SAN GABRIEL 1986 ALL-STARS

Over the years, Bishop Amat High School of La Puente has established a tradition of winning football games and producing numerous major-college prospects. This year was no different.

The Lancers completed their second consecutive perfect regular-season and Angelus League record, reached the CIF Big 5 Conference quarterfinals and finished with an 11-1 mark.

It was also a good year for individual players at Bishop Amat, as the composition of the 46-player first- and second-team 1986 Los Angeles Times All-San Gabriel Valley all-star squad will attest. The Lancers led all schools with five players on the first team.

Not surprisingly, all five players are considered major-college prospects. They are running back Eric Bieniemy, offensive linemen Richard Garrick and Troy Auzenne, linebacker Charles Fraley and defensive back Stephon Pace.

Three other schools that have grown accustomed to success--Muir, Los Altos and Damien--were next in line in all-star selections.

Pacific League champion Muir had four first-teamers in running back Ricky Ervins, quarterback Vince Phillips and defensive backs Marcus Robertson and Tony Crutchfield and second-team defensive lineman Chad Brown.

Sierra League winner Los Altos placed three players on the first team--wide receiver Steve Peters, offensive lineman Paul Rio and linebacker Ken Lopez--and three on the second team, quarterback Darren DeSpain, wide receiver Jim Snider and defensive lineman Garo Sirinian.

Damien, which won the Baseline League, landed running back-receiver Eric Henley and offensive lineman Dan Ruiz on the first team and tight end Tim Winn, offensive lineman Larry (Bubba) Bryant and linebacker Charlie Lough on the second squad.

The only other school with two first-team selections was Pasadena, with running back Anthony Wallace and defensive lineman Willie Minor. Temple City, Ganesha and Claremont each had one first-team and one second-team selection.

Bieniemy and Ervins were the only repeaters from last year’s first team and Pace was 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 50 11-man football coaches in the Times San Gabriel Valley area, covering the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys. Players were selected on the basis of their regular-season performance.

Players from Montebello schools are considered for the Times All-Southeast team and players from La Canada schools are candidates for the All-Glendale squad.

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 nine other Times circulation areas: South Bay, San Fernando Valley, Glendale, Southeast, Westside, Central City, South Coast, Orange County and San Diego.

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

The featured speaker will be John Cooper, who coached Arizona State to its first Pacific-10 Conference championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl.

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. All head football coaches in the 10 areas are welcome.

Year in and year out, the valley seems to produce a surplus of outstanding running backs and this season was no exception. Twelve players surpassed 1,000 yards rushing.

Topping the list was Bishop Amat’s Bieniemy, a powerful 5-8, 190-pounder who rushed for 1,869 yards and 29 touchdowns in 225 carries for an average of 8.3 yards a carry. The All-CIF performer, who has been named Angelus League Player of the Year the last two seasons, also holds career rushing records at Bishop Amat with 4,750 yards and 65 touchdowns in 715 carries.

That explains why Bieniemy was a prep All-America selection by Street & Smith magazine and Max Emfinger’s National High School Recruiting Service and is being recruited by many of the top colleges in the nation, including UCLA, USC, Arizona and Colorado.

Ervins of Muir could be the most versatile running back in the San Gabriel Valley, having rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns in 219 carries and caught 41 passes for 537 yards and four touchdowns. A three-year starter, the muscular 5-9, 185-pounder is the school’s all-time rushing leader with about 3,500 yards.

Also an outstanding sprinter who has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, Ervins was on Emfinger’s All-America team and is being recruited by colleges including USC, Colorado, Stanford, Purdue and UC Berkeley. With his 3.7 grade-point average, Ervins is also his team’s academic leader.

At the start of the season, Wallace of Pasadena was not mentioned in the same breath with Ervins and Bieniemy. But the 6-1, 175-pound speedster developed into one of the premier breakaway rushers in the valley.

He finished with 1,730 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns in 181 carries for a valley-leading average of 9.5 yards a carry. Among the colleges recruiting Wallace is Arizona State.

The other member of the backfield is Phillips, a 6-2, 180-pound quarterback for Muir who completed 134 of 207 passes for 1,712 yards and 16 touchdowns and threw only two interceptions during regular-season play. Phillips was also a good rusher and posted a punting average of about 41 yards.

Also an outstanding outfielder in baseball, Phillips is being recruited in football by such colleges as Colorado, USC, Michigan State and San Diego State.

Another solid athlete is Henley (5-10, 165 pounds) of Damien, who was one of the top rushers in the valley and is an outstanding receiver with 23 catches for 319 yards and two touchdowns. Selected to the team as a receiver, Henley also posted impressive rushing statistics with 1,379 yards and 14 touchdowns in 179 carries.

Eric is the third Henley to make the all-valley squad in the last five years. Tom made the squad in 1982 and is a senior wide receiver at Stanford, and Darryl made the team in 1984 and is a sophomore defensive back at UCLA.

