PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS 1988 : Lancers Lead the Way in Times All-Star Grid Selections

It has been a banner year for the Bishop Amat High football team.

The Lancers were rated No. 1 in the San Gabriel Valley most of the season, consistently ranked in the top of the CIF Southern Section Division I and have reached the division final for the first time since 1983.

With that in mind, it should not be surprising that the Lancers also have the most first- and second-team selections on the 46-player Los Angeles Times San Gabriel Valley All-Star High School Football Team.

Bishop Amat placed three players on the first team and two on the second squad. First-team players are receiver Jeremy Smith, quarterback Brian Harmon and defensive back Loren Cannon. Making the second team were receiver Jason Green and linebacker Wade Kennedy.

Two other teams with successful traditions, Los Altos and Claremont, also placed three players on the first team.

Los Altos, which has reached its division championship game for the third year in a row, landed offensive linemen Lou Parra and Eric Dives and defensive back Jason Martin to the team.

Claremont, which lost to Los Altos (14-3) in the CIF Division IV semifinals, has first-team players in receiver Craig Palos, defensive lineman J. J. McGwire and linebacker Aaron Pruitt.

Cross-town rivals Muir and Pasadena, which have produced a steady supply of all-star players over the years, each have two players on the first team.

Muir’s first-teamers are offensive back Darick Holmes and linebacker Lumumba Mushonga and the Mustangs also have offensive lineman George Bugarin on the second squad. Pasadena has offensive lineman Terry McDaniels and linebacker Chris Jeter on the first team and defensive lineman Charles Jackson and defensive back Robert Webster on the second team.

Baldwin Park and Arroyo are the other schools with more than one player on the first team. Baldwin Park landed defensive lineman Fred Ruiz and defensive back Bruno Haro on the first team and quarterback Richard Robles and offensive lineman Eddie Andrade on the second team. Arroyo’s first-team players are defensive lineman Chad Plaisted and placekicker Danny Ibarra and the Knights added offensive back Willie Reyna to the second unit.

Damien and Northview each placed one player on the first team and two on the second squad, and Walnut had one on the first and another on the second. Temple City led the way on the second team with three players.

Running back Daryl Green of Nogales is the only repeater from last year and Bishop Amat’s Smith is the only junior on the first team.

Twenty schools are represented on the first and second teams.

The selections were based on a poll of 49 11-man football coaches in The Times’ San Gabriel Valley area, covering the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys.

The first teams from all Times sections will be honored at the annual Times High School Football Awards Brunch at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Anaheim Hilton, 777 Convention Way.

The program, sponsored by the Los Angeles Times Fund, will honor first-team all-stars from the San Gabriel Valley Section and 11 other Times circulation areas: Orange County, Westside, San Fernando Valley, Ventura County, Inland Empire, South Bay, Glendale, Southeast, South Coast, San Diego County and Central Los Angeles.

First-team players will receive a gold helmet plaque and a certificate.

The featured speaker will be UC Berkeley Coach Bruce Snyder, a former Utah State coach and Los Angeles Rams assistant who guided the Golden Bears to a 5-5-1 record this season.

The Times San Gabriel Valley Section’s coach of the year, lineman of the year and back of the year will be named. The winners will receive trophies.

Parents and the head coach of each first-team all-star have been invited to the brunch.

When it comes to outstanding running backs, the valley is rarely in short supply and the first team is well-stocked again this year.

Perhaps the best of the group is Green of Nogales, a 5-foot-11, 180-pounder who concluded a brilliant prep career by rushing for 1,414 yards and 11 touchdowns in 177 carries--an average of 7.2 yards a carry--as a senior. Green also caught 12 passes for 142 yards.

A three-year starter, Green finished his career with 3,436 yards rushing. He has explosive 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash and has also excelled as a defensive back and finished with two interceptions and 60 tackles this season.

It is no wonder that Green, a three-time All-Sierra League player, is considered among the top college prospects in the valley. Major colleges recruiting him include Colorado, USC, Michigan, Syracuse and Washington.

Running back Mike Galindo of Northview found a steady stream of success in two years as a starter. After rushing for 1,300 yards as a junior, the 5-9 and 172-pounder ran for 1,502 yards and 23 touchdowns.

