Crescenta Valley’s Lobianco hauls in Pacific League Player of the Year

In a season of historical brilliance that was Crescenta Valley High football’s undefeated run to a CIF Southern Section Southeast Division title, it all started with a dominant seven-game tour de force through the Pacific League.

While the Falcons eventually won their first CIF championship since 1973, it had also been a while since Crescenta Valley sat atop the Pacific League.

But for the first time since 2004, the Falcons won league and for the first time since 2001 they won an outright title. Thus, when the all-league team was recently released, it was of little surprise that it was dotted with Falcons.

Leading the way was Jordan Lobianco, a senior cornerback, receiver and kick returner who made an impact every which way and was voted co-Pacific League Player of the Year, sharing the honor with the USC-bound Taeon Mason of Muir.

“It’s a pretty big honor,” Lobianco said. “I worked hard all season and it felt good receiving that honor, it showed my hard work paid off.”

Lobianco wasn’t the only Falcon to garner a lofty honor, as he was joined by senior quarterback Brian Gadsby, the Pacific League Offensive Player of the Year, senior defensive end Matt Erickson and senior linebacker Sean Bloks, the co-defensive players of the year, and two-way senior standout Davo Hakobyan, the league’s lineman of the year.

Indeed, after a 14-0 season and a 7-0 run in league with its closest margin of victory coming by 12 points, the Falcons had a cavalcade of all-stars, supported by four first-teamers and four second-teamers.

Lobianco shined on defense, offense and special teams.

“Everybody knew he played great corner and had nine interceptions, but in all the big games against teams like Muir and Burbank, he was big on offense, too,” said Falcons Coach Paul Schilling, who was voted the league’s coach of the year. “[He made an impact] in all aspects of the game.”

As aforementioned, Lobianco, who was matched up with the opposition’s top receiver every game, had nine interceptions to go along with 40 tackles. Offensively, he had 29 catches for 530 yards and eight scores. In all he had 15 total touchdowns, with nine on offense, three on punt returns and three on interceptions.

Gadsby was very much the poster boy for a high-profile and high-octane Falcons offense, throwing for 3,780 yards and 40 touchdowns. Gadsby completed 61% of his passes (230 for 377) and also had eight rushing touchdowns.

“He meant a lot [to our success],” Lobianco said of Gadsby. “He’s really great, he knows how to make plays.

“He’s just a really great player and a great leader.”

Erickson was a terror at defensive end, notching 134 tackles and 9.5 sacks and very much setting the tone with his aggressiveness and energy.

“Matt is just the perfect amount of crazy you want to be that great defensive player,” Schilling said. “He doesn’t stop; he’s got one of those motors where he goes and goes and goes.”

Bloks, who carries as 4.1 grade-point average, was very much the brains and the captain of the defense.

“He just is a great tackler and he can run,” said Schilling of Bloks, who had 138 tackles and three sacks. “He knew all the adjustments and he was sort of the captain of the defense.”

Hakobyan’s worth and talent were unquestioned, though whether or not he was better on the offensive or defensive line might have been up for discussion. On offense, he was stellar at tackle and at defensive end he tallied 101 tackles, a team-high 11.5 sacks and six forced fumbles.

“In the big games, he never came off the field except for special teams,” Schilling said. “He just has a huge heart.”

Earning first-team honors as skill position selections were senior running back Jonathan Jun and senior receiver Connor Van Ginkel.

Van Ginkel had a monster season after he was hindered most of his junior year by a collarbone injury. He hauled in 67 receptions for an area-best 1,405 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“He had a great season,” Lobianco said. “I know after being injured last year, he really wanted to shine this season. I could tell he was really hungry for it.”

Jun very quietly racked up 1,457 yards in 250 carries (5.8 per carry) for 17 touchdowns on the ground.

“He was probably our biggest surprise,” Schilling said. “He just knows how to use his blocks and he’s tough and durable.”

A good deal of Jun’s success was likely due to the exploits of senior offensive tackle Brian Wong, who was a first-team selection.

“He just doesn’t make mistakes,” Schilling said of Wong. “He’s just great technically.”

Rounding out the first-team selections for the Falcons was sophomore safety Tyler Hill, who had a team-high 141 tackles.

“He was just such a luxury to have,” said Schilling of safety’s ability to rack up tackles.

On the second team, Crescenta Valley receiver Chase Walker (41 catches for 778 yards and 10 touchdowns), offensive lineman Nizar Abou-Chakra, linebacker Colin Caver (113 tackles and 11 sacks) and defensive back Bostin Lakin (20 tackles and four interceptions on defense; 48 catches for 609 yards and six touchdowns on offense) grabbed honors.

Glendale went 3-7 on the season and 2-5 in league with much of its success bolstered by senior Daniel Jung, who also played defensive back, but could be a game breaker on offense.

The senior was a second-team skill position selection as the versatile and speedy running back/defensive back rushed for 683 yards and six touchdowns and a touchdown catch against Crescenta Valley as one of his 16 catches for 247 yards. The explosive Jung had his season cut short due to a knee injury and missed his final game against Hoover.

Offensive lineman Julius Santos also warranted second-team recognition for the Nitros, as did defensive lineman Grey Cabrera

Nitros senior running back Luis Ruiz was his team’s honorable mention and workhorse, rushing for 903 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Carlos Meraz was the Nitros’ defensive honorable mention.

Hoover’s two honorable mention picks went to senior quarterback Vaughn Parawan on offense and senior linebacker Josh Lee on defense. The Tornadoes went 1-9, 0-7 in league.

Crescenta Valley’s honorable mention picks were offensive lineman Ben Lizer and linebacker Jae Hong (43 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions).