Cal-Hi Sports State Junior Player of the Year: Juju Smith

Juniors: John “JuJu” Smith
(Long Beach Poly, Long Beach)
It’s surprising that since 1928 there’s only been one previous Long Beach Poly selection in this category and that was quarterback Chris Lewis in 1997.
This choice wasn’t easy, either. Smith and quarterback Robert Webber of Corona Centennial were the two juniors who were considered finalists for Mr. Football. Plus, the super-talented Adoree’ Jackson from Serra of Gardena had to be considered as well.
Smith had the advantage of being a standout on both sides of the ball. In starring for the Jackrabbits in their improbable march to the CIF Southern Section Pac-Five Division title, the 6-foot, 180-pound junior led the team in interceptions with six and was in on 51 tackles. On offense, Smith caught 49 passes for 752 yards and nine scores. He also averaged 16 yards on punt returns with one touchdown.
Jackson, named as the South Bay Daily Breeze Player of the Year and our own State Sophomore Athlete of the Year for the 2011-12 school year, may be the state’s top college prospect for the Class of 2014 and certainly dazzled in several head-turning moments in big games. But Smith should be among the nation’s top college prospects next year, too, and his numbers on both offense and defense were just frankly a lot better than Jackson’s.

L.A. Daily News All-Area Football Team

First Team
Francis Owusu, all-purpose, Oaks Christian, Sr. - The numbers speak for themselves: 14 total TDs, 52 catches for 915 yards, 206 yards rushing including a 90-yard TD and two INTs with a 95-yard TD. 

LeRoy Tanoai, OL, Notre Dame, Sr. - The 6-4, 315-pound also played nose guard, and he was an immovable force on both sides of the football.  

Second Team
Koa Farmer, DB, Notre Dame, Jr. 

Honorable Mention
Tua Tuivai, DL, Highland, Sr.

DAILY BREEZE 2012 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR: Narbonne's Paulo Lepua

Forget a lunch pail. Narbonne defensive end Paulo Lepua brings his lunch in a sack.
Lepua was the sultan of sacks, leading an aggressive and lockdown defense that helped Narbonne reach new heights.
Overall, Lepua recorded 26 sacks, earning the 2012 Daily Breeze Defensive Player of the Year award. | VIDEO
That does not include the sack on a rainy field at the North-South All-Star game in Visalia or the three-sack effort in the Semper Fi All-American Bowl at Home Depot Center.
"To get 26 sacks against who we played - that's impressive," Narbonne coach Manuel Douglas said. "He has an ability to take a game over. He's just so disruptive."
It used to be that Lepua was disruptive - off the field.
Lepua has a goofball sense of humor and likes to keep it light. But Douglas said it was a distraction in the past. This year, Lepua was all business. And it showed.
"This is the year he grew up," Douglas said.
Lepua, a Washington State recruit, credited line coach Eddie Davis for setting him on the righteous path.
"It started with Coach Pooty," Lepua said. "Sophomore year, he was always in my face, and now I know he was trying to help me. My junior year, I did well. Then senior year, it was time to pay back all the time he put in with me."
Lepua's maturity came full circle in the week leading up to the Serra showdown.
Narbonne was doing its "Fuji Runs" where the No. 1 offensive player takes on the No. 1 defensive player, and so on.
Lepua had finally had enough.
"He called out the entire defense," Douglas said. "He even called out Keishawn (Bierria) and Redd (Marquis Lomax). I didn't have to do anything. For him to step up on his own, that was huge."
Lepua enjoyed a banner game against Banning. After a rough first quarter, Lepua recorded six sacks - all in the second quarter. Douglas took the starters out of the game at halftime.
Lepua also looks back fondly on the San Pedro game because he was given a chance to score his only high school touchdown.
And of course there was the 14-0 run to the CIF State Regional bowl.
"We all just bonded this season," Lepua said. "We saw each other as brothers, not just as teammates."

MaxPreps 2012 Sophomore All-American Football Team

Second Team
TE – Benning Potoa'e, DL, 6-3, 290, Lakes (Lakewood, Wash.)
A versatile athlete, Potoa'e recorded 43 tackles and five sacks to go along with eight catches for 163 yards and a touchdown on offense.


OL – Patrick Vahe, OL, 6-3, 273, Trinity (Euless, Texas)
Vahe was a second team All-District pick in 6-5A and fit in perfectly on Trinity's physical, aggressive offensive line.

DL – Canton Kaumatule, DL, 6-8, 250, Punahou (Honolulu)
As a sophomore, Kaumatule already has a reputation as one of the top players in Hawaii.

LB – T.J. Fehoko, LB, 6-1, 215, Cottonwood (Salt Lake City)
Fehoko compiled 13.5 sacks to go along with 30 tackles and a forced fumble.

Kansas City Star All Metro

First Team

LB Mamu Tauiautusa, Fort Osage, senior. The Indians shut out half the teams they played while finishing as the Missouri Class 5 runner-up, and Tauiautusa (5-11, 190) was at the center of it all. He tied for the team lead with 107 tackles and added five sacks while playing middle linebacker.

DB Joseph Tuimaseve, Fort Osage, senior. A playmaker in the Fort Osage secondary, Tuimaseve (5-11, 165) took part in forcing five turnovers. He tied for the team lead with 107 tackles and was a run-stopping safety for the Indians, who allowed only 8.1 points per game and recorded seven shutouts.