A two-time All-Valle Vista League selection who was first team All-CIF as a junior, Galindo has also benefited from 4.5 speed in the 40. Galindo has been recruited by Hawaii and USC.

Perhaps the most versatile player in the first-team backfield is Muir’s Holmes. A 6-1 and 185-pound quarterback for the Mustangs, Holmes was selected as a back largely because of his elusive running.

After all, he did rush for 1,315 yards and 23 touchdowns in 185 carries--an impressive 7.1 yards a carry. And he passed for 881 yards and 7 touchdowns and was exceptional on kickoff returns. He also chipped in as a defensive back with two interceptions.

A player of many positions, Holmes was a first-team All-Pacific League selection as a wide receiver last season. He has been recruited by top Division I programs such as UCLA, Colorado and Oklahoma.

In recent years, Bishop Amat’s offense has been regarded more for its running backs. But with Harmon at quarterback this season, the Lancers passed with flying colors.

One of the most efficient passers in the valley, the 6-0 and 180 Harmon completed 159 of 244 passes for 2,103 yards and 19 touchdowns to lead the Lancers to the CIF Division I semifinals for the first time since 1983. He completed 65.2% of his passes.

Harmon’s favorite target this season was wide receiver Jeremy Smith--the only junior on the first team. With 63 catches for 737 yards and six touchdowns, the 6-0 and 175 speedster was one of the leaders in receptions in the valley. That should also make him one of the top college prospects in the valley next season.

Another receiver who piled up impressive statistics was Claremont’s Palos, who caught 52 passes for 1,026 yards and 14 touchdowns for an average of nearly 20 yards a catch. His longest went for 92 yards and a touchdown.

A versatile player for the Wolfpack, Palos also was an All-Baseline League punter, returns punts and saw spot duty at defensive back. He has been recruited by Division I colleges such as Oregon, Arizona State, Texas-El Paso, Colorado and Nevada-Las Vegas.

Among placekickers, it would be difficult to find a player with as much range and efficiency as Arroyo’s Ibarra this season. The 5-9 and 155 Ibarra made 11 field goals and six were from 40 yards or longer including a 52-yarder. He also added 34 successful PATs.

An All-Mission Valley League selection as a kicker, Ibarra was also named to the all-league team as a defensive back and made five interceptions.

The first team all-valley offensive line is one of the most imposing in recent years, averaging a whopping 247 pounds across and the biggest is Carnell Carter of Walnut.

At 6-4 and 290, Carter was described by Walnut Coach Jim Patricio as a dominating lineman with an ability to knock defenders off their feet. Selected Valle Vista League lineman of the year, Carter has been recruited by Division I colleges such as Utah, Oregon, Iowa, Arizona and Arizona State.

Parra of Los Altos is the smallest of the first-team linemen at 5-11 and 200 but was a key factor in the success of the Conquerors. He was selected to the team as an offensive lineman and was an all-leaguer at center. But he also was chosen the Sierra League defensive player of the year as a linebacker and had 18 quarterback sacks and 101 tackles.

One of the most heavily recruited players in the valley is McDaniels of Pasadena. At 6-6 and 245, he has 4.7 speed in the 40 to match his dominating size. Like Parra, McDaniels is also a talented two-way player at offensive and defensive tackle.

A two-time All-Pacific League selection, McDaniels is a good pass rusher and recovered two fumbles for touchdowns in an early-season game against St. Francis. He has been recruited by major colleges such as USC, Washington, UCLA, Notre Dame and Arizona.

Another standout on the offensive line for Los Altos was Dives, a 6-4 and 235-pounder who was an all-league selection for two years. Regarded as an outstanding blocker with good foot speed, he has been recruited by USC, UCLA, Hawaii and Air Force, among others.

Damien has had a tradition of producing big, talented offensive linemen and tackle Len Gorecki certainly fits that description. At 6-5 and 265, he is regarded as an exceptional blocker. Named to the All-Far West team by Super Prep magazine, Gorecki has a long recruiting list that is headed by USC, Washington, Colorado, Washington State and Arizona State.

On the subject of size, the all-valley first team defensive line is not exactly small. In fact, the four players average nearly 240 pounds.

