Making the Big Play Has Become Commonplace for Long Beach Poly’s Lewis

Chris Lewis sat in the press box at Veteran’s Stadium in Long Beach, staring down at the field and the Long Beach Poly football team.

It was 1995 and Lewis was a quarterback for the Jackrabbit freshman team.

“We’d watch the varsity play and my best friend would say, ‘That’s going to be you next year.’ ” Lewis recalled. “It just didn’t register in my mind. I was just playing football. I had no idea it would take me this far.”

Lewis, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior, took his game to a new level this season.

After leading Poly to the Southern Section Division I title and a 14-0 season in 1997, he engineered 13 consecutive wins and a trip back to the Division I final.

He passed for 3,170 yards and 43 touchdowns with only six interceptions despite playing in a balanced offense and sitting out most of the second half during Moore League games.

He finished his career having completed 498 of 884 passes for 8,617 yards and established a state record with 107 touchdown passes.

Lewis, who will attend Stanford next year, has been selected winner of The Times’ Glenn Davis Award, presented annually to the top prep football player in Southern California. The award is named for the 1946 Heisman Trophy winner who attended La Verne Bonita and West Point.

“If we had wanted to put the ball up 40-45 times a game like some programs, Chris would have put up some really incredible numbers,” Poly Coach Jerry Jaso said. “This year, we figured he was going to have to have to make a lot more big plays, and he did that. He stepped up and made huge plays all year long.

“I wish I had one like him every year, but they don’t make someone like this young man every year.”

Lewis, who last week was named national player of the year by Gatorade and Scholastic Coach magazine, wasted no time making an impression this season. In the Jackrabbits’ opener against Carson, he stifled the Colts by calling an audible on their first blitz and throwing a touchdown pass.

Against Lakewood on Nov. 6, he passed for four touchdowns to break the career touchdown record of 91 set by Los Angeles Wilson’s Ron Cuccia in 1977.

In the playoff quarterfinals against Loyola, he passed for 361 yards and four touchdowns.

Mater Dei, which lost only to mythical national-champion Concord De La Salle, held Poly in check for most of the championship game. Lewis passed for 201 yards, including two touchdowns in the final 10 minutes before Mater Dei recovered an onside kick and held on for a 33-26 victory.

“Mater Dei played a great game and had some things go their way,” Lewis said. “It was a battle to the end.

“Right after the game, I felt terrible. But once I went back to the locker room and saw my teammates, we realized we all had a lot to be proud of. We had a great run.

“In a way, [losing was] kind of a blessing. It makes you go into college a little more hungry. Because now that we know what losing feeling is like, you just want to win that much more.”

Lewis plans to play football and volleyball at Stanford.

Last summer he helped lead an Orange County-based club volleyball team to the national championship in the 18-and-under division at the Junior Olympics in Dallas. Next week, he begins practice for the upcoming club season.

“Right now, as far as I know, I’m going to play [volleyball at Stanford],” Lewis said. “But if things happen and get hectic with football, I’m going to have to make that decision.”

Poly has produced more than 40 NFL players, more than any high school in the nation. This year, six former Jackrabbits were on opening-day NFL rosters.

Lewis acknowledges that he has a long way to go if he hopes to join that Poly fraternity. For now, he’s concentrating on making an impact at Stanford.

“There are a lot of things I want to improve,” Lewis said. “I just want to get better. I don’t want to stop now.

“The way I see it, one chapter in my career is closing and another one is just beginning.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Glenn Davis Award Winners

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Year Name School Pos. 1997 DeShaun Foster Tustin RB/DB 1996 Antoine Harris Loyola TE/DL 1995 Chris Claiborne J.W. North LB/RB 1994 Daylon McCutcheon Bishop Amat RB/DB 1993 Glenn Thompkins Eisenhower QB/DB 1992 Travis Kirschke Esperanza DL 1991 Billy Blanton Mater Dei QB 1990 John Walsh Carson QB 1989 Kevin Copeland Dorsey WR 1988 Derek Brown Servite RB 1987 Russell White Crespi RB

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CENTRAL CITY / OFFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. WR Mike Cockrell Banning 5-10 175 Sr. WR Paul Turner Franklin 5-10 160 Sr. OL Mario Ramos Roosevelt 6-3 310 Sr. OL Albert Quinonez Franklin 6-3 275 Sr. OL Scott Tercero Loyola 6-5 250 Sr. OL Daniel Waldrop Banning 6-4 230 Sr. OL Dominic Furio San Pedro 6-4 281 Sr. B Chris Peterson Loyola 6-0 185 Sr. B Robert De La Cruz Cathedral 6-1 170 Jr. B Bayon Harris Jefferson 6-2 185 Sr. B Chris Howard Banning 6-2 190 Jr. AP Donnell Lloyd Verbum Dei 6-0 190 Sr.

