Three Area Football Players Named to All-Southern Section Team

Three South Bay players--Peninsula High offensive lineman John Welbourn, Mira Costa defensive lineman Phil Fonua and Hawthorne defensive back Omarr Morgan--have been selected to the elite All-Southern Section football team.

The 25-player team, chosen by members of the media, represents the best talent in the section’s 11 divisions.

Others named to the squad included record-setting quarterback Keith Smith of Division III champion Newbury Park, highly regarded tight end Tony Gonzalez of Division II runner-up Huntington Beach and quarterback Glenn Thompkins of Division I champion Eisenhower, winner of The Times’ Glenn Davis award as the top player in Southern California.

Welbourn and Morgan were winners of The Times’ South Bay lineman and back of the year awards. Welbourn, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound senior, was a two-way lineman whose blocking helped Peninsula rush for more than 300 yards a game. Morgan excelled at free safety for Division III runner-up Hawthorne, finishing with 150 tackles and seven interceptions. The senior also scored 15 touchdowns as a running back, receiver and return specialist.

Fonua, a 6-2, 265-pound junior, helped Mira Costa win its first Southern Section football title with his play at nose tackle and fullback. He led the Mustangs with 18 sacks and 19 touchdowns and was named Division VII co-player of the year after dominating opponents in the playoffs. Fonua shared the award with Montclair Prep running back Wilbert Smith.

Fonua was one of four Mira Costa players chosen to the Division VII team. The others were senior offensive lineman Tate McCallister, senior defensive lineman Miguel Prieto and junior defensive back Dino Rossi. Redondo senior running back Bob Cracknell, the South Bay’s leading rusher with 1,709 yards, also was selected.

Hawthorne and Peninsula, which finished 1-2 in the Bay League, each placed four players on the Division III team. Hawthorne was represented by Morgan, junior defensive back Kelvin Hunter, senior offensive lineman David Camacho and senior defensive lineman Daniel Dorsey. Tailback James Durroh, a repeat selection, joined Peninsula teammates Welbourn, senior tight end-kicker Keith Harter and senior linebacker Tony Persichina on the team.

Leuzinger was represented on the Division III squad by junior linebacker Aaron Williams.

Smith, whose 98-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run was the highlight of Newbury Park’s 22-14 victory over Hawthorne in the championship game, was named Division III player of the year.

Five South Bay players were selected to the Division IX team. Pioneer League co-champion West Torrance was represented by senior offensive lineman Ryan Winkler and junior free safety Jim Yates, North Torrance placed senior quarterback Rocky Jackson and senior running back-defensive back Lacy Watkins on the team, and junior defensive lineman Matt Jasik of El Segundo was also chosen.

Senior running back Jasch Janowicz of division champion Atascadero was named Division IX player of the year.

Serra senior linebacker Milford Kinnard was selected to the Division VIII team and two-way lineman Bryan Luxembourger of division runner-up Costa Mesa was named player of the year.