Eric, the last of the Henley brothers, is also being recruited as a receiver or defensive back by most Pacific 10 Conference colleges and by Nebraska and Colorado of the Big 8 Conference.

The other wide receiver is Peters, who at 6-5, 210 pounds is one of the biggest pass catchers in the valley. An outstanding blocker as a tight end, Peters caught 34 passes for 575 yards and 10 touchdowns.

An All-Sierra League performer two straight seasons, Peters is also a solid student with a 3.7 grade-point average. Among the top colleges recruiting Peters are Pac-10 powers Washington, Arizona State, Arizona and Stanford and Rice.

Claremont has gained a reputation for producing outstanding place-kickers, and this year is no exception with Flournoy (5-10, 165 pounds), who made 7 of 11 field-goal attempts including a 47-yarder. Flournoy also made 19 extra points to finish with 40 points as a kicker.

He also was a good wide receiver with 14 receptions for 391 yards and four touchdowns, and he stands out as a soccer player.

The first-team offensive line is big as usual, with an average weight of 233 pounds. Topping the list is Bishop Amat’s Garrick, the biggest player on the squad at 6-3 and 265 pounds.

Considered the premier offensive lineman in the rugged Angelus League, Garrick is an all-leaguer who was also a pre-season Street & Smith prep All-America selection. Top colleges recruiting him are Washington, Arizona, Stanford, UC Berkeley and Army.

Garrick’s strongest blocking mate at Bishop Amat was Auzenne, considered to be still developing at 6-6, 220 pounds. The blocking of Garrick and Auzenne played big roles in Bieniemy’s rushing success.

Auzenne, an all-league performer at tackle, also has many major colleges recruiting him, including USC, Arizona State and Kansas State.

Damien also had a solid offensive line and the leader was Ruiz, a 6-2, 240-pound guard. A second-team all-valley selection last year, Ruiz has colleges such as Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska and Washington recruiting him.

Major-college scouts are also heavily recruiting Rio (6-3, 240 pounds) of Los Altos, who has attracted schools such as Notre Dame, Michigan, Arizona and Ohio State. An superb blocker with good quickness, Rio has made his all-league team as a guard the last two years.

Bobo (6-3, 200 pounds) is not as big as the other first-team linemen and has not been recruited heavily, but the All-Valle Vista League selection may have played the biggest role in the success of a strong option rushing attack for South Hills.

Perhaps the top player on the defensive line is West Covina’s Lassalette (6-4, 235 pounds), who scouts consider one of the premier defensive players in the nation. A defensive end who also has played tight end, Lassalette was a pre-season All-America selection by Street & Smith and Emfinger.

An active and quick pass-rusher, Lassalette was credited with 15 quarterback sacks and recovered two fumbles. He is being recruited by UCLA, Washington, Arizona State, Arizona and Notre Dame.

Another big and aggressive lineman on defense was Ganesha’s Crawford (6-4, 245 pounds), who made 111 tackles, 16 quarterback sacks, blocked 9 passes and caused four fumbles.

Also an all-league selection at offensive guard, Crawford has good quickness (4.9 seconds in the 40) and has been recruited by Colorado, Washington State, Arizona and UC Berkeley.

At 6-5, 210 pounds with 4.7-second speed in the 40, Pasadena’s Minor caused major problems for opposing offenses. His coach, Gary Griffiths, called him the most dominant player in the valley. Minor, who made 20 quarterback sacks, has been recruited by colleges including UCLA, USC, Arizona State and Nevada-Las Vegas.

Temple City’s Hofstad (6-1, 185 pounds) does not have major-college size but was an important member of his school’s brilliant defense that logged four shutouts. An All-Rio Hondo League selection at defensive tackle, Hofstad was credited with 114 tackles and an interception.

One of the most active linebackers in the valley, Fraley (6-2, 210 pounds) was the top defensive player for Bishop Amat and had statistics to match. Fraley made three interceptions, recovered four fumbles, made four quarterback sacks and was credited with 104 tackles.

Fraley, selected as the top defensive player in the Angelus League and a two-time all-league choice, has been recruited by USC and Washington.

Lopez (6-2, 185 pounds) of Los Altos is not quite as big as Fraley but is just as aggressive. Lopez, the Sierra League’s most valuable player and a two-time all-leaguer, was credited with 16 quarterback sacks, four fumble recoveries, two pass interceptions and 97 tackles. He is being recruited by Oregon, San Diego State and Arizona.

The other linebacker, Russell (6-2, 215 pounds) of Wilson, may be the most widely recruited of the trio. Among the top schools courting him are UCLA, USC, Arizona State, Arizona and Washington. A pre-season honorable mention All-America selection, Russell made two interceptions, two quarterback sacks and 100 tackles.

Success in football runs in the family for Crutchfield (6-1, 185 pounds) of Muir, who is a cousin of Ervins. Considered one of the top defensive players in the Pacific League, Crutchfield played linebacker and strong safety for the Mustangs and made the all-star team at defensive back.

