1994 PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS : Crenshaw’s 4 First-Team Selections Lead the Way in 3rd Annual Squad

Although several coaches opposed this season’s new football playoff system in the City Section’s 4-A and 3-A divisions, it did provide for some interesting matchups between City Times All-Stars.

Crenshaw, which last won the 3-A title in 1991, made an impressive postseason run on the strength of 1,000-yard rushers Farrel Payton and Brandon Seals, both all-star selections.

In a matchup featuring the Central City’s most heated rivalry, Crenshaw defeated Dorsey, 26-19, in the 4-A semifinals to reach the championship game.

That game featured six all-stars, including Payton, Seals, Todd Moore and Kabeer Smith of Crenshaw and Dorsey’s Darius Wesber and Jemell Gordon.

Third-seeded Crenshaw faced top-seed Sylmar, which at 13-0 climbed as high as No. 5 in the Los Angeles Times’ Top 20 Football Poll, yesterday at El Camino College in the 4-A title game.

In the 3-A, first-year coach Henry Santiago guided Bell to its first football championship game in school history.

Bell (11-3) hadn’t been that good since 1992, when two key players were suspended for team-rules violations that dashed the Eagles’ playoff hopes.

The Eagles were led by first-team linebacker Dicky Purcell and second-team quarterback Gus Valenzuela, who passed for 1,613 yards and 20 touchdowns during the regular season.

Bell beat Birmingham, 25-3, Friday night at Gardena High for the City 3-A crown.

Fremont, last season’s 3-A runner-up, was bounced out of the 4-A playoffs by Banning in the first round.

However, offensive lineman Steve Barragan had an outstanding year for the Pathfinders, reflected by his selection to the first team.

Franklin, which is new to the Central City circulation area, had the leading passer in first-team quarterback Jeff Deno Jr.

Garfield’s first-team all-star, Edgar Soto, led the area in rushing while playing in only eight games.

Los Angeles’ first-team wideout Anthony White, a junior, was the area’s leader in pass receptions.

And Locke first-team running back Sirr Parker, who had another stellar season on a team that struggled, showed why he is being recruited by Division I programs such as Notre Dame, Nebraska, Florida State and Washington.

Here is a look at the top Central City players that starred for their respective teams in the regular season and the playoffs.

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

Jeff Deno Jr. (Franklin)--Deno, a first-team All-Northern Conference selection at quarterback, led the Central City in passing. The southpaw was 190 of 302 for 2,667 yards and 33 touchdowns. The Deno-to-Johnnie Sanders combination was the most productive in the area.

Eddie Gonzales (Wilson)--Gonzales finished the season as the area’s second-leading passer with 2,303 yards and 25 touchdowns. With the All-Northern Conference selection at the helm, Wilson featured the Central City’s most balanced offensive attack.

Sirr Parker (Locke)--Parker is the area’s most coveted recruit. The running back/kick returner--who also played a little defensive back--is a scoring specialist. Parker finished second in rushing during the regular season with 1,129 yards and 16 touchdowns. The All-Southeastern Conference performer also scored twice on kickoff returns and ran back an interception for a 67-yard touchdown.

Edgar Soto (Garfield)--Soto amazingly led the area in rushing while playing in only eight games. He finished the season with 1,180 yards and 15 touchdowns in 205 carries. Soto averaged an area-best 144 yards a game.

Farrel Payton (Crenshaw)--Payton combined with Brandon Seals to give Crenshaw the area’s top one-two rushing attack. Both rushed for over 1,000 yards. The Pacific League’s most valuable player had 108 carries for 1,075 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Johnnie Sanders (Franklin)--Along with Parker, Sanders is one of the Central City’s top athletes. Sanders, Franklin’s top weapon, led the area in receiving yardage (952) and was second in receptions (46) and touchdowns (17).

Anthony White (Los Angeles)--White led the area in receptions with 53 and was second in yardage with 747. White also started at cornerback, leading the Romans with six interceptions.

Steve Barragan (Fremont)--Barragan was Fremont’s most versatile player. A Southeastern Conference first-teamer, he lined up at tight end and defensive end. He has good speed at 6-2, 260 pounds and soft hands.

Todd Moore (Crenshaw)--Crenshaw’s team captain, Moore plays both offensive and defensive line. Moore has made first-team All-Pacific League for the past two seasons.

Mark Redoval (South Gate)--Redoval is the best blocking tight end in the Central City. Redoval’s blocking skills are so extraordinary that coach Gary Cordray platooned him at fullback to block for Hoffman Cortes. Redoval had 11 receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

Matt Pentecost (Loyola)--Pentecost is one of the best offensive linemen to come along in the Central City in years. He made first-team All-Del Rey League at tackle and is a major-college prospect.

