Coaching Award Gives Shacklett Sweep : Times awards: His Morse team won section 3-A title and finished 14-0. El Camino’s Westbrook earns honor as top back in county; Oceanside’s Salave’a is top lineman.

John Shacklett looked back on that day in 1979 when he attended The Times All-County Awards Breakfast.

“We had won the section title (for the first time) and had a good year, and we went to that awards breakfast and they gave it to a deserving coach,” Shacklett recalled. “And I said, ‘I’d like to get this award.’ ”

Shacklett, a 22-year veteran coach at Morse finally got his trophy, being named as The Times’ Coach of the Year at an awards breakfast Sunday at the La Jolla Marriott.

Shacklett’s team completed its second 14-0 season in three years--the only two in section history--by winning Morse’s fourth 3-A section football championship Saturday night.

The awards were based on regular-season performance.

“I think the coaching staff being together so long, that’s the reason we’ve been so successful,” Shacklett said, referring to the service of Bobby Mendoza (22 years), Mike Klepper (16), Frank Norman (12) and Mark Monroe (nine). “Without these guys, we just couldn’t do it.”

A pair of North County athletes were the other major award recipients.

Oceanside defensive lineman Joe Salave’a was named Lineman of the Year, and El Camino’s offensive and defensive threat, Bryant Westbrook, was named the outstanding back.

Salave’a, a 6-4 1/2, 245-pound defensive end, had 12 sacks, caused five fumbles and recovered two others. He dominated games in similar fashion to one of his Pirate predecessors, Junior Seau.

Salave’a took the award and looked over at the table where the El Camino contingent was seated, and he pointed the trophy in their direction.

“It’s a pleasure to be named all-North County and all, but getting this means a lot to me,” he said. “It’s for the people who helped me, the coaches, the teachers, the family members who were there in the good times and the bad times.

“It’s for everybody. It’s for El Camino, too. It’s a pleasure to win this for the whole city.”

El Camino is Oceanside’s rival, and after Salave’a stepped off the stage, Westbrook was named Back of the Year.

He averaged more than eight yards per carry, ran for seven touchdowns, and caught 25 passes for two more touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. But his strength is at defensive back, where he is considered a top prospect. He caused four fumbles and recovered two, including one he returned for a touchdown, and intercepted two passes.

Torrey Pines Coach Ed Burke, whose team defeated El Camino the night before to win the 2-A title, afterward approached Westbrook and extended a hand.

“Congratulations,” he said. “It’s really well-deserved.”