NOTES: heights, weights represent final career numbers or most current for active players; year listed after high school is player’s senior season, not graduation year.
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
TRENT DILFER
SCHOOLS: Aptos, ’89/Fresno State. POSITION: Quarterback. HEIGHT: 6-4. WEIGHT: 227. NOTES: National Football Foundation scholar-athlete as a high school senior. ... Finished his Fresno State career with a 20-9 record in three seasons, as the Bulldogs won or shared the conference title in all three seasons. ... Finished collegiate career with 6,944 yards passing, 51 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, while completing 461 of 774 passes. Also rushed 140 times for 195 yards and eight touchdowns. ... In two bowl games, was 50 of 91 for 687 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. ... Earned AP and Football News third-team All-America honors. ... Was first-team All Western Athletic Conference choice and was the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year as a junior [1993]. Completed 217 of 333 passes [65.2 percent] for 3,276 yards [a school record], with 28 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Became first Tampa Bay quarterback elected to the NFL Pro Bowl [1990] ... Super Bowl XXXV champ with Baltimore Ravens ... In 13th NFL season ... Now with 49ers.
Johnny Johnson
SCHOOLS: Santa Cruz, ’85/San Jose State. POSITION: Running back. HEIGHT: 6-2. WEIGHT: 218. NOTES: Was Santa Cruz County’s leading rusher until 2000. Rushed for 1,729 yards and 24 TDs in ’85 and was named All-County Player of the Year ... All-Conference, All-Coast and honorable mention All-American in ’88. ... NFL Pro Bowler with Arizona Cardinals [1990]; New York Jets MVP in ’93; Played five seasons in NFL [Rushing: 1,046 carries for 4,078 yards and 21 touchdowns; Receiving: 177 catches for 1,513 yards and five touchdowns].
Obafemi Ayanbadejo
SCHOOLS: Santa Cruz, ’91/Cabrillo/San Diego State. POSITION: Running back. HEIGHT: 6-2. WEIGHT: 235. NOTES: Played one year of high school football ... JC all-Coast Conference selection in 1994 with 34 pass receptions for 465 yards and ten touchdowns. ... Played in NFL Europe. ...Now in 8th NFL season. ... Plays for Arizona Cardinals.
John Kirby
SCHOOLS: Santa Cruz, ’58/Cabrillo/Oregon State. POSITION: Running back. HEIGHT: 6-1. WEIGHT: 205. NOTES: Rushed for 641 yards on 108 carries as a senior, finishing with 20 touchdowns, four of which were receiving. Helped Santa Cruz go 9-0 and earn top ranking in Northern California. ... Knocked unconscious in ’58 North-South Shrine all-star game in Los Angeles, but returned to the field and was named game MVP. Scored two touchdowns and had a game-sealing interception in the contest. ... Named All-State and fifth-team All-American pick. ... Member of Santa Cruz’s Hall of Fame. ... Played on Cabrillo’s first football team in ’59. ... Injured in second game for Oregon State.
Al Marshall
SCHOOLS: Santa Cruz, ’68/Boise State. POSITION: Wide receiver. HEIGHT: 6-2. WEIGHT: 190. NOTES: Track star reportedly ran the 40-yard-dash in 4.3 seconds. ... Seven 100-yard games at Boise State ... Named All-Conference and first-team UPI and Kodak All-American in ’72 ... NFL [1 season].
Blake Tuffli
SCHOOLS: San Lorenzo Valley, ’91/St. Mary’s of California. POSITION: Wide receiver. HEIGHT: 6-2. WEIGHT: 185. NOTES: Broke arm as SLV senior, which kept him off the field. ... Set St. Mary’s career records in catches [194] and yards [2,990] during four-year college career.
Daniel Cada
SCHOOLS: San Lorenzo Valley, ’90/UC Davis/Cabrillo. POSITION: Tight end. HEIGHT: 6-2. WEIGHT: 215. NOTES: Only sophomore to ever play varsity under SLV coach Doug Morris. Was named All-County Sophomore of the Year. Named All-County as junior and senior. ... Led the county with 60 catches for 899 yards in ’90. ... Had 76 receptions for 891 yards in ’93 at Cabrillo.
