1993 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS : Players From Bishop Amat on Top of Cream of the Crop : 1993 All-Stars: Four athletes from the school are named to first team, including repeat selection Rodney Sermons.

Bishop Amat High in La Puente has been a football factory of sorts for several years.

The school record book has names such as former USC and pro football players Pat Haden and J.K. McKay and current NFL player Eric Bieniemy of the San Diego Chargers.

The 1993 Lancers merely added another chapter.

Bishop Amat won its first 11 games and was ranked No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports News and No. 6 in the nation by USA Today before losing to Antelope Valley in the Southern Section Division I quarterfinals. The playoff loss ended the Lancers’ school record for consecutive victories at 26.

It comes as little surprise that Bishop Amat has four players on The Times’ 1993 San Gabriel Valley team.

Lancer running back Rodney Sermons, wide receiver Daylon McCutcheon and defensive lineman Kory Minor and linebacker Ramogi Huma made the team.

West Covina and Ganesha, two teams that reached their division quarterfinals, each had three players selected.

West Covina quarterback Miguel Meriwether, defensive lineman Waleed Ibrahim and linebacker Robert Walls were honored. Lineman Iona Uiagalelei, running back Orlando Washington and defensive lineman Pene Talamaivao were selected from Ganesha.

Traditional San Gabriel Valley powers Glendora, Damien and Muir each had two players selected to the first team.

The 46-player first and second teams were selected by Times sportswriters based on ballots received from San Gabriel Valley coaches, all of whom were asked to participate.

The 23 first-team players will be honored by The Times at an awards breakfast Sunday at the Pasadena Hilton. Winners of the San Gabriel Valley back, lineman and coach-of-the-year awards will be announced at the breakfast.

The only repeat selection from 1992 is Sermons.

Here is a look at the team:

More than one coach called West Covina quarterback Miguel Meriwether the finest player to compete in the area in recent years.

Elusive as a runner and a passer, Meriwether completed 94 of 167 passes for 1,768 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 1,058 yards and 17 TDs. He also played defensive back and led the San Gabriel Valley in interceptions with 10.

Meriwether, who helped lead West Covina to a 9-2-1 record and a berth in the Division III quarterfinals, was named Sierra League player of the year and is regarded as a major-college prospect.

Sermons secured a spot on the team once again by rushing for 1,033 yards and 17 TDs in 139 carries despite being slowed late in the season by a shoulder injury. That gave him a three-year total of 2,844 yards and 38 TDs, ranking him among the school’s all-time leaders.

He also displayed his versatility by catching 21 passes for 272 yards and two TDs, returning two kicks for 55 yards and intercepting two passes at defensive back. Regarded as one of the top college prospects in Southern California, Sermons was named offensive player of the year in the powerful Del Rey League.

Another top back is Orlando Washington of Ganesha, who ranked among the area rushing leaders with 1,377 yards and 17 TDs in 178 carries.

Washington, who was named back of the year in the Miramonte League, also competes in basketball and track and field.

One of the most impressive two-way players was Jake Merrill of Los Altos, a running back and linebacker. On offense, he rushed for 1,369 yards and 18 TDs in 225 carries, ran for three two-point conversions and caught nine passes for 67 yards.

On defense, Merrill had three interceptions, seven quarterback sacks, two blocked punts and a blocked point-after try. The three-year starter also had 75 tackles, forced nine fumbles and recovered seven.

Among wide receivers in Southern California, there are not many more dangerous than Bishop Amat’s Daylon McCutcheon. Only a junior, he caught 35 passes for 780 yards--an average of more than 22 yards a catch--and 11 TDs.

A first team All-Del Rey League selection, he also displayed his versatility by rushing for 88 yards in 10 carries, returning six punts for 161 yards and a touchdown, and intercepting five passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns at defensive back.

Glendora’s Chris Speh doesn’t have the reputation of McCutcheon and is only 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds. But he did have the most receptions of any area receiver with 72 for 1,230 yards and nine TDs.

An All-Baseline League selection, Speh was one of the top players for a Glendora team that finished 9-2-2 and reached the Division IV semifinals before losing to Irvine.

The first-team offensive line averages 257 pounds.

Tackle John Hartman, a 6-6, 285-pounder, helped lead Sierra Vista to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Division VII quarterfinals. Hartman, named lineman of the year in the Montview League, is being recruited by Washington State, Oregon and Utah State.