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CENTRAL CITY / DEFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Asa Taylor Dorsey 6-2 210 Sr. DL Gregory Johnson Jordan 6-0 250 Sr. DL Ariel Cadenas Belmont 5-9 187 Sr. LB Danny Lockhart Carson 6-0 230 Sr. LB Andrew Altman Loyola 6-2 220 Sr. LB Jamarr Isom Dorsey 6-0 175 Sr. LB Erdolo Eromo Crenshaw 6-0 195 Sr. DB Ramon Ochoa Bell 6-0 190 Sr. DB Keenan Carter Crenshaw 6-0 180 Sr. DB Nnamdi Asomugha Narbonne 6-3 190 Sr. DB Medford Moore Locke 6-2 190 Sr. AP Branden Bullard Jordan 5-9 180 Jr.

*--*

* Back of the Year: Chris Howard, Banning.

* Lineman/Linebacker of the Year: Andrew Altman, Loyola.

* Coach of the Year: Doi Johnson, Jefferson.

INLAND EMPIRE / OFFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. WR Jonathan Jackson Temecula Val. 6-0 170 Sr. TE Brian Morris Rancho Verde 6-3 220 Sr. OL Scott Usher R. Cucamonga 6-1 285 Sr. OL Josh Beckham Yucca Valley 6-3 270 Sr. OL Shane Lehmann Corona 6-5 280 Sr. OL Mike MacLeod La Quinta 6-3 260 Sr. OL Mike Painchaud Norco 6-4 280 Sr. QB Garrett Ritchea Perris 6-4 225 Sr. RB Joe Weber Pacific 6-2 225 Sr. RB Royce Boone Cathedral City 6-0 200 Sr. RB Marquis Starks Fontana 5-10 190 Sr. K Jeremy Hershey Pacific 6-1 180 Sr.

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INLAND EMPIRE / DEFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Chad Tuitama Temescal Canyon 6-0 250 Sr. DL Willie Loring San Bernardino 6-3 245 Sr. DL Cory Kipp J.W. North 6-5 250 Sr. LB Kerry Hunter Pacific 6-4 230 Sr. LB Adam IloIlo Bloomington 6-0 205 Sr. LB Solomon Bates Canyon Springs 6-3 245 Sr. LB Mike Sands Temescal Canyon 6-0 220 Sr. DB Adam Wade Valley View 6-1 210 Sr. DB Vinny Fazio Fontana 6-2 195 Sr. DB Shane Scruggs Alta Loma 5-10 195 Sr. DB Terrial Hall Eisenhower 5-10 170 Sr. AP Kendall Edwards Jurupa Valley 6-0 195 Sr.

*--*

* Back of the Year: Joe Weber, Pacific.

* Lineman/Linebacker of the Year: Shane Lehmann, Corona.

* Coach of the Year: Gary Campbell, Norco.

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY / OFFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. WR Mike Snyder Ayala 6-4 210 Sr. WR Steve Stevenson Charter Oak 6-3 210 Sr. TE Aaron Hosack Chino 6-5 200 Sr. OL Dave Sollami Claremont 6-4 280 Sr. OL Brandon Macias Los Altos 6-6 315 Sr. OL Jerry White Rowland 6-3 260 Sr. OL Jason Turner Bishop Amat 6-5 265 Sr. OL Rene Arguellas Charter Oak 6-5 310 Sr. QB Don Sizemore Diamond Bar 5-11 195 Jr. RB Deon Burnett Claremont 6-0 205 Sr. RB Michael Wagner Bishop Amat 5-9 190 Sr. AP Akil Harris Monrovia 6-1 195 Sr.

*--*

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY / DEFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Sean Phillips Pasadena 6-3 248 Sr. DL Isaac Brown Claremont 6-2 225 Sr. DL Josh Miller West Covina 6-3 250 Jr. DL Paul Reyna Bishop Amat 6-3 240 Sr. LB Jeff Zinn Chino 6-2 231 Sr. LB Nick Schultz Arcadia 5-11 225 Sr. LB Anthony Cuccia Diamond Bar 6-2 220 Sr. DB Josh Rangel Charter Oak 6-3 205 Sr. DB Dennis Wyrick Bishop Amat 6-1 208 Sr. DB D.J. Hackett San Dimas 6-3 175 Sr. DB James Samuel Muir 6-0 185 Sr. AP Jacob Blake Rio Hondo Prep 5-11 180 Sr.

