In Year of the Run, Peninsula Leads the Pack : Football: Panthers have five players selected by The Times. Serra has three honored.

L et ‘em run wild.

If those aren’t exactly the words South Bay prep football coaches would use to describe their offenses in 1994, they’ll do for a theme.

And as any coach could tell you, the theme this season was the running game. The forward pass became almost an afterthought as area teams found success with the most basic of football exchanges, the handoff.

The area’s penchant for staying on the ground is reflected on The Times’ South Bay All-Star team, which includes three running backs, one more than usual, and a quarterback known more for keeping the ball than passing it.

Selections were based on ballots cast by area coaches, all of whom were asked to participate, and a poll of Times sportswriters.

Players named to the 23-player first team, along with their parents and coaches, will be guests of The Times at an awards breakfast at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Guest Quarters Hotel in Santa Monica. The winners of the South Bay back, lineman and coach of the year awards will be announced at the breakfast.

Peninsula, which led the area with 3,845 yards rushing, an average of 296 a game, tops the all-star squad with five selections. The Panthers (11-2), who lost to Antelope Valley in the Southern Section Division II semifinals last week, are represented by quarterback Peter Krogh, running back Petros Papadakis, center Jeremy Sparling, defensive tackle Clark Haggans and kicker Daniel Secrist.

Serra placed three players on the team, and Banning, Carson, Leuzinger, Mira Costa and South Torrance are each represented by two players. Mira Costa (12-1) will try to win a second consecutive Division VII title Saturday night when it meets Arroyo Grande (11-1) at Righetti High in Santa Maria.

The three repeat all-star selections are El Segundo defensive tackle Matt Jasik, Leuzinger linebacker Aaron Williams and Carson safety Joseph Redmond.

Here is a position-by-position look at The Times’ 1994 All-South Bay team:

WIDE RECEIVERS

Mike Lennox (San Pedro)--Lennox, one of the heroes of San Pedro’s victory over Fremont in the 1993 City Section 3-A Division final, returned for his senior season with greater responsibilities. He responded by catching 28 passes for 428 yards and two touchdowns, excelling at free safety and serving as backup quarterback. He was a two-time All-Southern League choice.

Omarr Smith (Bishop Montgomery)--Smith was the most consistent offensive threat for the Knights, leading the area with 45 catches for 594 yards and eight touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown, and scored at least once in each of the first eight games. He was named All-Mission League.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Andrew Lalau (Banning)--A three-year starter at guard, Lalau teamed with tackle Fa’aesea Mailo on the right side to help Banning rush for nearly 2,000 yards. Lalau, a team leader who called the blocking assignments at the line of scrimmage, was named All-Pacific League for the second year in a row.

Billy McDaniel (South Torrance)--A unanimous All-Ocean League selection, McDaniel was a force at right tackle and helped the Spartans average more than 200 yards rushing a game. “Agile, strong and a great puller,” South Coach Mike Christensen said of his best lineman.

Greg Pollard (Serra)--The Mission League lineman of the year, Pollard was a two-way starter at tackle who almost never came off the field. He was graded the highest among Serra’s blockers and had 98 tackles and six sacks. Because of his above-average speed, Pollard is mainly being recruited for defense.

Ega Usu (Leuzinger)--”Everybody wants him,” Leuzinger Coach Fred Boehm said of the highly recruited Usu, whose blocking at right tackle helped the Olympians average nearly 300 yards rushing a game. Usu, a two-time All-Bay League choice, is looking at USC, UCLA, Brigham Young and Arizona, among others.

CENTER

Jeremy Sparling (Peninsula)--The anchor of an outstanding offensive line, Sparling toiled in the shadows of Peninsula’s skill-position players but was considered just as valuable by Panther coaches. He called the blocking schemes at the line of scrimmage and also was the deep snapper on kicks. On defense, Sparling played inside linebacker and was a team leader in tackles. A good student, Sparling is interested in attending Stanford.

QUARTERBACK

Peter Krogh (Peninsula)--If you were taking bets before the season, you would have gotten long odds on Krogh being named Bay League most valuable player. But after an uneventful junior season, Krogh emerged as a dangerous option quarterback and earned the MVP award after leading Peninsula to an unbeaten league season. He rushed for 792 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging eight yards a carry, and completed 50 of 89 passes (56%) for 742 yards and five touchdowns, with only three interceptions.

RUNNING BACKS

Kevin Campbell (Torrance)--”He was our backbone,” Torrance Coach Rock Hollis said of Campbell, who shouldered the weight of the offense by rushing for 1,518 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games. The bruising fullback rushed for more than 100 yards in all but two games and twice went over the 200-yard mark, with a high of 285 against West Torrance. He averaged 9.3 yards a carry. “He’d put his head down and go at them, not around them,” Hollis said. Campbell, an All-Bay League choice, also contributed as a kicker and punter. He had four field goals.