Jim Leonard
SCHOOLS: Harbor, ’74/Santa Clara University. POSITION: Offensive line. HEIGHT: 6-3. WEIGHT: 260. NOTES: Consensus All-American in ’79. ... Member of SCU’s Hall of Fame. ... Drafted by Tampa Bay in the seventh round in ’80. ... Played for the Buccaneers, 49ers and Chargers. ... NFL [6 seasons]. ...Also played in the now-defunct United States Football League with Oakland Invaders.
Marv Marinovich
SCHOOLS: Watsonville, ’57/Santa Monica JC/Univ. of Southern Cal. POSITION: Offensive line. HEIGHT: 6-3. WEIGHT: 260. NOTES: All-league selection as a senior. ... Played in AFL [1 season]. ... Assistant offensive line coach for Oakland Raiders in ’70.
Jon Zogg
SCHOOLS: Watsonville, ’78/Hartnell JC/Boise State. POSITION: Offensive line. HEIGHT: 6-4. WEIGHT: 290. NOTES: All-County lineman as a senior. ... Earned letters at Boise in ’81 and ’82. ...Played for USFL’s San Antonio Gunslingers in ’84 and NFL’s Raiders in ’87.
Greg Sinnott
SCHOOLS: Marello Prep, ’81/Utah State. POSITION: Offensive line. HEIGHT: 6-7. WEIGHT: 280. NOTES: Four-year letterwinner at Utah State. ... NFL [1 season; Rams in ’87].
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Rob Truhitte
SCHOOLS: Santa Cruz, ’94/Cabrillo/Cal. POSTION: Defensive line. HEIGHT: 6-5. WEIGHT: 290. NOTES: Honorable mention All-County pick as a senior. ... Big-time career stalled by injury, mysterious allergic reaction; Played o-line at Cal.
Jeff Miller
SCHOOLS: Soquel, ’78/Cabrillo/San Diego State. POSITION: Defensive line. HEIGHT: 6-3. WEIGHT: 240. NOTES: Honorable mention All-County as a senior. ... Walk-on earned starting role at San Diego State, earning letters in ’82 and ’83. ... Given SDSU’s Byron Chase Memorial Trophy in ’83, a honor given to the team’s top offensive and defensive linemen. ... Ankle injury kept him from accepting an invitation to the Blue-Gray Bowl and ruined his tryout with the 49ers.
Dick Skocko
SCHOOLS: Watsonville, ’49/Univ. of Southern Cal. POSITION: Defensive line. HEIGHT: 6-3. WEIGHT: 220. NOTES: Star at Watsonville. ... End was drafted by 49ers in ’54 in 11th round.
Sam Kennedy
SCHOOLS: Aptos ’81/Cabrillo/San Jose State. POSITION: Defensive line. HEIGHT: 6-3. WEIGHT: 235. NOTES: All-County lineman ... Played linebacker at SJSU. ... Lettered in ’84 and ’86. ... Member of Super Bowl XXIII 49ers team in ’88-89 season.
Brendon Ayanbadejo
SCHOOLS: Santa Cruz, ’93/Cabrillo/UCLA. POSITION: Linebacker. HEIGHT: 6-2. WEIGHT: 235. NOTES: Helped Santa Cruz High [12-1, 6-0] win its last SCCAL title in ’93 ... Cardinals reached CCS Division III title game, falling to St. Francis ... All-Pac-10 as senior at UCLA. ... 185 career tackles and 10 INTs for Bruins ... In 4th NFL season. ... Plays for the Chicago Bears.
WILLIE SELDEN
SCHOOLS: Watsonville, ’79/Santa Clara University. POSITION: Linebacker. HEIGHT: 6-3. WEIGHT: 220. NOTES: All-conference linebacker at Santa Clara was a free-agent signee with 49ers in ’85. ... Had a 77-yard interception return for touchdown in ’84, the third longest in SCU history.
