FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Jason Whieldon

Orange Lutheran, QB, Sr.

Jason Whieldon’s greatest attribute may not have been his statistics, though they were peerless. Whieldon completed 65.5% of his passes this season for 2,844 yards, a county-record 40 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also ran for 1,184 yards, averaging nine yards a carry, and 17 touchdowns. But what really stood out about Whieldon was his leadership. “He really raised the level of everyone around him,” Orange Lutheran Coach Jim Kunau said, “which is true of most great players.”

Ray Mietkiewicz

Marina, RB, Sr.

Imagine a bruising running back who also has dazzling speed and the ability to cut back without blinking. That’s Ray Mietkiewicz. “He can run you over but he’s also got spin moves and cutbacks and great vision,” Marina Coach Mark Rehling said. “He’s not a big breakaway guy but can make you miss, has good speed and can also run you over.” Mietkiewicz finished the season with 1,871 yards and 23 touchdowns and is Marina’s career rushing leader with more than 4,000 yards.

Andre Stewart

Newport Harbor, RB, Sr.

Newport Harbor ran the ball 70% of the time en route to winning the Division VI title. The reason for such a run-oriented offense? Andre Stewart. In his first year as a varsity starter, the 5-9, 170-pound Stewart led the Sailors to a championship. He finished with 2,380 yards and 26 touchdowns, including a 159-yard, one-touchdown performance in Newport Harbor’s 19-18 title-game victory over Irvine. “He really came on and had a fantastic year,” Sailor Coach Jeff Brinkley said.

Mark Ahlberg

Troy, TE, Sr.

It’s hard to determine where Mark Ahlberg had the greatest impact--as a receiver, a blocker or a punter. Ahlberg caught 38 passes for 555 yards and five touchdowns. He was one of the lead blockers for a rushing attack that amassed 3,200 yards. And he averaged 43 yards a punt. Ahlberg, a co-captain and a three-year varsity starter, certainly bumped his game up a notch this season. “He was much more intense and gave us a lot of leadership,” Troy Coach John Turek said.

Ryan Murray

Esperanza, WR, Sr.

Ryan Murray “was the way we moved the football” in 1999, Esperanza Coach Gary Meek said. Despite wearing a sizable target on his back as the featured receiver, Murray had 66 receptions for 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns. The numbers were even more impressive considering the Aztecs lost three other receivers to injuries over the course of the season. Murray, who has a 4.0 grade-point average, has drawn interest from several Ivy League schools.

Steve Yaden

Kennedy, WR, Sr.

Kennedy Coach Mitch Olson knew he had someone special in Steve Yaden. He just didn’t know how special. Yaden not only caught 60 passes for 886 yards and six touchdowns but also allowed the Fighting Irish offense to kick into high gear. “He allowed us to go as far as we did [the semifinals of the Division VI playoffs] because he opened up everyone else on offense,” Olson said. “He was also a threat every time he touched the ball.” Yaden returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns.

Joe McGuire

Servite, OL, Sr.

A defensive tackle from Fontana made the mistake this season of ripping off Joe McGuire’s helmet early in a game. The rest of the game, McGuire pushed the poor soul 15-20 yards off the line of scrimmage. That’s how dominating McGuire--who Tustin Coach Myron Miller called the best lineman he has ever seen--can be. “This kid is the total package,” Servite line coach Ed Drzanek said. “He wants to be the best and understands what it takes.” McGuire is headed to USC.

Scott Paffrath

Mission Viejo, OL, Sr.

Scott Paffrath excelled this season even though it was the first in which blocking was his sole responsibility. Paffrath previously had been a tight end and a defensive end, a position he continued to play this season. Mission Viejo Coach Bob Johnson called Paffrath, who helped pave the way for running back Robbie DuBois’ 1,500-yard season, a late bloomer with huge potential. “This has been more of an incubator year for him,” Johnson said. “His best is yet to

come.”

Blair Jones

Newport Harbor, OL, Sr.

Blair Jones is 6 feet 8 and 262 pounds. He can move with the grace and skill of players three-fourths his size, which makes him a rare find for an offensive lineman. “He’s certainly as good a big lineman as I’ve seen with that size at the high school level,” Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said. Jones, a captain and a three-year starter, was the anchor for a line that opened meteor-sized holes for running back Andre Stewart. Jones is considering offers from several football powers.

Dan Owens

Mater Dei, OL, Sr.

Dan Owens doesn’t just play hard. He plays smart. “He is a blend of a 4.06 student and a ferocious football player,” Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson said. “He understood the fronts we were playing against, he understood the angles. He does a great job of leading the offensive line.” Owens consistently graded in the 90% range, blocking passes and amazing coaches with his speed, power and technique. He is considering attending either a service academy or an Ivy League school.

M.J. Ansel

Marina, OL, Sr.

Marina has sent offensive linemen to play at Nebraska and Oregon State. M.J. Ansel may not be headed to play at a high-profile college, but Viking Coach Mark Rehling said Ansel is as good a lineman as the school has produced. Ansel can stuff ball-hungry linebackers and drive defenders back downfield. Because of his size (6-3, 270), Ansel, an offensive tackle for Marina, will probably be switched to guard or center. Portland State and UC Davis are trying to land him.

Chris Kluwe

Los Alamitos, PK, Sr.

What can’t Chris Kluwe do? He averaged 45.5 yards a punt, kicked a 60-yard field goal to send a playoff game into overtime and achieved a 1,490 on his SAT--including a perfect 800 on the English portion. Kluwe is headed to UCLA as a punter next season, but perhaps the Bruins should make room for him on the debate team too. “He goes down in Griffin lore,” Los Alamitos defensive coordinator Barry Sher said. Kluwe connected on 16 of 25 field-goal attempts (five were blocked) and 39 of 40 PATs.