All-Back Bay backfield for South All-Stars

Barry Faulkner

Having seen them in action for nearly two weeks, South All-Star

football coach Roger Takahashi is clearly bowled over by the Back Bay

backfield of Dartangan Johnson and Matt Cooper. Tonight, when the

South meets the North in the 44th renewal of the Orange County

All-Star football game at 7:15 at Orange Coast College, Takahashi

hopes he’s not the only one.

“They’ve both looked outstanding,” said the Los Amigos High head

man, who plans to start Johnson, from Newport Harbor High, at

tailback, behind Cooper, a former Corona del Mar High standout whom,

Takahashi believes, blends the ability to create piles, as well as

plays, as adeptly as any fullback he’s been around.

“Wow!” Takahashi gushed about Johnson’s performance in South

practices. “He just has a tremendous work ethic, he’s an explosive

runner, he has good vision and he’s very courageous. He also has good

speed and he can make a little crack into a big play.”

Such praise is not surprising for those who watched the 6-foot-1,

190-pound Johnson amass a school career-record 3,397 yards on 560

carries in two seasons as a Sailor starter.

The fact that Johnson, who scored 37 touchdowns as a prep and

plans to continue at Santa Ana College next fall, has risen to the

top of the tailback depth chart for the South is mildly unexpected,

since he was initially chosen to the Rebel roster as a defensive

back.

“We have such a plethora of running backs,” Takahashi said, “it

looked like, at least on paper, we wanted to try him on the defensive

side. But, at the last minute, I thought I’d look at him on the

offensive side. Then, when I saw how hard he ran at the first couple

practices, I realized that was where he was going to stay.”

Johnson was twice the Newport-Mesa Offensive Player of the Year

and earned All-CIF Southern Section Division VI honors as a junior,

when the Sailors won the league crown and advanced to the Division VI

semifinals.

Cooper, a 6-2, 225-pounder bound for Georgetown, has also dazzled

Takahashi with his broad range of skills.

“[Cooper] has been one of our biggest surprises,” Takahashi said.

“He’s exactly what I’d hoped for in a fullback in my system. I

basically need somebody who can really block and, at the same time,

is athletic enough to catch passes. He just fits the position

perfectly.”

Cooper was used primarily as a blocker for the Sea Kings. He

carried just 23 times for 58 yards as a senior. A two-time

All-Pacific Coast League and All-Newport-Mesa performer, he had 402

rushing yards and nine TDs in a three-year varsity career. He also

caught nine passes for 119 yards and stood out as an inside

linebacker on defense.

The other Newport-Mesa representative for the South is Costa Mesa

High product Keola Asuega, who earned his reputation with the

Mustangs as a ballcarrier, but will be counted upon at strong safety

for the Rebels.

Takahashi said the 6-1, 210-pound future Idaho State Bengal is

slated to back up Dominic Rickard from Mater Dei.

Asuega, the Newport-Mesa MVP and an All-CIF pick in Division VII

last fall, compiled 3,932 career rushing yards and a Newport-Mesa

record 49 career TDs. He rushed for 2,023 yards and 21 TDs on 253

carries as a senior.

Takahashi said his starting secondary of Rickard, safety Corey

Boudreaux (Mater Dei) and corners Terrell Vinson (Irvine) and Aaron

Miller (Mission Viejo) has been thoroughly impressive.

Takahashi also believes the play of his offensive line could help

determine whether the South will win for a second straight year.

“If those guys can move the wall up front, I’ll feel pretty good,

because I know we’ll be able to open up the offense and throw the

ball, too,” Takahashi said.

Beau Budde (San Clemente) will start at quarterback for the South,

while Terry Mermer (Calvary Chapel) will also see time under center.

The North leads the series, 22-18-3.