Jordan Beck
SCHOOLS: San Lorenzo Valley, 2000/Cal Poly-SLO. POSITION: Linebacker. HEIGHT: 6-2. WEIGHT: 233. NOTES: The Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s only 1,000-yard receiver. ... Helped lead SLV to CCS titles in ’99 and 2000 while playing receiver, defensive back and punter ... Played linebacker in college. ... Named Division-IAA Defensive Player of the Year. ... Set Cal Poly’s game, season and career records in tackles. ... His 449 tackles set a school career record, shattering the previous mark of 326 by Gary Swanson [’81-84]. ... Played in East-West Shrine Game in San Francisco ... Drafted in third round by the Atlanta Falcons. ... Injured on interception return in rookie year during preseason game. ... In second NFL season with the Falcons.
Jeff Skocko
SCHOOLS: Watsonville, ’74/Cabrillo/Fresno State. POSITION: Linebacker. HEIGHT: 6-2. WEIGHT: 187. NOTES: Named All-County as senior. ... Knee injury prevented ferocious hitter from UCLA scholarship, likely the pros too. UCLA scouts were sitting in the press box with letter-of-intent paperwork when Skocko blew out his knee. They didn’t stay until the final whistle. ... Has had five knee surguries.
Sherman Cocroft
SCHOOLS: Watsonville/Cabrillo, ’79-80/San Jose State. POSITION: Defensive back. HEIGHT: 6-1. WEIGHT: 195. NOTES: Made 37 career interceptions in college: 23 at Cabrillo, 14 at San Jose State ... Was JC All-America. ... Member of SJSU’s Sports Hall of Fame. ... Undrafted out of college, he played five seasons in NFL.
Reggie Stephens
SCHOOLS: Santa Cruz, ’93/Cabrillo/Rutgers. POSITION: Defensive back. HEIGHT: 5-10. WEIGHT: 200. NOTES: Helped Santa Cruz High [12-1, 6-0] win its last SCCAL title in ’93. ... Cardinals reached CCS Division III title game, falling to St. Francis. ... Started 18 games during two-year career at Rutgers in 1997-97, recording 89 tackles and returning two of his four interceptions for touchdowns. ... Named first-team all-Big East and named team MVP as a senior. ...Played in East-West Shrine Game. ... Had four-year NFL career. ... Played for the Arena Football League’s Nashville Kats in ’05.
Bob Pederson
SCHOOLS: Santa Cruz, ’63/Washington. POSITION: Defensive back. HEIGHT: 6-1. WEIGHT: 190. NOTES: National Football Foundation scholar-athlete as a high school senior. ... All-Coast and honorable mention All-American in 1966. ... Had a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown against Oregon State in ’66.
FIRST-TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
SERGIO OLIVAREZ
SCHOOLS: Watsonville,’83/Cabrillo/San Jose State. POSITION: Placekicker. HEIGHT: 5-7. WEIGHT: 158. NOTES: SJSU-record 86 kicking points in 1986. Made 41 of 43 extra-points and 15 of 21 field goals. ... His 86-point total is sixth highest on the school’s single-season scoring list. ... His 154 points lifetime places him ninth all-time.
SCOTT HAMM
SCHOOLS: Soquel, ’65/Air Force Academy. POSITION: Punter. HEIGHT: 6-3. WEIGHT: 200. NOTES: Four-year letterman played in 1971 Sugar Bowl loss to Tennessee. ... Played in famous “Fog Bowl” game at Falcon Stadium on Oct. 18, 1969, when Air Force took a 40-7 lead into the half. The second half the field was impossible to see from the press box.
Shawn Benjamin
SCHOOL: Watsonville, ’03. POSITION: Kickoff/punt return. HEIGHT: 6-0. WEIGHT: 195. NOTES: Three-year varsity plater ran for 481 yards as sophomore, 1,298 yards as a junior and 2,233 rushing yards — the second-highest total in SCCAL history — as a senior. ... Great open-field runnner ran 4.4-second 40-yard dash at the Nike Combine in Stanford prior to senior season. ... Never played college football.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Nick Noce [SLV, 2000/Cabrillo/Arkansas St.]. NOTES: The 6-3, 210-pound quarterback started two seasons for SLV and led the team to a pair of SCCAL titles and two Central Coast Section championships. ... Passed for 1,357 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior ... Passed for 1,717 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior. ... Sat out his first year at Cabrillo, and led the Seahawks to the Coast Conference title in 2002. ... Transferred to Arkansas State and led the team to a nationally televised bowl game in 2005. ... Undrafted, Noce had a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys.
