs Newport Harbor 6-2 245 Sr. DL Bryan Werner Esperanza 6-5 225 Sr. DL Gary Winsor Mission Viejo 6-3 250 Sr. LB Chris Draft Valencia 6-0 190 Jr. LB Ryan Jones Irvine 6-2 225 Sr. LB Leon Vickers Rancho Alamitos 6-1 205 Sr. LB Brian Willmer Sunny Hills 6-3 225 Sr. DB Marshall Brown Rancho Alamitos 6-0 180 Sr. DB A.J. Gass Servite 6-3 185 Sr. DB Ray Jackson Mater Dei 6-2 195 Sr. P Micah Knorr Orange 6-3 172 Sr.