Honorable Mention
DB Samson Sia, Fort Osage, senior

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/29/3986056/the-stars-all-metro-football-team.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/29/3986056/the-stars-all-metro-football-team.html#storylink=cpy

Lee Central Coast Newspapers All Area: Ainu'u Taua Def POY

Lompoc’s standout defensive lineman Ainuu Taua, a junior, has been chosen as the All-Area Defensive Player of the Year.
Taua was an unstoppable force on the defensive line, recording seven sacks and a total of 49 tackles even though he had to fight through double and triple teams on almost every snap. Taua, listed at 6-foot-1, 285 pounds, proved his versatility and athleticism in a number of ways. Taua rushed for one touchdown, caught three more TDs out of the tight end position and even intercepted a pass and returned that for another score.
Cross said Taua can play linebacker, drop back in coverage and play all over the defensive line, at either tackle or nose guard.
“He’s a scary individual — I’m glad he’s on our team,” Cross said.
Taua, who’s already taken an official visit to UCLA, presents a carefree, non-chalant attitude. But Cross said there’s a whole lot more to Taua than meets the eye.
“He puts in the work, people don’t know it, he acts like he doesn’t, but he puts in a lot of time watching film and in the weight room,” Cross said. “He comes from a football family and he’s very football smart.”
Cross coached Ainuu’s older brother Vai Taua at Cabrillo. Taua went on to star at the University of Nevada, Reno and nearly made the Seahawks’ 53-man roster before suffering a knee injury in the final preseason game this year.
Ainuu Taua said he fought through a continuous stinger in his neck in the latter part of the season. Unlike Hayes and Arellano, Taua has a year left to take care of some unfinished business. Lompoc rolled through the regular season before it lost to eventual CIF State Champion Gardena Serra in the Western semis. The Cavaliers snapped Lompoc’s 32-game win streak.
“I didn’t finish (the season) how I wanted to, I got a little hurt at the end of the season, but I was all right with what happened,” Taua said. “It definitely hurt, what happened at the end.”

San Antonio Defensive Player of the Year: Grant Watanabe of Brennan

Brennan, linebacker
Size: 5-11, 216
Grade: Junior
Best performances: Had two interceptions, a sack and 11 total tackles in a 24-0 victory over East Central. ... Had 13 tackles and a fumble recovery in a 31-28 victory against Cedar Park Vista Ridge in the second round. ... Recorded 19 total tackles in 43 plays in a victory against Lanier.
Notable: Unanimous All-District 28-4A. ... Led Brennan with 167 tackles, including 29 tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions. ... The Bears reached the state quarterfinals in a 13-1 season with a defense that allowed 12.2 points per game, 204 yards per game and had four shutouts.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/high_school/high_school_football/article/Defensive-Player-of-the-Year-Brennan-linebacker-4146224.php#ixzz2H5YTnirT

2012 SF Chronicle All-Metro Football Team

First Team

RB

Pepe Vitale

De La Salle

6-0

190

Sr.

Had a school-record 2,102 yards and 33 TDs

DL

Vita Vea

Milpitas

6-4

280

Sr.

SCVAL-De Anza defensive MVP

Second Team

LB

Fono Misi

Rancho Cotate

5-11

235

Sr.

153 tackles for a four-shutout team

Honorable Mention
QB Zach Masoli Riordan Jr
QB Dante Mayes Freedom Sr
RB Fisi Tavake Northgate Sr
WR Amalani Fukofuka Logan Sr
OL/DL Anthony Amerperosa South San Francisco Sr
OL/DL Mane Fale Mission Sr
OL/DL Terrance Leota San Leandro Sr
OL/DL Motekiai Maile Pittsburg Sr
OL/DL Hufangahau Moala Tennyson Sr
OL/DL Young Potasi Lincoln Sr
OL/DL John Tai Newark Memorial Sr
LB Sione Finefeuiki Wilcox Jr
LB Uaisele Manoa Concord Sr
LB Fia Malepeai Serra Sr
LB Peter Tuipulot Serra Sr
DB Keoni Keahi Burlingame Jr




Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/preps/article/2012-Chronicle-All-Metro-Teams-4150642.php#ixzz2GQNcpnXX

Daily Republic All Region

DB — Jacob Te’o, Vacaville: The senior had 87 total tackles, 69 solo, and 7.3 tackles per game, all team highs. He also had a sack, an interception, three forced fumbles and three recoveries.

SJ Mercury News Football Team

Defensive Player of the Year: Vita Vea

First Team
DL: VITA VEA, MILPITAS
Class: Senior. Height: 6-5. Weight: 300.
Vea, so mobile for his size that Milpitas put him at middle linebacker and running back, averaged nearly 10 tackles per game and had eight sacks. The SCVAL De Anza Division's defensive MVP also averaged 12.3 yards per carry and scored 11 touchdowns.

Second Team

Offensive lineman: Benji Palu, Burlingame, Sr.

Selected to the PAL Bay Division's first team, the 6-0, 270-pound Palu helped Burlingame qualify for the CCS playoffs.  

Linebacker: Peter Tuipulotu, Serra, Sr.

The first-team All-WCAL selection led the Padres with 70 solo tackles and had a fumble recovery against Bellarmine.

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