Damien used its one-two blocking tandem of guards Kyle Thomson and Chris Garcia to reach the Division IV quarterfinals. Both players were All-Baseline League selections and starters the past three seasons.

The 6-4, 240-pound Thomson is being recruited by UCLA, California and Northwestern. The 6-3, 260-pound Garcia has a list of schools that includes Washington State, Oregon State and San Jose State.

Another highly regarded lineman is Ganesha’s Iona Uiagalelei. At 6-0, 280 pounds, he was an All-Miramonte League selection at offensive and defensive tackle. He has been recruited by Brigham Young, Colorado State and Oregon State.

The smallest of the offensive lineman is guard Brian Gardner of Temple City at 6-2 and 220 pounds. But he made an impact for the Rams, who went 9-2 and reached the Division VIII playoffs. A two-time All-Rio Hondo League selection, he was also named the league’s lineman of the year.

It was a record-breaking year for kicker Justin Ventura of Claremont, who eclipsed the state record for field goals in a season with 18--two more than the previous record--including a 48-yarder. He also made 22 point-after tries and finished with 76 points in 10 games to earn All-Baseline League honors.

One of the factors in the success of Bishop Amat was the play of its young defense that included junior lineman Kory Minor. At 6-3 and 215 pounds, Minor used his size and speed to record a team-high 10 quarterback sacks and had 94 tackles.

He also demonstrated his versatility by rushing for 164 yards and three TDs in 22 carries, including 107 yards in Amat’s season-ending loss to Antelope Valley.

Perhaps the most imposing lineman on the team is Ganesha’s Pene Talamaivao, who is 6-3, 275 pounds. One opposing coach called him the best lineman he has seen in 10 years.

Talamaivao, who was named defensive player of the year in the Miramonte League, was among Ganesha’s leading tacklers. A three-year letterman, he is being recruited by schools such as Brigham Young, Oregon State, Oregon and Colorado State.

West Covina junior Waleed Ibrahim, a 6-2, 215-pound defensive end, also excels at offensive tackle. Ibrahim, who used his quickness and agility to rank among the Sierra League leaders in quarterback sacks, was an all-league selection on offense and defense.

Another talented junior from Bishop Amat is linebacker Ramogi Huma, who led the Lancers with 114 tackles and was named Del Rey League defensive player of the year. He recovered four fumbles, forced three others and intercepted two passes.

West Covina linebacker Robert Walls was voted defensive player of the year in the Sierra League, where he was credited with 101 tackles, including 50 unassisted, two interceptions and a recovered fumble. He also played fullback and tight end and caught 17 passes for 347 yards and two TDs.

One of the biggest factors in Glendora’s success is linebacker Mike Myers. He was the team leader in tackles with 167, including 33 unassisted, and had five sacks and an interception. Myers was named Baseline League most valuable player.

How important was linebacker Leo Asoau to Covina’s success? With the 6-3 and 230 Asoau suffering from an injury early in the season, the Colts lost their first three games. Upon his return, they did not lose again until the second round of the playoffs.

A two-way player who is a tight end on offense, he was selected most valuable player of the Valle Vista League. Asoau has been recruited by schools such as Washington, Kansas, Washington State, USC and Oregon.

Muir was considered by many to have the top defensive secondary in the area and the two leaders were safeties Damond Stewart and Nigel Younger. Both are regarded as major-college prospects.

Stewart was one of the team’s leading tacklers and had two interceptions. He also returned kickoffs, averaging 25.2 yards a return. He returned two punts for 86 yards.

Younger was the second-leading tackler for the Mustangs, who won the Pacific League title and finished 8-3. He also caught 18 passes for 234 yards and three TDs at tight end.

San Marino’s Josh Oder is one of the smallest players on the team at 5-9 and 170 pounds, but he may have been the biggest factor in the Titans reaching the Division VIII semifinals. On defense, he had five interceptions, including one in the team’s quarterfinal win over La Sierra.

He also caught 58 passes for 1,038 yards and seven TDs as a wide receiver and was named Rio Hondo League player of the year.

Junior Joey Strycula of Charter Oak may have received more attention for his play at quarterback, where he completed 79 of 143 passes for 1,397 yards and 12 TDs and rushed for 850 yards and 14 TDs in 132 carries. But he also made his presence felt at safety, where he intercepted six passes, forced five fumbles, recovered two fumbles and had two quarterback sacks.