Topping the list is Ken Hall of Garey, a 6-5 and 290 defensive end who had nine quarterback sacks and interceptions. He is also a skilled offensive tackle, who excels at run and pass blocking. Among the colleges recruiting him are USC, Fresno State, Brigham Young, Nevada-Las Vegas and San Diego State.

Ruiz of Baldwin Park is another first-team lineman who starred as a two-way player. The 6-3 and 245 Ruiz made the All-Sierra League team as a tackle on defense and a guard on offense after earning All-Montview League honors as a junior. Colleges recruiting him include Washington State, New Mexico State, Hawaii and Oregon.

If the name McGwire sounds familiar, there is a good reason. His older brothers are Mark, star first baseman for the Oakland A’s, and Dan, former Iowa quarterback who is redshirting at San Diego State. As a senior tackle on defense, J. J. has also made a big impression.

At 6-3 and 235, McGwire led the Wolfpack with 11 quarterback sacks and intercepted a pass for a touchdown. He has been recruited by Arizona State, Arizona, Washington, San Diego State, Colorado and Nebraska.

Arroyo has consistently produced outstanding linemen in recent years and the Knights found another good one in Plaisted, small but effective at 5-11 and 205. A two-way starter at tackle, Plaisted was named the Mission Valley League lineman of the year in leading Arroyo to the CIF Division V quarterfinals.

Jeter of Pasadena was described by his coach, Gary Griffiths, as “the best outside linebacker I’ve ever coached” and he was certainly one of the most active players for the Bulldogs on defense. At 6-0 and 180, he had two interceptions and seven quarterback sacks. He has been recruited by Northwestern, Arizona and Air Force.

Lumumba Mushonga is not the easiest name to remember, so his teammates at Muir call him Mumbie. But opponents may have difficulty forgetting him, considering that he had 158 tackles, 10 quarterback sacks and 3 tipped passes. At 6-3 and 215, he has also caught the eye of recruiters. Topping his list of schools are UC Berkeley, Brigham Young, Iowa State, Washington State, Texas-El Paso and Arizona.

Claremont’s success was built around its defense and Pruitt, 5-10 and 200, was the top tackler for the Wolfpack with 207 and he also had three interceptions. One of the leaders in the valley in tackles, Pruitt has been recruited by Oregon State and Utah State.

The first team defensive backfield consists of four excellent all-around athletes.

At 6-0 and 180, Haro may have received more notice as a wide receiver. However, he also made three interceptions and was one of the leaders on defense. A two-time all-leaguer, Haro also caught 38 passes for 665 yards and 11 touchdowns as a wide receiver.

He was also an All-CIF baseball player as a junior. He has been recruited in football by colleges such as Washington State, Oregon State, Hawaii and New Mexico State.

Rosemead’s Payne also was acclaimed on offense as a running back. But he was also a secondary star at safety, where he made all-league two years. As a senior, he made two interceptions and was one of the team’s leading tacklers.

As a running back, Payne rushed for 1,414 yards and 22 touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 253 yards. At 6-0 and 183, his list of colleges is headed by USC, UC Berkeley, Hawaii, Oregon and Nebraska.

Another two-way player, Martin of Los Altos made a big impact wherever he played this season. As a safety, he made six interceptions and was his team’s second-leading tackler. On offense, he had 40 catches for 630 yards and five touchdown.

That helps explain why the 6-3 and 205 Martin was selected most valuable player in the Sierra League. He has been recruited by Utah, Syracuse and San Diego State.

Cannon of Bishop Amat has been used primarily as a defensive back but he is also a good all-around athlete, who starts at guard for the school’s basketball team. In football, the 6-0 and 175 Cannon was an All-Angelus Leaguer who made six interceptions.

The all-valley second team offense consists of receivers Jason Green of Bishop Amat and Dominic Farrar of Charter Oak; linemen Eddie Andrade of Baldwin Park, George Bugarin of Muir, Matt Hunkins of Northview and Charles Lynch of Temple City; quarterbacks Richard Robles of Baldwin Park and Ken Mushinskie of Temple City; backs Marshawn Thompson of Bassett, Marcus Green of Northview and Willie Reyna of Arroyo, and kicker Carlos Bustos of Damien.