MIKE ALLSHOUSE [Aptos, 1991/Cal Poly]. NOTES: The 5-8, 185-pound running back was the All-County Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, when he ran for a county-best 1,609 yards on 197 carries. He scored 17 touchdowns. ... At Cal Poly, he ran for 246 yards in a ’96 game against Sacramento State. ... His 23 career touchdowns is the fifth highest in Cal Poly history. ... Scored 12 TDs in ’96, the third-best total for a season at Cal Poly. ... His 80 points in ’96 is fourth-best ... His 174 career points from’ 93-96 is sixth best at Cal Poly.
Calvin Keyser-Allen [Harbor, 2000/Willamette]. NOTES: The 5-8, 200-pound running back rumbled for an SCCAL-record 2,360 rushing yards on 300 carries as a senior, leading the Pirates to CCS playoffs. ... The All-County running back suffered a knee injury in the playoffs, but continued his playing career as a fullback at Willamette.
Adrian Cordova [Watsonville, 1994/Cabrillo/Menlo]. NOTES: The 5-7, 180-pound running back ran for 1,701 yards and 21 TDs on 234 carries in ’94 to lead the county. He was named the All-County Offensive Player of the Year. ... Earned All-Golden Gate Conference RB honors at Cabrillo in 2000, when it competed in the same division as City College of San Francisco.
Jeremiah Brister [SLV, 1993/Cabrillo/Tulsa]. NOTES: The 6-3, 200-pound receiver had 34 recptions for 655 yards at Cabrillo in ’95. ... Used his 4.5-second, 40-yard dash speed to garner All-Conference honors. ... Was a two-year starter at Tulsa.
Dan Barker [Soquel, 1970/Cabrillo]. NOTES: The 6-2, 190-pound receiver held the county’s single-season receiving yardage record for 30 years until it was broken by future NFLer Jordan Beck of SLV. Barker had 957 receiving yards in ’70. Beck had 1,063 receiving yards in 2000. ... Was named All-County tight end in ’70.
Orion Latin [SLV, 1997/Cal Poly]. NOTES: The 6-5, 220-pound receiver played one year of varisty football and made it a memorable one. He had 29 receptions for a county-high totals of 836 yards and 19 touchdowns. He finished the season with a SCCAL-best 20 TDs.
Ernie Bomprezzi [Harbor, 1975, UC Davis]. NOTES: The 6-5, 240-pound offensive lineman was a three-year letterman for UC Davis [1977-79], earning first-team All-Conference honors in ’78.
Justin D’Arcy [SLV, 2000/Cabrillo/Colorado St.]. NOTES: The still-playing 6-3, 298-pound offensive lineman transferred from Kansas to Colorado State. ... A starter on SLV’s 12-1, CCS championship team in 2000.
KEN KIFF [Soquel, 1983/Oregon State]. NOTES: The 6-7, 272-pound offensive lineman was an All-County pick. ... Added 40 pounds in college, going from reserve to starter his final two seasons. ... Also served as OSU’s long snapper.
Ken Antle [Watsonville, 1953, USC]. NOTES: The 6-0, 185-pound offensive lineman was an all-league standout who earned several honors at USC. ... The Trojans team captain won the Davis Teschke Award given to the team’s Most Inspirational Player, in ’57 and ’58.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Danny Leahy [Watsonville, ’94/Cabrillo/Cal Poly]. NOTES: The 6-5, 285-pound defensive lineman overcame a serious car accident to earn all-conference honors at Cabrillo. ... Helped the Seahawks to a bowl game. ... Was two-sport athlete for Cal Poly, wrestling and football.