An All-Miramonte League selection on offense and defense two years in a row, he is already being recruited by UCLA, Penn State and Pittsburgh.

1993 Prep Football All-Stars

OFFENSE

Name: Daylon McCutcheon Position: Receiver School: Bishop Amat Height: 5-10 Weight: 175 Year: Junior

Name: Chris Speh Position: Receiver School: Glendora Height: 5-9 Weight: 165 Year: Senior

Name: John Hartman Position: Lineman School: Sierra Vista Height: 6-6 Weight: 285 Year: Senior

Name: Kyle Thomson Position: Lineman School: Damien Height: 6-4 Weight: 240 Year: Senior

Name: Chris Garcia Position: Lineman School: Damien Height: 6-3 Weight: 260 Year: Senior

Name: Iona Viagalelei Position: Lineman School: Ganesha Height: 6-0 Weight: 280 Year: Senior

Name: Brian Gardner Position: Lineman School: Temple City Height: 6-2 Weight: 220 Year: Senior

Name: Miguel Meriwether Position: Quarterback School: West Covina Height: 6-2 Weight: 180 Year: Senior

Name: Rodney Sermons Position: Back School: Bishop Amat Height: 6-0 Weight: 185 Year: Senior

Name: Orlando Washington Position: Back School: Ganesha Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 Year: Senior

Name: Jake Merrill Position: Back School: Los Altos Height: 6-0 Weight: 195 Year: Senior

Name: Justin Ventura Position: Kicker School: Claremont Height: 5-10 Weight: 175 Year: Senior

DEFENSE

Name: Kory Minor Position: Lineman School: Bishop Amat Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 Year: Junior

Name: Pene Talamaivao Position: Lineman School: Ganesha Height: 6-3 Weight: 275 Year: Senior

Name: Waleed Ibrahim Position: Lineman School: West Covina Height: 6-2 Weight: 215 Year: Junior

Name: Ramogi Huma Position: Linebacker School: Bishop Amat Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 Year: Junior

Name: Robert Walls Position: Linebacker School: West Covina Height: 6-3 Weight: 195 Year: Senior

Name: Mike Myers Position: Linebacker School: Glendora Height: 6-1 Weight: 195 Year: Senior

Name: Leo Asoau Position: Linebacker School: Covina Height: 6-3 Weight: 230 Year: Senior

Name: Nigel Younger Position: Back School: Muir Height: 5-10 Weight: 180 Year: Senior

Name: Damond Stewart Position: Back School: Muir Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 Year: Senior

Name: Josh Oder Position: Back School: San Marino Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Year: Senior

Name: Joey Strycula Position: Back School: Charter Oak Height: 6-1 Weight: 195 Year: Junior

All-San Gabriel Valley Second Team

OFFENSE

Player School Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos Chris MacMillan Arroyo Sr. 6-2 175 WR Roderick Ward Diamond Bar Sr. 6-0 175 WR Jason Zartman Rosemead Sr. 6-0 230 L Joe Rueff Baldwin Park Sr. 6-2 215 L Eric Winter Los Altos Sr. 6-3 218 L Joe Webster Claremont Sr. 6-0 245 L Chaka Terry Muir Sr. 6-3 225 L Rob Schult Glendora Sr. 6-1 185 B Gabe Agredano Arroyo Sr. 6-1 195 B Thomas Simmons Diamond Bar Sr. 6-0 185 B Lee Veal Ganesha Sr. 5-11 190 B Enrique Delgado Rosemead Sr. 5-10 165 K

DEFENSE

Trevor Patterson San Marino Sr. 6-0 215 L Elias Zertuche Bishop Amat Sr. 5-10 185 L Justin Suprenant Glendora Sr. 6-3 235 L Joel Jara Azusa Sr. 6-0 215 LB Egmont Cervantes Sierra Vista Sr. 6-0 215 LB Andre Watkins Pasadena Sr. 6-0 225 LB Andrew Costantino Temple City Sr. 6-3 215 LB Kenny Haslip Muir Sr. 5-10 160 B Armon Hatcher Diamond Bar Sr. 6-2 194 B Anthony Franklin West Covina Sr. 5-9 200 B Abel Macias Workman Sr. 5-9 160 B