Michael Fikes (Mira Costa)--No South Bay player has gobbled up more ground this season than Fikes, who has accounted for 2,511 all-purpose yards heading into Saturday’s Division VII final. Possessing speed and power, the senior tailback has rushed for 1,905 yards and 20 touchdowns, caught 12 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown, and returned kickoffs and punts for 334 yards and one touchdown. In addition, Fikes has played quarterback when the team has run the option, and he has started at cornerback throughout the playoffs in place of injured Matt Guerrero.

Petros Papadakis (Peninsula)--An explosive runner with deceptive speed, Papadakis took his game to a new level as a senior. His long runs became a staple of Peninsula’s offense as he rushed for an area-leading 2,001 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 9.3 yards a carry. His 70-yard scoring run on the first play of scrimmage set the tone in the Panthers’ first victory over Hawthorne, 44-14, and he rushed for 415 yards and four touchdowns in playoff victories over Canyon and Arcadia. Papadakis, named Bay League offensive player of the year, ranks first in area scoring with 138 points.

KICKER

Daniel Secrist (Peninsula)--In addition to playing tight end and defensive end, Secrist distinguished himself as a kicker and punter. He kicked 40 extra points and seven field goals, with a long of 49 yards against Hawthorne, and averaged 40 yards in 29 punts.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Matt Jasik (El Segundo)--What do coaches think of the quick, aggressive Jasik? Consider: El Segundo was 2-10 in league play over the past two seasons, but Jasik was chosen co-defensive player of the year each time. He shared the award this season in the Ocean League with Redondo lineman Jack Mitchell. Jasik led El Segundo with 71 tackles, 13 sacks and eight blocked kicks (five extra points and three punts), giving him 14 blocks in two seasons. Because of his size, Jasik will probably play linebacker or safety in college.

Clark Haggans (Peninsula)--A two-time All-Bay League selection, Haggans ranked among the leaders in tackles, sacks and fumble recoveries for a Peninsula defense that gave up an average of nine points a game. His strength and quickness also were apparent at tight end. Utilized mostly as a blocker, Haggans was a big-play receiver with nine catches for 246 yards (a 27.3-yard average) and two TDs, one in the playoffs.

John Toavalu (Banning)--A disruptive force, Toavalu capped a three-year varsity career by dominating offensive linemen and stuffing ballcarriers. He finished among team leaders in tackles and sacks, despite playing on a bad ankle for most of the season. “John plays at one speed, and that’s 110%,” Banning defensive coordinator Ken Stumpf said. “It’s too bad he’s not 6-3, because he could play this game for a long time.” Stumpf said Toavalu is being recruited by several schools, including Colorado State.

LINEBACKERS

Fa’avae Fa’avae (Carson)--It’s easy to see why Fa’avae is revered by everyone at Carson High. He’s the student body president. He carries a 3.9 grade-point average. And he’s a record-setting football player. Fa’avae established a school benchmark with 174 tackles this season and, in the process, broke a Carson record that had stood for 21 years. His 315 career tackles eclipsed the previous record of 263 set by Rowen Tupuivao in 1972-73. Fa’avae was named All-Pacific League for the second time.

Dennis Hughes (Mira Costa)--The catalyst of Mira Costa’s big-play defense, Hughes leads the area with a school-record 24 sacks entering the Division VII final Saturday. The speedy outside linebacker also ranks among team leaders with 64 tackles and three forced fumbles. “It’s outrageous what Dennis has done,” Mira Costa Coach Don Morrow said. On offense, Hughes plays fullback and ranks second on the team in rushing (538 yards) and receiving (21 catches for 301 yards), with 10 touchdowns.

Mike Wiley (Serra)--Runner-up for Mission League player of the year, Wiley led an aggressive defense with 176 tackles, helping Serra reach the Division III semifinals. He had three interceptions. Utilized at fullback late in the season, Wiley rushed for 242 yards and four touchdowns. His size, strength and speed have made him a hot commodity with recruiters. A Serra assistant said Wiley is leaning toward UCLA but considering other schools as well.

Aaron Williams (Leuzinger)--One of the area’s most physically imposing players, Williams was the centerpiece of Leuzinger’s defense and led the Olympians in tackles for the second consecutive season. He was named Bay League defensive player of the year. Williams, a three-year varsity starter, added playing fullback to his responsibilities this season and rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. He visited Arizona last weekend but is said to be leaning toward USC.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Kelvin Hunter (Hawthorne)--Hunter ended his three-year varsity career with 16 interceptions, certainly one of the highest totals in South Bay history. He returned two of his four interceptions in 1994 for touchdowns, and ranked among team leaders with 73 tackles playing cornerback and free safety. Hunter contributed offensively as a receiver and kick returner, accounting for 933 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns. He has recruiting trips planned to Illinois, Nebraska, Texas, Arizona and Washington.

Melvyn Miller (South Torrance)--South Coach Mike Christensen says there’s a good reason Miller had only one interception this season: “Teams wouldn’t throw his way.” That’s understandable. Miller, who played cornerback, is regarded as a top college prospect. He takes his first recruiting trip this weekend to Washington, and is also looking at California and Arizona, among others. Miller also was a leader on offense for South, accounting for 1,133 total yards and 12 TDs playing quarterback and tailback.