Walt Edwards [SC, ’67/San Jose State]. NOTES: The 6-4, 210-pound defensive lineman was an all-Monterey Bay League All-County pick as a senior. ... Lettered three years [’70-72] at SJSU. ... Played in Pasadena Bowl loss to Memphis State in ’71.
WES BERGAZZI [SC, ’66/Navarro College/Navy]. NOTES: Named All-County tight end as a senior ... The 6-2, 210-pound defensive end also rotated in at tight end on the Navy’s frosh team in ’69. ... Injuries kept him out of lineup until his senior season.
REY MARTINEZ [Harbor/Cabrillo, ’73-74/UC Davis]. NOTES: The 6-3, 200-pound defensive lineman was lettered at UC Davis in ’76 and ’77, earning all-conference honors as a senior.
Pat Work [Watsonville, ’90/Army]. NOTES: Helped Watsonville [10-2, 6-0] win the SCCAL as a senior and advance to the CCS Division II South title game against Palma. ... The 6-1, 210-pound linebacker was a National Football Foundation scholar-athlete as a high school senior. ... Made 114 tackles for 6-5 Army team as a junior in ’93. ... Made game-saving tackle on third-and-goal at the 2-yard line in the final 30 seconds of a win over Navy in ’93. Navy missed the go-ahead field goal. ... Made 119 tackles as a senior for 4-7 team.
John Geringer [Soquel, ’81/Cal]. NOTES: The 6-1, 190-pound linebacker was a National Football Foundation scholar-athlete as a high school senior. ... Selected All-County linebacker. ... Named Collegiate Academic All-America by the U.S. Achievement Academy in ’86.
Chino Chiaramonte [Soquel,’95/Fresno St.]. NOTES: The 6-0, 250-pound linebacker was the All-County Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. ... The Fresno State walk-on became a four-year letterwinner [1997-00].
Jeff Bredy [Aptos, ’90/Cabrillo/Hawaii]. NOTES: The 6-2, 228-pound linebacker signed with Montreal of the Canadian Football League after his college career. ... Played running back and linebacker at Aptos and Cabrillo, but switched to defense full time after tearing a hamstring muscle. ... Made 11 tackles for a loss in Hawaii.
Ty Locatelli [SLV, ’92/Pacific/Western Illinois]. NOTES: The 6-1, 210-pound defensive back was the All-County Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. ... Named All-Gateway newcomer in ’96, when he recorded 99 tackles, including 10 for a loss. ... Moved from linebacker to safety after suffering neck injury in ’97 ... Helped Western Illinois win two conference titles.
Dwight Lowery [Soquel, ’03/Cabrillo/SJSU]. NOTES: The 6-1, 185-pound all-league selection scored SCCAL-record seven touchdowns in a 54-35 non-league victory over visiting Sacred Heart Cathedral his senior year. ... Has 896 yards and 17 TDs rushing and 419 yards and six TDs receiving and finished with 25 TDs as a senior. ... His 150-point season total is the fourth-highest ever. ... Played defense at Cabrillo ... Had a state-best eight interceptions his freshman season and the four in five games as sophomore before he fractured his thumb. ... Currently playing for San Jose State.
Jermaine Robinson [SC, ’93/Cabrillo/Rutgers]. NOTES: The 5-11, 205-pound then-quarterback was the All-County Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. ... He passed for 1,086 yards and 14 TDs, ran for 303 yards and 11 TDs to help the Cardinals win their last SCCAL title. ... Tied with teammate and future NFLer Reggie Stephens for the county-scoring title with 126 points, thanks to some handy footwork on special teams. ... Earned All-Conference honors at Cabrillo. ... Ran for 1,073 yards and 13 TDs for the Seahawks in ’96.
SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
STEVE SEYMOUR [Santa Cruz, ’69/Cabrillo/San Francisco State]. NOTES: The 6-2, 185-pound placekicker handled every kicking duty possible in college: punting, kickoff, field goal and extra-point. Was solid at each, too.
