They’re Awesome, Any Way You Spell It : The four standouts in The Times’ 1993 City Times football team with uncommon names are just plain formidable on the field.

Akili, Dartanyum, Kadar and Wakiee.

Four high school football players whose names had reporters checking their spelling and whose play had opposing coaches gritting their teeth. But by game’s end, the announcer would have repeated them so often that everyone would know them.

What really made these four players standouts was the level of their game. The four, all selected to the 1993 City Times team, became synonymous with the successful teams they played for.

To beat Locke, a team had to stop Akili Roberson. The same can be said about running backs Dartanyum Smith of Manual Arts and Kadar Hamilton of Loyola. And Dorsey followed the blocking of Wakiee Brady into the City Section 4-A Division championship.

The 23 players selected to the 1993 City Times team were chosen by sportswriters based on nominations from area coaches, all of whom were asked to participate.

Players named to the first team will be guests of City Times at an awards breakfast today at the University Hilton Hotel. Winners of the City Times back, lineman and coach of the year awards will be announced at the breakfast.

Here is a look at the 1993 City Times team.

OFFENSIVE BACKS

Few quarterbacks could match the passing and scrambling ability of Fremont’s William Yates, who threw for 1,474 yards and 17 touchdowns. Yates led the Pathfinders to the City Section 3-A Division championship. He was named Most Valuable Player in the Southeastern Conference. . . . For the second consecutive season, Garfield running back Armando Figueroa appeared atop the leaders’ list for most yards during the regular season. The 5-foot-9 senior had 1,358 yards and 14 touchdowns. His best game came in a 34-22 win over Locke when he rushed for 227 yards and scored two touchdowns. . . .

Manual Arts Dartanyum Smith was instant offense for the Toilers, who always had a chance to win with Smith in the game. His impressive touchdowns included a 73-yard run against Westchester, a 45-yard punt return against University and a 81-yard run against Venice. . . . Coach Dave Newell has a year to think about how to replace Francisco (Junior) Samano, who was probably the greatest running back to compete at Bell Gardens. Samano rushed for 1,731 yards and scored 30 touchdowns.

RECEIVERS

Andre Johnson of Fremont was lost in the shadow of former Pathfinder Kory Jones last season, but made his mark in 1993. Johnson averaged 27 yards a catch and scored eight touchdowns during the regular season. He also was an outstanding blocker and a good hitter on defense. . . . Locke receiver Russell Shaw, who also had breakaway speed, led the area in yardage (612), was second in receptions (32) and first in touchdown receptions (12).

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Belmont’s Juan Gomez was assigned to block the top defensive player and was the lead blocker for running back Ramon Archie, who ran for 1,055 yards. . . . Garfield center Lahiri Aguilar used his blend of quickness and strength to help open holes for running back Armando Figueroa. . . . Dorsey’s Wakiee Brady was one of the best pulling guards in the City. He had quick feet and was rarely caught off-balance. . . .

Tackle Pedro Esparza of Huntington Park had quick feet and good technique. He also played defensive tackle and linebacker. . . . Bell Gardens Coach Dave Newell said offensive tackle Gus Soto “virtually rolled people into little balls.”

LINEBACKERS

Kwame Cain of Loyola is known for his quickness and as a hard-hitting tackler. He led the team with 36 unassisted tackles. Cain has a 4.3 grade-point average and is the student body president. . . . Dennis Fomond was a three-year starter for Crenshaw and was listed as one of the top players in the state by Cal-Hi Sports Magazine. He led the team with 179 tackles, and had two interceptions. He also blocked a field goal and a punt, which he returned for touchdowns. . . .

Gregory Gales of Washington was one of the fastest linebackers and a heavy hitter. He led the team with 68 solo tackles and three quarterback sacks. . . . Charles Sandifer of Manual Arts has outstanding lateral speed and led the Toilers with 89 tackles and four sacks. “He was mean on the run,” Manual Arts Coach Rodney Spencer said. “From tackle to tackle, he was vicious.”

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

John Johnson was a three-year starter at defensive end at Jefferson. He had 32 tackles and six sacks. As a tight end, he had 10 receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns. . . . Eric Scanlan was one of the quickest lineman ever to play at Loyola. He had 39 unassisted tackles, 11 sacks and three fumble recoveries. . . .

Despite an injured back and left knee, Norman Ysaguirre of Dorsey had 52 tackles, including 31 solo tackles, six sacks, and two tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He also played offensive tackle.

DEFENSIVE BACK

Kadar Hamilton of Loyola, the son of Los Angeles Raiders assistant coach Ray Hamilton, started the first five games at defensive back and made three interceptions. He also was a running back and gained 987 yards. . . . Jim McElroy of Washington was a three-year starter at cornerback and one of the best coverage men. . . .

