Michael Davis, Jesse Pina, William Wang highlight Pacific League football first-teamers

None of the three local teams qualified for the CIF playoffs out of the Pacific League this season, but there was still plenty to be recognized for Crescenta Valley High, Glendale and Hoover following the 2012 season.

The league’s coaches tabbed several key players from each squad for all-league recognition, including a handful of first-team selections in the Falcons’ William Wang and Chad Eggertson, the Nitros’ Michael Davis and Martin Marin and the Tornadoes’ Jesse Pina and Gio Martinez.

A first-team offensive selection, Wang replaced last year’s all-league first-team CV running back Marro Lee and rushed for 1,356 yards and 11 touchdowns in 206 carries with an average of 6.85 yards per carry to help the Falcons go 5-5 and 3-4 in league for fifth place.

“They’re a little different styles,” Crescenta Valley Coach Paul Schilling said of Lee and Wang, a senior. “William actually had a little more speed and was a straight runner, whereas Marro was so shifty and quick. [Wang] was our workhorse.”

Eggertson enjoyed his second straight year on first-team defense, as the senior defensive back led the Falcons in tackles with four sacks, an interception and a fumble caused.

“It was kind of cool for him getting first-team all-league two years in a row,” Schilling said. “To be in the top four with the Muir kids, who are so fast and so athletic, is quite an honor.”

Glendale went 3-7 and 2-5 in league, with wins over Crescenta Valley and Hoover, to finish in sixth place.

Davis, a senior receiver bound for BYU who played all over the field on offense, was the Nitros’ most dynamic weapon and he finished with 33 receptions for 409 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 258 yards and two touchdowns in 39 carries. He also passed for one touchdown and returned five punts for 107 yards and 13 kickoffs for 394 yards.

“I thought Michael did a great job for us, he was obviously key in our wins that we had this year,” Glendale first-year Coach John Tuttle said. “Everyone knew where Michael was on the field and I thought he did a nice job of trying to adjust his play on the field to more than one position.”

Junior punter Marin, who also played receiver and defensive back, made the first-team defense. He had 265 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 17 catches, while notching 35 tackles and an interception on defense.

“Martin did a lot of good stuff for us, especially toward the end of the year,” Tuttle said. “He helped a great deal with changing field position with his punts.”

Hoover, which went 3-7 and 1-6 in league to tie for seventh place, had success running the ball with Pina behind a veteran senior offensive line that included honorable mentions Jeffrey Truong and Juan Lomeli, as well as Martinez.

“They were a pretty physical group, those three seniors that we had up front. …Gio was the leader of that group,” Policky said. “[Jesse] became a kid we could count on and we did in some big situations.”

Crescenta Valley had two of its own senior offensive linemen, Naz Erdoglyan and Andrew Kiorkoff, earn second-team defense nods.

“We went into this year to build off of them, so we were really strong up front,” Schilling said. “I think if I had battled just for one of those guys, they would have been first team. I put them both up, but I think they split some of the votes.”

Sophomore defensive lineman Davo Hakobyan and senior linebacker Paul Gamez made the second-team defense for the Falcons, as well.

“In my opinion, Davo was the best lineman in the league,” Schilling said of Hakobyan, who tallied 59 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble. “He’s a really special player to watch in the coming years.”

Gamez led the team with 88 tackles and had one interception.

“Paul was kind of an anchor in our defense,” Schilling said. “He replaced Nathan Sarreal in our defense, who was so good, so he had big shoes to fill there and he did a good job.”

Senior offensive lineman Patrick Novshadian earned a second-team offense nod.

“Patrick did a great job as the leader of the line when we needed a play running behind Patrick,” Tuttle said. “He just did a great job overall keeping the team going in the right direction.”

Senior outside linebacker Colin Roach was a second-team defense recipient for Hoover.

“He made huge improvement,” Policky said. “He had a lot of big plays and big hits that really charged up momentum on the sideline.”

Also making honorable mention were Crescenta Valley senior running back Brendan Panopio on offense and Crescenta Valley senior defensive back Jeff Saengsri (50 tackles and an interception) and Glendale sophomore linebacker Daniel Jung (34 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions) on defense.