JEFF ROBERTS [San Lorenzo Valley, ’93/Fresno State]. NOTES: The 6-4, 215-pounder was named All-County punter as a senior. ... At Fresno State, the four-year leatterman [1995-98] holds career records in punts [214] and punt yardage [9,078]. ... Also booted a 69-yarder — the longest in Bulldogs’ history — against Nevada in ’98. .... His 42.4 career punting average only trails Mike Mancini’s 42.5 average from 1983-85. ... Roberts had a 44.7-yard average in’96, tops for a single season. ... Named All-Western Athletic Conference first-team in ’98.
MIKE SCOTT [Santa Cruz, ’79/Walla Walla/Hawaii]. NOTES: The 6-0, 170-pound kickoff returner was an All-County selection at running back as a senior, when he ran for 661 yards on 113 carries. ... Lettered at Hawaii in ’82 under coach Dick Tomey.
THIRD TEAM OFFENSE
RANDY PECK [Soquel, ’68/Utah]. NOTES: The poised, 5-11, 180-pound quarterback died in car wreck shortly after helping Utah freshman team to an unbeaten season.
JACK KNIGHT [Santa Cruz, ’56/Fresno State]. NOTES: The 6-2, 195-pound running back was an all-Coast Counties Athletic League pick and named to the prestigious and now defunct Shrine North-South game in Los Angeles. ... Lettered at Fresno State in ’62.
Pat Verutti [San Lorenzo Valley, ’65/Oregon]. NOTES: The 5-9, 175-pound running back was a National Football Foundation scholar-athlete as a high school senior. ... Lettered for Oregon in ’68 and ’69. ... Led the Ducks in rushing in ’69, gaining 682 yards on 151 carries. ... Joined the Ducks’ 100-yard back club with his 124-yard, 11-carry effort against Hawaii in ’69. ... His dad Jack was drafted by the NFL’s Detroit Lions in ’45.
MICHAEL FRYE [Santa Cruz,’03/Cabrillo]. NOTES: The 6-2, 205-pound running back ran for 1,231 yards and 15 TDs as a senior, leading the Cardinald to postseason play for the first time in nine years. ... Took a year off and returned to Cabrillo, when he shined on defense. ... Currently playing for Cabrillo.
MATTY KIEL [SLV ’05]. NOTES: The 6-1, 180-pound receiver had six receptions for 239 yards and state-record five touchdowns in one half in a win over Watsonville in 2004. ... Finished his junior season with 15 TDs, including 718 receiving yards and 13 TDs. ... Named co-MVP with teammate Harlan Prather in 2005. ... Had 35 catches for 882 yards and 13 TDs. ... Finished senior season with a county-high 17 TDs for 142 points. ... Had 10 catches for 267 yards and three TDs in a 28-21 win over San Mateo County in the 2006 Lions Bowl all-star game. ... Currently playing for Cabrillo.
Jimmy Fox [Monte Vista Christian, ’99/Cal Lutheran]. NOTES: The 5-9, 170-pound running back-turned-receiver set records at both positions. ... As a senior running back, he ran for a school-record and county-leading 1,505 yards on 215 carries to score 19 TDs, also tops in the county. ... Helped MVC make its first and only playoff appearance as a senior. ... Converted to WR in college and set the school’s career receptions mark [176]. ... Earned all-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference honors.
David Verduzco [Soquel, ’86]. NOTES: The 6-1, 165-pound receiver was a National Football Foundation scholar-athlete as a high school senior. ... Led county receivers with 47 receptions for 551 yards as a junior. ... Numbers dropped off in final prep season. ... All-County free safety as a senior. ... Played baseball in college.
Andy LeVitre [San Lorenzo Valley, ’04/Oregon State]. NOTES: The 6-3, 330-pound offensive lineman has saw considerable playing time as a freshman. ... Will split time at guard and tackle this year.
Erick LeVitre [San Lorenzo Valley, ’02/Arizona]. NOTES: The 6-1, 282-pound offensive lineman is the starting center for Arizona in his senior season, quite am accomplishment for the walk-on in the Pac-10 Conference. ... Levitre fended off all contenders and started all 11 games at center in 2005. ... Helped SLV win CCS Division-IV title as a senior.