The second-team defense consists of linemen Mitch Brunyer of Rowland, Charles Jackson of Pasadena, Mike Evalle of Damien and Jason Irwin of Ganesha; linebackers Wade Kennedy of Bishop Amat, Ted Vance of Temple City and Erich Trapp of Arcadia, and defensive backs Robbie Santos of San Marino, Robert Webster of Pasadena, Anthony Gallahan of Walnut and Mike Gerken of Arcadia.

PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS 1988: First Team

OFFENSE Name: Craig Palos Position: Receiver School: Claremont Height: 6-0 Weight: 170 Year: Senior Name: Jeremy Smith Position: Receiver School: Bishop Amat Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 Year: Junior Name: Carnell Carter Position: Lineman School: Walnut Height: 6-4 Weight: 290 Year: Senior Name: Lou Parra Position: Lineman School: Los Altos Height: 5-11 Weight: 200 Year: Senior Name: Terry McDaniels Position: Lineman School: Pasadena Height: 6-6 Weight: 245 Year: Senior Name: Eric Dives Position: Lineman School: Los Altos Height: 6-4 Weight: 235 Year: Senior Name: Len Gorecki Position: Lineman School: Damien Height: 6-5 Weight: 265 Year: Senior Name: Brian Harmon Position: Quarterback School: Bishop Amat Height: 6-0 Weight: 180 Year: Senior Name: Daryl Green Position: Back School: Nogales Height: 5-11 Weight: 180 Year: Senior Name: Mike Galindo Position: Back School: Northview Height: 5-9 Weight: 172 Year: Senior Name: Darick Holmes Position: Back School: Muir Height: 6-1 Weight: 185 Year: Senior Name: Danny Ibarra Position: Kicker School: Arroyo Height: 5-9 Weight: 155 Year: Senior PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS 1988: First Team

DEFENSE Name: Kenny Hall Position: Lineman School: Garey Height: 6-5 Weight: 270 Year: Senior Name: Fred Ruiz Position: Lineman School: Baldwin Park Height: 6-3 Weight: 245 Year: Senior Name: J. J. McGwire Position: Lineman School: Claremont Height: 6-3 Weight: 235 Year: Senior Name: Chad Plaisted Position: Lineman School: Arroyo Height: 5-11 Weight: 205 Year: Senior Name: Chris Jeter Position: Linebacker School: Pasadena Height: 6-0 Weight: 180 Year: Senior Name: Lumumba Mushonga Position: Linebacker School: Muir Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 Year: Senior Name: Aaron Pruitt Position: Linebacker School: Claremont Height: 5-10 Weight: 200 Year: Senior Name: Bruno Haro Position: Back School: Baldwin Park Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Year: Senior Name: Wolfe Barber Payne Position: Back School: Rosemead Height: 6-0 Weight: 183 Year: Senior Name: Jason Martin Position: Back School: Los Altos Height: 6-3 Weight: 205 Year: Senior Name: Loren Cannon Position: Back School: Bishop Amat Height: 6-0 Weight: 175 Year: Senior PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS 1988: Second Teams

OFFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Jason Green Bishop Amat R 6-4 195 11 Dominic Farrar Charter Oak R 6-4 215 12 Eddie Andrade Baldwin Park OL 6-3 255 12 George Bugarian Muir OL 6-0 207 12 Matt Hunkins Northview OL 6-0 190 12 Charles Lynch Temple City OL 6-2 220 12 Richard Robles Baldwin Park QB 5-9 160 11 Ken Mushinskie Temple City QB 5-10 165 12 Marshawn Thompson Bassett B 6-1 190 11 Marcus Green Northview B 6-1 185 11 Willie Reyna Arroyo B 5-11 180 12 Carlos Bustos Damien K 6-0 190 11

DEFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Mitch Brunyer Rowland DL 5-11 210 12 Charles Jackson Pasadena DL 6-3 230 12 Mike Evalle Damien DL 6-0 235 12 Jason Irwin Ganesha DL 6-2 225 12 Wade Kennedy Bishop Amat LB 6-0 195 12 Ted Vance Temple City LB 6-0 180 12 Erich Trapp Arcadia LB 6-2 205 12 Robbie Santos San Marino DB 6-0 185 12 Robert Webster Pasadena DB 5-7 165 12 Anthony Gallahan Walnut DB 6-0 170 12 Mike Gerken Arcadia DB 6-2 175 12