Mark McDonald (Loyola)--McDonald made the All-Del Rey League team for the second consecutive season. In what coach Steve Grady called an “off-year,” McDonald made two field goals and 25 of 28 extra-point attempts.

Issac Hatley (Jefferson)--Hatley was the best back in the area to never rush for 1,000 yards. He finished ’94 with 845 yards and seven touchdowns in 161 carries. Hatley also had seven receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns. He returned 15 kickoffs for 400 yards and had 39 tackles and two sacks as a cornerback.

Buster Bradley (Wilson)--Bradley is the most versatile athlete in the area. He was selected Northern Conference Defensive Player of the Year at cornerback, where he had four interceptions-returning two for touchdowns--and 39 solo tackles. At wide receiver, Bradley had 40 receptions for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Jemell Gordon (Dorsey)--Gordon was Dorsey’s top defensive back. He was also selected first-team All-Pacific League as a running back. Gordon led the Dons in rushing with 73 carries for 723 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Damon Whitehurst (Manual Arts)--At 6-0, 175 pounds, Whitehurst used his size and strength to lead the Toiler cornerbacks in interceptions with seven--four in the playoffs. Whitehurst was named to the Southeastern Conference’s first team.

Brandon Seals (Crenshaw)--Seals, who played defensive back for the Cougars, is best known as the other half of Crenshaw’s vaunted running game. The All-Pacific League selection rushed for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season.

Dicky Purcell (Bell)--Purcell was selected first-team All-Southeastern Conference at inside linebacker. He was Bell’s second-leading receiver with 37 receptions for 555 yards and five touchdowns.

Darius Wesber (Dorsey)--A first-team All-Pacific League linebacker, Wesber was Dorsey’s best defensive player. He led the Dons in tackles and sacks.

Lamar Lightburn (Manual Arts)--Lightburn led Manual Arts in tackles with 85. The first-team All-Southeastern Conference linebacker also had five sacks.

Eboni Wilson (Jefferson)--An imposing figure on the defensive line, Wilson made his teammates look like midgets. Wilson, who was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year, had 61 tackles and eight sacks. Wilson, who made Cal-Hi magazine’s All-Strength Team, bench presses 410 pounds and squats 620 pounds.

Kabeer Smith (Crenshaw)--Nicknamed the “48-Minute Man” by Coach Robert Garrett, Smith plays at one speed--overdrive. One of the top defensive players in the Southern Pacific Conference, Smith led the team in tackles (84), sacks (15) and fumble recoveries (3).

Jason Steen (Verbum Dei)--A two-year varsity starter, Steen is the heart of the Verbum Dei defense. The lineman had 80 solo tackles, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

These 23 players, along with their parents and coaches, will be guests of The Times at an awards brunch at 9 a.m. today at the University Holiday Inn in Downtown Los Angeles. The winners of the Central City back, lineman and coach of the year awards will be announced at the brunch.

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Second Team

OFFENSE

POS. PLAYER SCHOOL HT. WT YR. B Gustavo Valenzuela Bell 5-11 175 Sr. B Dennis Northcutt Washington 5-11 145 Jr. B Hoffman Cortes South Gate 5-7 160 Sr. B Arlin Slayton Wilson 5-11 180 Sr. B Omar Garnett Cathedral 5-10 190 Sr. WR Reggie Duncan Manual Arts 6-1 175 Jr. WR Dan Farmer Loyola 6-3 200 Sr. L Mark Jeffries Loyola 6-0 210 Sr. L Oscar Cabrera Franklin 6-4 240 Jr. L Edward Thompson Dorsey 5-11 200 Sr. L Tadeo Gonzales Bell Gardens 6-0 210 Sr. K Gerardo Herrera Bell 5-6 150 Sr.

DEFENSE

POS. PLAYER SCHOOL HT. WT YR. B Amar Brisco Washington 5-11 150 Sr. B Travis Jackson Cathedral 6-1 180 Sr. B Termell Goss Jordan 5-10 185 Sr. B Michael Adams Fremont 5-10 165 Sr. B Antwain Wilson Dorsey 5-10 175 Sr. B Patrick Regan Los Angeles 5-6 165 Sr. LB Tony Zamorano Garfield 5-11 200 Jr. LB Mario Martinez Bell Gardens 5-10 210 Sr. L Kirk Oliver Crenshaw 6-5 190 Sr. L Brian Battey Locke 6-1 280 Sr. L Alain Toca Bell 6-1 195 Sr.