Dan McGuire [Harbor, ’71]. NOTES: The 6-3, 230-pound offensive lineman provided solid pass protection and run blocking for the Pirates.
RUSS MILLER [Soquel, ’80/Cabrillo/San Francisco State]. NOTES: The 6-0, 215-pound offensive lineman was named All-County as a senior. ... Honorable mention all-conference at Cabrillo. ... All-Conference two years at SFSU [1983-84]. ... Offensive team captain for Gators in ’84. ... Assistant coach at Cabrillo.
THIRD TEAM DEFENSE
Phil Sotomayor [Watsonville, ’81/Cabrillo/Weber State]. NOTES: The 6-3, 240-pound defensive lineman was named All-County as a senior. ... Earned all-conference honors at Weber State.
George Barbic [Santa Cruz, ’72/Cabrillo/Utah State]. NOTES: The 6-5, 225-pound defensive lineman was named All-Coast Conference as a standout on Cabrillo’s championship teams in ’74 and ’75. ... Scholarship player at Cal who transferred to Utah State.
Ernie Hightower [Santa Cruz/Mt. San Jacinto JC]. NOTES: The 6-5, 205-pound defensive lineman had great speed for a big man, used his hands well to make his presence felt on opposing quarterbacks. ... Named all-league.
DOMINGO RUIZ [Watsonville, ’91/St. Mary’s]. NOTES: The 6-0, 250-pound defensive lineman was named All-County as a senior. ... Recorded 11 sacks and made 20 tackles for a loss in ‘94 ... Had 22 sacks and 44 tackles for a loss in his career.
James Jessen [Harbor, 2000/UCLA]. NOTES: The 6-4, 235-pound linebacker in college was a standout defensive end in high school. ... Provided blocking for record-setting running back Calvin Keyser-Allen and helped Harbor advance to the CCS playoffs. ... Was a two-sport athlete at UCLA [volleyball and football] before suffering an injury on special teams. ... Lettered on UCLA football team in ’02.
Mike Bredy [Aptos, ’89/Cal Poly-SLO]. NOTES: The 6-2, 240-pound linebacker was a talented running back in high school. He was named All-County Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, when he led the area with 905 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. ... Had County-best 18 touchdowns on the season.
JARED HUNTER [Santa Cruz, ’01/Boise State]. NOTES: The 6-4, 225-pound ex-linebacker is in his senior season at Boise. He was recruited to play defense but has since moved to tight end since suffering a severe leg injury. ... Three years ago, Hunter suffered a broken tibia and fibula in practice when a teammate clipped him. After a handful of surgeries, Hunter had a titanium rod placed in his leg. ... Played tight end in high school, recording 22 catches for 471 yards and two TDs as a senior. ... Had a 23-yard reception against Boston College in the MPC Computers Bowl last season.
CURTIS HUTSLAR [San Lorenzo Valley, ’99/Cabrillo/Arkansas-Monticello]. NOTES: The 6-2, 210-pound linebacker was force, earning All-County honors as a senior. ... His defensive play didn’t drop at Cabrillo. He was named team MVP and Golden Gate Conference second-teamer at defensive line in 2001. ... At Arkansas-Monticello, he battled injuries but made himself a fixture in opposing backfields when he saw action.
Paul Bagnasco [Holy Cross, ’67/Cabrillo]. NOTES: The 6-0, 180-pound defensive back played baseball for Santa Clara University. Still, the impact he made at Holy Cross was note lost on those who saw him play. ... Was All-County at quarterback as a senior.
DON COULTER [Harbor, ’75/Cabrillo]. NOTES: The 6-2, 185-pound defensive back was a former running back in high school. He stepped away from the University of Washington after participating in spring ball. And also worked out with San Diego State’s football program before joining the school’s track program.