Joseph Redmond (Carson)--The highly recruited Redmond contributed on both sides of the ball for Carson. At safety, he had 49 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four pass deflections. As a running back, he became the 10th player in school history to gain more than 1,000 all-purpose yards in two consecutive seasons, finishing with 1,154 yards rushing, receiving and returning kicks. He scored nine touchdowns. Among the schools interested in Redmond are USC and Notre Dame.

Ademole Turner (Serra)--A speedy, hard-hitting cornerback, Turner was a unanimous All-Mission League choice. He led the area with 10 interceptions, three he returned for touchdowns, and ranked second on the Cavaliers with 104 tackles. His 82-yard interception return for a touchdown helped Serra beat Rowland, 19-10, in the Division III quarterfinals. A parttime running back, Turner rushed for 367 yards and four touchdowns.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

1994 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS OFFENSE Name: Mike Lennox Position: Receiver School: San Pedro Height: 6-2 Weight: 190 Year: Senior *Name: Omarr Smith Position: Receiver School: Bishop Montgomery Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Year: Senior *Name: Andrew Lalau Position: Lineman School: Banning Height: 6-1 Weight: 260 Year: Senior *Name: Billy McDaniel Position: Lineman School: South Torrance Height: 6-3 Weight: 255 Year: Senior *Name: Greg Pollard Position: Lineman School: Serra Height: 6-2 Weight: 260 Year: Senior *Name: Ega Usu Position: Lineman School: Leuzinger Height: 6-5 Weight: 275 Year: Senior *Name: Jeremy Sparling Position: Center School: Peninsula Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 Year: Senior *Name: Peter Krogh Position: Quarterback School: Peninsula Height: 6-2 Weight: 180 Year: Senior *Name: Kevin Campbell Position: back School: Torrance Height: 6-0 Weight: 195 Year: Senior *Name: Michael Fikes Position: Back School: Mira Costa Height: 6-1 Weight: 200 Year: Senior *Name: Petros Papadakis Position: Back School: Peninsula Height: 6-1 Weight: 200 Year: Senior *Name: Daniel Secrist Position: Kicker School: Peninsula Height: 6-4 Weight: 210 Year: Senior * DEFENSE Name: Matt Jasik Position: Lineman School: El Segundo Height: 6-0 Weight: 200 Year: Senior *Name: Clark Haggans Position: Lineman School: Peninsula Height: 6-3 Weight: 205 Year: Senior *Name: John Toavalu Position: Lineman School: Banning Height: 6-0 Weight: 302 Year: Senior *Name: Fa’avae Fa’avae Position: Linebacker School: Carson Height: 5-10 Weight: 195 Year: Senior *Name: Dennis Hughes Position: Linebacker School: Mira Costa Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Year: Senior *Name: Mike Wiley Position: Linebacker School: Serra Height: 6-3 Weight: 230 Year: Senior *Name: Aaron Williams Position: Linebacker School: Leuzinger Height: 6-3 Weight: 240 Year: Senior *Name: Kelvin Hunter Position: Back School: Hawthorne Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Year: Senior *Name: Melvyn Miller Position: Back School: South Torrance Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Year: Senior *Name: Joseph Redmond Position: Back School: Carson Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Year: Senior *Name: Ademole Turner Position: Back School: Serra Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 Year: Senior *South Bay Second Team OFFENSE

Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. WR Dujuan Gilmore Gardena 5-9 175 Jr. WR Benjamin Holt Carson 5-10 175 Sr. L Inone Iereneo Leuzinger 6-2 270 Sr. L Fa’aesea Mailo Banning 6-5 295 Jr. L Damian Martinez Torrance 6-3 300 Sr. L Jack Mitchell Redondo 6-5 270 Sr. C Ruben Goussen Mira Costa 6-1 265 Sr. QB Melvin Yarborough San Pedro 5-11 175 Soph. RB Ricky Boyer Serra 5-10 170 Sr. RB Derrick Norris Leuzinger 6-1 190 Jr. RB Danny Pulu Mary Star 5-9 185 Sr. K Tommy Truhe Bishop Montgomery 5-10 170 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. L Roderick Daniels Gardena 6-2 210 Sr. L James Ditch San Pedro 6-3 200 Sr. L Alex Maimot Hawthorne 6-0 310 Sr. L Simeta Taulua Carson 6-3 220 Sr. LB Ricky Saunders Mira Costa 5-11 185 Sr. LB Phillip Trutanich Mary Star 5-10 205 Jr. LB Andy Wang South Torrance 5-7 180 Sr. DB Joey Alofaituli North Torrance 5-9 170 Jr. DB Chris Duffy Peninsula 5-10 145 Sr. DB Iggy Galaz Mary Star 5-7 155 Sr. DB Dupree Tave Banning 6-0 185 Jr.