Akili Roberson of Locke is making his second appearance on the City Times team. He has outstanding speed for a coverage man. As a quarterback, he passed for 1,189 yards and 14 touchdowns. . . . Robert Robinson of Jefferson led the area with 12 interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. He was the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

KICKER

Agustin Lopez of Roosevelt kicked six field goals, including 40- and 46-yarders against Bell, and made 16 of 18 extra-point attempts. He also plays soccer.

All City Times Second Team

1993 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS

OFFENSE Name: Williams Yates Position: Back School: Fremont Height: 6-0 Weight: 185 Year: Senior Name: Armando Figueroa Position: Back School: Garfield Height: 5-8 Weight: 175Year: Senior Name: Dartanyum Smith Position: Back School: Manual Arts Height: 5-7Weight: 165Year: Senior Name: Francisco Samano Position: Back School: Bell Gardens Height: 5-8 Weight: 185Year: Senior Name: Russell Shaw Position: Wide Receiver School: LockeHeight: 5-8Weight: 165Year: Senior Name: Andre Johnson Position: Wide Receiver School: Fremont Height: 6-2 Weight: 170 Year: Senior Name: Lahiri Aguilar Position: Lineman School: Garfield Height: 6-1Weight: 230 Year: Senior Name: Juan Gomez Position: Lineman School: Belmont Height: 6-0Weight: 225 Year: Senior Name: Wakiee Brady Position: Lineman School: Dorsey Height: 6-2 Weight: 275 Year: Senior Name: Pedro Esparza Position: Lineman School: Huntington Park Height: 6-4 Weight: 230 Year: Senior Name: Gus Soto Position: Lineman School: Bell Gardens Height: 6-4 Weight: 265 Year: Senior Name: Agustin Lopez Position: Kicker School: Roosevelt Height: 5-6 Weight: 125 Year: Senior Defense Name: Robert Johnson Position: Back School: Jefferson Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Year: Senior Name: Akili Robertson Position: Back School: Locke Height: 6-0Weight: 185Year: Senior Name: Kadar Hamilton Position: Back School: Loyola Height: 6-0 Weight: 200 Year: Senior Name: Jim McElroy IV Position: Back School: Washington Height: 6-0Weight: 165 Year: Senior Name: Kwame Cain Position: Linebacker School: Loyola Height: 6-1 Weight: 225 Year: Senior Name: Dennis Fomond Position: Linebacker School: Crenshaw Height: 6-0 Weight: 210 Year: Senior Name: Gregory Gales Position: Linebacker School: Washington Height: 6-3 Weight: 200 Year: Senior Name: Charles Sandifer Position: Linebacker School: Manual Arts Height: 5-11 Weight: 245 Year: Senior Name: John Johnson Position: Lineman School: Jefferson Height: 6-4 Weight: 215 Year: Senior Name: Eric Scanlan Position: Lineman School: Loyola Height: 6-2 Weight: 225 Year: Senior Name: Norman Ysaguirre Position: Lineman School: Dorsey Height: 6-1 Weight: 290 Year: Senior All City Times Second Team

OFFENSE

PLAYER SCHOOL YR. HT. WT. POS. Edward Gonzales Wilson Jr. 5-9 155 B Gerardo Roman Lincoln Sr. 6-2 215 B Ramon Archie Belmont Sr. 6-0 160 B Roylando Jeffery South Gate Sr. 5-11 195 B Che Johnson Dorsey Sr. 6-0 170 B Sirr Parker Locke Jr. 5-11 175 WR Buster Bradley Wilson Jr. 5-9 155 WR Jose Urias Bell Gardens Sr. 6-2 210 OL Todd Moore Crenshaw Jr. 6-0 225 OL Calvin Cleveland Locke Sr. 6-1 260 OL Marcos Aguirre Garfield Sr. 6-4 255 OL Mark McDonald Loyola Jr. 6-3 180 K

DEFENSE

PLAYER SCHOOL YR. HT. WT. POS. Jeff Martinez Salesian Sr. 5-11 190 DB Ronnie Cannon Crenshaw Sr. 5-11 185 DB George Jacobs Fremont Sr. 5-7 155 DB Andre Miller Verbum Dei Sr. 6-1 190 DB Kareem Wafer Manual Arts Sr. 5-9 175 DB Yoel Lopez Bell Sr. 6-1 205 LB Doniel Webster Washington Sr. 6-4 245 LB Shina Onaolapo Los Angeles Sr. 6-1 210 LB Alex Huerta Huntington Park Sr. 6-0 235 DL Tavio Daniels Locke Sr. 6-2 215 DL Aristides Franco Roosevelt Jr. 5-3 160 DL