DiPadova Is Selected 4-A Co-Player of Year

Nick DiPadova of Taft High was named the City Section 4-A Division football co-player of the year with San Pedro quarterback Melvin Yarbrough, making DiPadova the fifth consecutive area player to earn the distinction.

Sylmar running backs Durell Price (1994-95) and Tyrone Crenshaw (1992-93) garnered the award outright.

In the 3-A Division, Wilson quarterback Julio Briones edged North Hollywood running back Dante Clay as player of the year.

DiPadova, a 6-foot, 185-pound senior quarterback, had a hand in 50 touchdowns this season. DiPadova, a converted wide receiver who played quarterback the past two seasons, threw for 2,726 yards and 31 touchdowns this season--both school records. He rushed for 19 touchdowns.

“I would have never thought this would happen,” DiPadova said. “It’s like a dream. [But] it would have been a better dream if we had won the championship.”

Taft won 13 consecutive games before losing to undefeated San Pedro, 22-20, in the 4-A title game at the Coliseum last week.

Briones led the Mules to the 3-A title with a 14-7 victory over Van Nuys a week after Wilson beat North Hollywood, 36-34.

Clay, the area’s leading City ballcarrier, rushed for 2,232 yards and 23 touchdowns.

DiPadova and Clay are among 30 All-City players from the area.

In the 4-A Division, they include Taft’s Damon Coleman, Keith Johnson, Donte Morgan and Charles Mason; Kennedy’s Calvin Zinck, Aaron Lewis and Waking Bailey; Sylmar’s Ray Solis, Derrell Daniels and Shaun Avalos; El Camino Real’s Greg Hulett and San Fernando’s Alex Luna.

The 3-A Division team includes North Hollywood’s Steve Ephraim and Jonathan Hicks; Canoga Park’s Brian Hickman, Kevin Carlsen and Vince Rodriguez; Van Nuys’ Carlos Mack, David Melo, Grigor Boyadzhyan and Fernando Arias; Verdugo Hills’ Sean Standley, Charlie Coronado and Evan Armstrong; Chatsworth’s Jeremy Atteberry and LaRon Buchner; Monroe’s Vinny Walker and Birmingham’s Emmanuel Evans.