Crutchfield, a speedster who was credited with 113 tackles and two quarterback sacks, also made an impact at fullback with 378 yards in only 45 carries. He is being recruited as a safety by San Diego State, Hawaii, Washington State, Brigham Young and Nevada-Las Vegas.

Robertson, who teamed with Crutchfield on a Muir defense that posted six shutouts, gained a reputation as a big-play defensive back with two interceptions and 93 tackles.

The 6-1, 178-pound Robertson, who also plays wide receiver, is also one of the top quarter-milers in the valley. He has been recruited by Colorado, Washington State, San Diego State, Hawaii and Nevada-Las Vegas.

Diamond Bar’s Galindo (6-1, 175 pounds) has established himself as one of the top two-way players in the valley. But his strength is at defensive back, where he posted five interceptions and recovered two fumbles. He was also a successful receiver with 28 catches for 350 yards.

An All-CIF Southeastern Conference and All-Pomona Valley selection as a junior, Galindo has been recruited by Washington State, Stanford, Rice and Oregon State.

The final member of the backfield, junior Pace (6-1, 170 pounds), was the leader of a strong secondary for Bishop Amat with four interceptions, two fumbles and a fumble recovery. The versatile all-leaguer also led the Lancers in receiving and returned kicks and punts.

The second-team offense consists of receivers Tim Winn of Damien and Jim Snider of Los Altos; linemen Larry Bryan of Damien, Jerry Henderson of Temple City, George Tyree of Nogales, Mike Wilkins of Monrovia and Armando Davila of Arroyo; quarterback Darren DeSpain of Los Altos; backs Bill Gallis of Northview, Terrell Thompson of Ganesha and Torey Pearson of Western Christian and kicker Chris Demirdijian of Arcadia.

Second-team defensive players are linemen Garo Sirinian of Los Altos, Zach Zaherek of Covina, Angel Chavez of Northview and Chad Brown of Muir; linebackers Broderick Spencer of Nogales, Jamal Jones of Monrovia and Charlie Lough of Damien; defensive backs Bob Baiz of Claremont, Steve Provenzano of Arcadia, Mark Staley of Glendora and Anthony Alvarez of Arroyo.

ALL STARS OFFENSIVE TEAM

Name School Height Weight Year Steve Peters Los Altos 6-5 210 12 Eric Henley Damien 5-10 165 12 Richard Garrick Bishop Amat 6-3 265 12 Troy Auzanne Bishop Amat 6-6 220 12 Dan Ruiz Damien 6-2 240 12 Paul Rio Los Altos 6-3 240 12 Chris Bobo South Hills 6-3 200 12 Vince Phillips Muir 6-2 180 12 Ricky Ervins Muir 5-9 185 12 Eric Bieniemy Bishop Amat 5-8 190 12 Anthony Wallace Pasadena 6-1 175 12 James Flournoy Claremont 5-10 165 12

DEFENSIVE TEAM

Name School Height Weight Year Tom Lassalette West Covina 6-4 235 12 Jody Crawford Ganesha 6-4 245 12 Willie Minor Pasadena 6-5 210 12 Steve Hofstad Temple City 6-1 185 12 Charles Fraley Bishop Amat 6-2 210 12 Ken Lopez Los Altos 6-2 185 12 Phil Russell Wilson 6-2 215 12 Tony Crutchfield Muir 6-1 185 12 Marcus Robertson Muir 6-1 178 12 Frank Galindo Diamond Bar 6-1 175 12 Stephen Pace Bishop Amat 6-1 170 11

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Tim Winn Damien WR 6-4 210 12 Jim Snider Los Altos WR 5-11 170 12 Larry Bryan Damien OL 6-4 260 11 Jerry Henderson Temple City OL 5-11 180 11 George Tyree Nogales OL 6-1 220 12 Mike Wilkins Monrovia OL 6-0 190 12 Armando Davila Arroyo OL 6-2 190 12 Darren DeSpain Los Altos QB 5-8 145 12 Bill Gallis Northview RB 6-2 175 11 Terrell Thompson Ganesha RB 5-9 210 12 Torey Pearson W. Christian RB 5-11 210 11 Chris Demirdijian Arcadia K 5-11 175 12

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Garo Sirinian Los Altos DL 6-3 218 12 Zach Zaherek Covina DL 6-3 220 12 Angel Chavez Northview DL 6-0 190 11 Chad Brown Muir DL 6-1 198 11 Broderick Spencer Nogales LB 6-0 212 12 Jamal Jones Monrovia LB 6-2 240 12 Charlie Lough Damien LB 6-4 210 11 Bob Baiz Claremont DB 5-11 175 12 Steve Provenzano Arcadia DB 5-11 160 12 Mark Staley Glendora DB 6-0 185 12 Anthony Alvarez Arroyo DB 6-0 165 12