Monta Vista's Bryan Lee (55) and Drew Rogers console one another after a regular season loss to Homestead. The two Matadors were together again on the all-league team, Rogers on the first offense and Lee on the second defense.




Photograph by Tsutomu Fujita







Fremont's Carbajal top defensive player

Homestead's Strong shares award for football offense

By Dick Sparrer

There was almost a three-way tie for the football championship in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League this fall.

Almost.

But when Cupertino and Fremont played to a 6-6 tie on the final night of the regular season, Mountain View walked off with the division championship.

The three clubs were in a virtual first-place tie heading into the game. The Spartans had finished the league campaign with a 5-1 record, and the Pioneers and Firebirds were locked in a second-place tie at 4-1. The winner of the Saturday night game at Diesner Field would finish in a first-place tie with Mountain View, and the loser would wind up in third place.

The only thing that could prevent the expected as the unexpected ... a tie.

But that's just what happened. Playing in a Saturday night rain shower, the Pioneers and Firebirds finished in a deadlock. The Spartans won the league title and a berth in the Central Coast Section Division IV playoffs.

Still, even though the three clubs didn't end up sharing the title, they did share the wealth when it came time to select the all-league league in the SCVAL's El Camino Division.

Mountain View topped the list with 14 players claiming all-league first- and second-team spots, but the Pioneers and 'Birds were close behind--'Tino with 12 and Fremont 11.

Senior running back Trevor Hooper of Mountain View was selected as the league's most valuable player. He was joined on the special honors list by teammate Jordan Nelson, a senior who was named most valuable back.

Cupertino's Ben Reynolds and Fremont's Esteban Carbajal also won special honors on the all-league squad. Reynolds, a junior, was named the league's most valuable lineman, and Carbajal, a senior, was picked the defensive player of the year.

Ryan Katz, a senior running back from Monta Vista, and Garren Strong, a junior wide receiver from Homestead, shared the league's offensive player of the year award.

Fremont and Cupertino dominated the all-league first team, with 10 Firebirds and seven Pioneers earned places on the first offense and defense.

Senior quarterback Delainy Durgin, senior running back Donyell Johnson, junior wide receiver Jesse Enchill and senior linemen Kevin Wilder, Mike Ball, Nick Arnold and Matt Banbury were Fremont players named to the first offense, senior linebackers Mike Mattman and Javier Eredia and junior lineman David Revas were Firebirds on the first defense.

Named to the first offense for Cupertino were senior running back Jared Sablowski, junior tight end Andrew Reece, senior lineman Andre Serita and junior lineman Andrew Ravage. Senior back Chris Maston and senior linebacker Scott Mueller won places on the first defense.

Cupertino running backs senior Matt Levenworth and junior David Poole were tabbed to the second offense with senior back Kayn Ramirez-Baker and junior lineman Thomas Hammond on the second defense. Senior defensive back Brian Kettner was an honorable mention pick.

Katz topped a list of six Matadors who earned post-season honors on the all-league team.

Despite suffering a broken thumb in the fourth week of the season that cost him one game and limited his play in another, Katz managed another outstanding season for the Matadors. The senior raced for 1,178 yards to finish his career with an impressive 2,892 yards in three varsity seasons.

Senior linebackers Pat Hamer and Drew Rogers were Mats selected to the all-league first team, and junior lineman Bryan Lee, senior lineman Ryan Gordon and junior defensive lineman Jay Kim won second-team spots. Senior defensive back Jason Martinez was an honorable mention selection.

Strong headed up a list of seven Mustangs who won places on the first two all-league teams.

Senior back Steven Nichols, junior back Will Faules and senior lineman Neal Cornell were Homestead players on the first offense, and senior back Brian Mahaik and junior linebacker Ramont Thomas were Mustangs on the first defense.

Senior linebacker Shaka Dixon was an all-league second team pick, and junior quarterback Craig Maynard earned a place on the honorable mention list.

All-league first teamers Sean Imai and Paul Niedemeyer were among the four Lynbrook players to gain spots on the El Camino team. Imai, a senior wide receiver, was named to the first offense and Niedemeyer, a senior lineman, was picked to the first defense.

Senior lineman Alex Fisher was tabbed to the second-team offense with junior back Chris Bencomo on the second defense. Senior James White, a running back, and Chris Fisher, a linebacker, won honorable mention spots.

But it was league champ Mountain View dominating the all-league list with two special honors winners, three players on the first team, nine on the second team and one on the honorable mention chart.

Joining Hooper and Nelson on the squad were: first team, all seniors on the defense-- back Guillermo Moreira, linebacker Matt Turnbull and lineman Matt Dunham; second team-- (offense) junior quarterback Sean Manson, junior wide receiver Jonathan Lam, junior tight end Brad Read, senior linemen Chris Vigil and Ben Meakin, sophomore lineman Taylor Allen and senior kick Hal Ellison, and (defense) junior linebacker Shonte Jiz de Ortega and sophomore lineman Daniel Croom; and honorable mention--defensive back Lewis Hall.

Sports Briefs

Local athletes earn all-league honors