*--*

* Back of the Year: Michael Wagner, Bishop Amat.

* Lineman/Linebacker of the Year: Anthony Cuccia, Diamond Bar.

* Co-Coaches of the Year: Terry Roche, Diamond Bar; Lou Farrar, Charter Oak.

SOUTH BAY/WESTSIDE / OFFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. WR Jerrold Wilkerson Venice 6-2 195 Sr. WR Keith Allen West Torrance 6-1 185 Jr. TE Tom Swoboda Peninsula 6-3 235 Sr. OL Steve Barhanovic Mary Star 6-5 276 Sr. OL Robert Tsay Beverly Hills 6-0 240 Sr. OL Brent Pollock Peninsula 6-3 280 Jr. OL Marlon Dale Westchester 6-4 320 Sr. OL Courtney Morgan Westchester 6-4 320 Sr. B J.P. Losman Venice 6-3 190 Sr. B Chris Griffin St. Monica 6-1 190 Sr. B Jaime Moreno Venice 5-9 170 Sr. AP Adimchinobi Echamandu Hawthorne 5-11 195 Sr.

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SOUTH BAY/WESTSIDE / DEFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Pauli Kaho Redondo Union 5-10 195 Sr. DL Matt Schaefer Mira Costa 6-5 285 Sr. DL Brent Nash Beverly Hills 6-0 215 Sr. LB Sioeli Tuipolutu Hawthorne 6-1 205 Sr. LB Carlos Flores Palisades 6-2 265 Sr. LB Davion Doby St. Monica 6-0 190 Sr. LB Shad McLachlan Torrance 6-2 210 Sr. DB Charles Drake Westchester 6-0 185 Sr. DB Sean Judd Torrance 6-4 220 Sr. DB Kaven Jackson Hawthorne 6-0 180 Sr. DB Sean Weston Serra 5-10 170 Sr. AP James Dunn St. Monica 5-10 165 Sr.

*--*

* Back of the Year: J.P. Losman, Venice.

* Lineman/Linebacker of the Year: Sioeli Tuipuloto, Hawthorne.

* Coach of the Year: Norm Lacy, St. Monica.

SOUTH COAST/SOUTHEAST / OFFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. WR Kareem Kelly Long Beach Poly 6-2 190 Sr. WR Samie Parker Long Beach Poly 5-10 170 Sr. TE Erick Streelman Valley Christian 6-5 235 Sr. OL Mark Manu Paramount 6-0 265 Jr. OL Ron Burrows La Mirada 6-4 270 Sr. OL Alex McKenzie Lakewood 6-4 325 Sr. OL Joe Veach Long Beach Poly 6-3 275 Sr. OL Jesse Bender Mayfair 6-2 255 Jr. B Chris Lewis Long Beach Poly 6-4 205 Sr. B Mike Harrison Mayfair 6-2 200 Sr. B Larry Croom Long Beach Poly 5-9 195 Sr. AP Jamaul Montgomery St. John Bosco 6-1 180 Sr.

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SOUTH COAST/SOUTHEAST / DEFENSE

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Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. DL Dorsey Mitchell Centennial 6-6 290 Sr. DL George Woods La Mirada 6-3 270 Sr. DL Cass Kuresa Long Beach Poly 6-2 295 Sr. LB John Lopez St. Paul 6-0 220 Sr. LB Dennis Link Long Beach Poly 6-3 205 Sr. LB Jason Ikeda Bellflower 5-9 190 Sr. LB Melvin Simmons Dominguez 6-1 200 Sr. DB Darrell Rideaux Long Beach Poly 5-9 175 Sr. DB Everett Smith Dominguez 6-2 190 Sr. DB Abraham Cruz St. Paul 5-10 175 Jr. DB Moises Caro Bell Gardens 6-1 180 Sr. AP Marcell Allmond St. Paul 6-2 185 Sr.

*--*

* Back of the Year: Chris Lewis, Long Beach Poly.

* Lineman/Linebacker of the Year: Dennis Link, Long Beach Poly.

* Coach of the Year: Mike Fitch, Mayfair.

All-area teams for Valley and Ventura regions will be announced in January.