ROB PIFFERINI [Harbor, ’92/De Anza/Northridge]. NOTES: The 6-1, 237-pound defensive back was honorable mention All-County as a senior. ... Team captain and MVP as De Anza sophomore, when he was named All-Conference linebacker. ... Big Sky Player of the Week during his senior season, when he recorded two sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries against Portland. ... Made Academic All-Conference team at Northridge. ... Served as head coach at Harbor.
n THIRD TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
WAYLON PRATHER [San Lorenzo Valley, ’02/San Jose State]. NOTES: The 6-2, 229-pound ex-placekicker is handling punting duties for San Jose State, even though he’s build like a tight end, one of the many positions he played for SLV. ... Had 10 receiving touchdowns as a senior; 11 overall. ... Also booted an SCCAL-record 52 extra points. ... Helped SLV win the 2002 CCS Division IV title. ... Named the Sentinel’s 2002 Male Athlete of the Year. ... Currently a junior, he’s the starting punter at SJSU. ... Averaged 36.8 yards a punt as a freshman. ... Net punting average increased to 39.8 as a sophomore last season. ... His punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line increased from 29.5 to 51.3 percent of his attempts.
DOUG SAUCEDO [Watsonville, ’73/Cabrillo/Hayward State]. NOTES: The 5-9, 170-pound punter was solid for Hayward State following a successful stint at Cabrillo. ... Averaged 37.4 yards a punt for the Seahawks in ’74, when Cabrillo used favorable field position to its advantage and went 9-1 overall and won the conference crown in coach Joe Mrvin’s first season at the helm.
DAVE MERCER [Watsonville, ’64/San Jose State]. NOTES: The 5-9, 170-pound kickoff returner was an all-league quarterback in high school. ... Led SJSU in punt return average in ’66. ... Also served as the Spartans flanker. ... The long-running offensive coordinator at SLV, where he has drawn the blueprint in creativity with his wide-open play calling. ... His sons Brian, Mark and Jeff also shined for the Cougars program.
Pre-1950 greats
Leo Harris —Santa Cruz High guard and fullback went onto play for Stanford, earning letters under coach Glenn “Pop” Warner in 1925 and ’26. He later served as head coach at Fresno State [1933-35] before becoming athletic director at the University of Oregon, a post he held 25 years.
Anthony “Duke” Valine — Ex-Holy Cross and Santa Cruz standout played for Santa Clara University. Prior to embarking on a government career that led him to the position of Director of Civil Defense, he was a Broncos star from 1925-’28, earning All-Coast and All-American.
Brad Lynn — The ’35 Santa Cruz graduate lettered at halfback for the ’37 Notre Dame team, which went 6-2-1 under coach Elmer Layden, one of the famed “Four Horsemen.” He later coached the semi-pro American Legion Santa Cruz Seahawks.
Robert F. Ditlevsen — Ex-Watsonville standout from the ’36 season played four years for Stanford, including the team’s 1941 Rose Bowl victory.
KEN GLEASON — After his senior season at Santa Cruz in ’33, he shined for Fresno State, lettering in 1935 and ’36. Helped the Bulldogs win the ’37 Little All-American Bowl game against Arkansas State. Served as coach of the Bulldogs in 1947-’48 seasons.
SYLVIO “LOU” RIMASSA — The four-time All-CCAL pick at Watsonville made the defensive play of the game in St. Mary’s win over Texas Tech in ’39 Cotton Bowl, where he ran down Tech’s George Cobb to stop a 60-yard pass play. Little St. Mary’s upset previously unbeaten Tech 20-13.
Dick Voris — An All-CCAL center and linebacker for Santa Cruz in ’39, played for Hartnell in ’40 and San Jose State in 1947 and ’48, following a brief stint in the U.S. Marines. Member of SJSU’s Sports Hall of Fame. The one-time member of the semi-pro Seahawks in ’46 went on to coach Virginia and serve as NFL assistant coach for many years.
Eddie Dysle — After his senior season with the Cardinals in ’44, the 5-foot-9, 215-pound offensive lineman played for Nevada for one season before returning to play for Hartnell, where he became a JC All-American. Later played for S.C. Seahawks.
Bill Sambrailo — Ex-Watsonville star halfback was a member of Santa Clara University’s ’50 Orange Bowl team.
— Jim Seimas*
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