The Cupertino Courier

Sports

Woo named co-MVP, one more time

By Mike Barnhart

Most head football coaches in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League were new to their teams in 2006, but they knew about talented Monta Vista senior Marcus Woo. After all, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound speedster was the division's co-Most Valuable Player the previous season, displaying the kind of "big play" ability that breaks games wide open.

Woo continued the offensive onslaught this past campaign, beating teams as a runner, a pass receiver and a kick returner, scoring 17 touchdowns and gaining more than 2,000 all-purpose yards for the Matadors. He churned up 708 receiving yards and reached the end zone on six of his 40 pass receptions. Seven of his touchdowns and 564 yards were earned on running plays, and he returned 24 kick-offs and punts for 815 yards and four more scores.

Woo, who plans on playing college football at a Division III school next fall, and Saratoga's Alex Lagemann recently were honored as co-Most Valuable Players of the El Camino Division.

Lynbrook linebacker Scott Day was the division's Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot, 200-pound junior played both ways for the Vikings and scored a team high of 10 touchdowns, but made a bigger impression plugging holes and stopping opposing ball carriers. Day made 98 tackles, including 66 solo hits, one interception and a fumble recovery.

Another Lynbrook defender, senior Ben Shin, was the division's Most Valuable Defensive Lineman. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder made 35 solo tackles and assisted on 32 others.

Monta Vista senior Kota Kojima was honored as Most Valuable Utility Player. Kojima sparkled on both sides of the ball, scoring seven touchdowns on offense and ranking fourth in tackles for the defense.

Another Monta Vista standout, senior quarterback Alex Atkins, was among the 20 players named to the first team offense. He passed for touchdowns in all but one game, totaling 1,703 yards and 13 TDs.

Other first team selections included a pair of Cupertino seniors, running back Scott Savory and lineman Tristan Wilkie, 6-foot-7 junior tight end Andy Meunier of Lynbrook and a trio of Monta Vista players, junior receiver Billy Guardino, senior lineman Mike Moustakas and junior kicker Derrick Ley.

The 16-member first team defense included Monta Vista junior lineman Matt Moustakas, who sacked quarterbacks 10 times this season. Other selections included three Lynbrook seniors, linebacker Matt Kemp, defensive back Eric Park, and utility player Kevin Rahbar.

The second team offense included senior center Brian Frediani of Monta Vista and junior center Bobby Esquivel of Lynbrook. The second team defense included senior tackle Danny Park and junior linebackers Peter Kosulin, Trevor Sambyal and Kevin Bernstein of Monta Vista and senior end Kris Gingrich of Lynbrook.

All-De Anza football

Following a tough season in the De Anza Division, three Homestead seniors were rewarded with first team all-De Anza Division recognition. Linebacker Matt Power, a three-year starter for the Mustangs, was picked to the first team defense. Tight end Tim Vanderet and lineman Josh Laber were selected to the first team offense. Another Homestead offensive lineman, junior Jeff Neale, was named to the second team.