Record-Setting Alvarez Heads All-Star Team

Here is a position-by-position look at the All-Glendale team.

BACKS

Franklin quarterback Santiago Alvarez and Flintridge Prep quarterback Chris Bisgaard both had sensational seasons.

Alvarez ran the controls of a short passing game and--regardless of how many shovel passes he threw--ran up some rather astounding numbers. Alvarez has thrown just seven interceptions while completing 295 of 476 passes for 3,706 yards and 49 touchdowns, both state single-season records. And he still has remaining Friday night’s City Section Northern Conference championship game against Garfield.

Bisgaard was named Co-Player of the Year in the Southern Section 8-Man Large Schools Division after he helped lead the Rebels to the school’s first Southern Section title in any sport. Bisgaard completed 111 of 184 for 1,885 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 420 yards and eight touchdowns.

Pathon Rucker of Glendale was perhaps the biggest surprise of the season. The sophomore started at wide receiver for the Dynamiters, but Coach Don Shoemaker moved him to tailback after the first game and Rucker was off and running. With his breakaway speed, agility and a good offensive line, Rucker gained 904 yards in 160 carries and scored seven touchdowns.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

Alberto Ocon was one of the main reasons Rucker was able to flourish for the Dynamiters. Ocon, a junior, is a two-time All-Pacific League lineman and a certain Division I prospect. “He’s an excellent drive blocker,” Shoemaker said. “He’s a horse and there aren’t too many guys he’s not going to be able to move out of the way.”

Glendale center Albert Mokoian also was named first team All-Pacific League after moving from guard last season. “He’s extremely strong and a solid little technician,” Shoemaker said.

La Canada’s Geoff Yale was the offensive lineman of the year in the Rio Hondo League, handling everyone he played against. Spartan Coach Nic Larez calls Yale “quiet, consistent and durable.”

Franklin’s Fred Ramirez anchored an offensive line that has allowed just nine sacks in 476 pass attempts.

Flintridge Prep had a strong passing attack last season. This year, Rebel Coach Glen Beattie inserted Chaka Miller at tight end to give Bisgaard another target and the result was a Southern Section championship. Arguably the most talented player at Flintridge Prep, Miller had 20 catches for 540 yards (27 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns. He also made 75 unassisted tackles as a linebacker and returned punts and kickoffs.

RECEIVERS

Franklin’s Lamar Lovett, a first-team All-Glendale receiver in 1988, was the area’s most explosive player, catching 88 passes for 1,189 yards and 16 touchdowns. He rushed for four touchdowns and also returned a punt for a score. “The most talented player I’ve ever coached,” Franklin Coach Armando Gonzalez said.

Aaron Erickson provided some of the most spectacular moments in Crescenta Valley’s best season in 12 years. Erickson had 24 receptions for 597 yards and four touchdowns, including one of 99 yards against Los Altos and a fourth-quarter, game-winning grab against Pasadena that he made while lying flat on his back in the end zone.

Miguel Osorio of Marshall was the main target in a surprising Marshall passing attack that was thought to be dead with the graduation of Sid Oxford, last season’s City Section passing leader. Osorio, the school’s all-time leading receiver, finished this season with 33 receptions for 647 yards and 11 touchdowns.

KICKER

La Canada’s Ross Allan was the area’s dominant kicker, converting eight field-goal attempts--including kicks from 49, 48, 44 and 42 yards.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

La Canada’s Richard Oh may have been undersized at 5-10 but he still managed to record 15 sacks for the Spartans and was named most valuable defensive lineman in the Rio Hondo League.

Other than a season-ending win over rival Glendale, Hoover had a season that Tornado fans might just as soon forget. Just about every team that played against Hoover, however, remembered Rich Humphrey for his aggressiveness and leadership.

Thang Hua of Franklin, a first-team All-Glendale pick in 1988, has been double- and triple-teamed throughout the season. From his position at nose tackle, he anchors a Panther defense that has allowed just 53 points in 13 games.

LINEBACKERS

Versatility is the common denominator of the All-Glendale linebacking corps. Crescenta Valley’s Pat Kennelly was named Pacific League Defensive Player of the Year with 42 unassisted tackles and three interceptions, including one for an 82 yard touchdown. Kennelly, who was also first-team All-Glendale last year, also dished out punishment on offense as the stalwart center for the the Falcons.

Pete Morales of St. Francis and Paul Traughber of La Canada also made the first team because of their versatility. Morales proved to be a gifted linebacker as well as a punishing runner for the Golden Knights, gaining 567 yards and scoring six touchdowns. Traughber’s mental makeup as a fullback (783 yards and 11 touchdowns) translated well when he took his aggressiveness across the line to the Spartan defense. He was the only unanimous All-Rio Hondo League selection as a back and was named to the all-league offense and defense.

Julius Rice led Franklin with 52 unassisted tackles, patrolled the line of scrimmage and caused six fumbles.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Although he gained much of his acclaim--and a Southern Section Co-Player of the Year award--for his talents as a wide receiver, David Swayne was almost as valuable to Flintridge Prep as a defensive back. Swayne, who had 60 receptions for 970 yards and 14 touchdowns, was a stingy defender--intercepting seven passes and making 51 unassisted tackles.

Javier Pimintel of Crescenta Valley is a two-time All-Pacific League defensive back known for his aggressive tackling. Pimintel, who was first-team All-Glendale in 1988, had four interceptions. He also gained 380 yards and scored five touchdowns as a running back for the Falcons.

Ralph Ortiz was one of the main reasons Franklin held opponents to less than 50 yards a game passing this season. He had six interceptions, including three he returned for touchdowns.

Rommell Carter of Marshall rounds out the All-Glendale defense. Carter had 34 tackles and two interception. He also scored four touchdowns. “He’s kind of like a jewel in the rough right now,” Marshall Coach Ken Gerard said. “I think he’ll do well at Division I or II level.”

PREP FOOTBALL ALL-STARS--1989

OFFENSE

Name: Alberto Ocon Position: Lineman School: Glendale Height: 6-2 Weight: 256 Year: Junior

Name: Geoff Yale Position: Oneman School: La Canada Height: 6-1 Weight: 220 Year: Senior

Name: Albert Mokolan Position: Lineman School: Glendale Height: 5-8 Weight: 210 Year: Senior

Name: Fred Ramirez Position: Lineman School: Franklin Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Year: Senior

Name: Chaka Miller Position: Lineman School: Flintridge Prep Height: 6-3 Weight: 210 Year: Junior

Name: Santiago Alvarez Position: Quarterback School: Franklin Height: 5-11 Weight: 160 Year: Senior

Name: Chris Bisgarro Position: Back School: Flintridge Prep Height: 6-4 Weight: 206 Year: Senior

Name: Pathon Rucker Position: Back School: Glendale Height: 5-11 Weight: 170 Year: Sophomore

Lamar Lovett Position: Wide Receiver School: Franklin Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Year: Senior

Name: Aaron Erickson Position: Wide Receiver School: Crescenta Valley Height: 6-0 Weight: 165 Year: Senior

Name: Miguel Osorio Position: Wide Receiver School: Marshall Height: 5-8 Weight: 160 Year: Senior

Name: Ross Allan Position: Kicker School: La Canada Height: 6-2 Weight: 175 Year: Senior

DEFENSE

Name: Richard Oh Position: Lineman School: La Canada Height: 5-9 Weight: 190 Year: Senior

Name: Thang Hua Position: Lineman School: Franklin Height: 6-3 Weight: 235 Year: Senior

Name: Richard Humphrey Position: Lineman School: Hoover Height: 6-3 Weight: 230 Year: Senior

Name: Pat Kennelly Position: Linebacker School: Crescenta Valley Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Year: Senior

Name: Julius Rice Position: Linebacker School: Franklin Height: 5-10 Weight: 180 Year: Junior

Name: Paul Traughber Position: Linebacker School: La Canada Height: 6-3 Weight: 225 Year: Senior

Name: Peter Morales Position: Linebacker School: St. Francis Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Year: Senior

Name: Ralph Ortiz Position: Back School: Franklin Height: 5-9 Weight: 165 Year: Senior

Name: Javier Pimentel Position: Back School: Crescenta Valley Height: 5-8 Weight: 160 Year: Senior

Name: David Swayne Position: Back School: Flintridge Prep Height: 6-1 Weight: 170 Year: Senior

Name: Romell Carter Position: Back School: Marshall Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Year: Senior

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Jose Carrillo Franklin Lineman 6-2 225 Senior Colin Robinson Ribet Academy Lineman 5-11 205 Junior Mitch Miller Flintridge Prep Lineman 6-2 225 Senior Anthony Vigil Hoover Lineman 5-9 200 Senior Ryan Kadletz Crescenta Vall. QB 6-3 170 Senior Carlos Gutierrez Marshall Back 5-10 160 Senior Bernardo Gallo Franklin Back 5-9 170 Senior Lance Novak Verdugo Hills Back 6-1 190 Senior Aaron Dunn Eagle Rock Back 5-7 135 Junior John Martel Glendale Receiver 6-0 170 Senior Adrian Wong Franklin Receiver 5-7 150 Senior Damon Martin Crescenta Vall. Kicker 5-11 175 Senior

DEFENSE

Name School Position Height Weight Year Leonard Walsh La Canada Lineman 6-1 230 Senior Steve Rozenberg Franklin Lineman 6-2 245 Senior Eric Kunz Crescenta Vall. Lineman 5-10 210 Senior Jeremy Hawk Verdugo Hills Lineman 6-4 250 Senior George Dominguez Pater Noster LB 5-10 175 Senior Marco Quintero Franklin LB 5-11 180 Senior Steve Rhee Hoover LB 5-8 190 Senior Kevin Hurley St. Francis Back 5-10 185 Senior Keith Henderson Ribet Academy Back 5-9 165 Senior Robert Mancilla Eagle Rock Back 5-4 130 Junior Mark Garza Hoover Back 5-11 180 Senior