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.

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.

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

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.

Link

Fort Worth Star Telegram Super Team

First Team
OL Salesi Uhatafe, (Euless Trinity, senior) At 6-5, 290 pounds, Uhatafe kept alive Trinity's tradition of mashers up front. He finished with zero sacks allowed, 42 pancakes and 117 knockdowns for the District 6-5A champs.

DL Gaius Vaenuku, (Euless Trinity, senior) A complete player who's big, strong, fast, instinctive and with a strong motor. The 6-5, 260-pound Trojan tallied 72 tackles, 7 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and 15 quarterback pressures. Some lucky college is getting a great player.

DL Vili Leveni, (Hurst L.D. Bell, senior) Leveni had a knack for the big play this season as one cog of a special Blue Raiders group up front. The 6-4, 220-pound Utah commit amassed 53 tackles, six sacks, nine tackles for loss, 12 quarterback pressures and two forced fumbles.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/25/4507474/star-telegram-football-super-team.html#storylink=cpy

Second Team
DL Sam Tevi, (Euless Trinity, senior) 6-5, 270, 56 tackles,
3 sacks, 8 TFL, 17 QBP, Utah commit

LB Tupe Saunoa, (Euless Trinity, senior) 115 tackles,
3 sacks, 9 TFL, 2 PBU

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/25/4507474/star-telegram-football-super-team.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/25/4507474/star-telegram-football-super-team.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/25/4507474/star-telegram-football-super-team.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12/25/4507474/star-telegram-football-super-team.html#storylink=cpy

Californian All Valley 2012 Football Team

First Team
SU’A CRAVENS
Vista Murrieta
S, Senior, 6-1, 205
Had 97 total tackles, three blocked punts and three interceptions. Also had 14 touchdowns on offense and averaged more than 10 yards every time he touched the ball (reception or carry).

MARVIN HIFO
Heritage
LB, Senior, 5-10, 190
Had 58 solo tackles and earned Sunbelt League Defensive POY honors.

SIONE TAKITAKI
Heritage
LB, Junior, 6-3, 240
Had 12 total sacks and ran four times for more than 100 yards as RB.

Second Team
DL Junior Tau Sr. Chaparral 

Third Team

Shaunne Katoa, 2012 All County Football Team MVP

Monterey High coach Tom Newton said the Toreadores football team was only going to go as far as senior inside linebacker Shaunne Katoa took them this season.
Katoa, a three-year starter, led Monterey to the top seed in the Central Coast Section's Division III playoffs. The Toreadores (9-3) fell just short of playing for a title, losing by three points to Aptos in the semifinals.
"He's probably the best football player I've ever been able to coach in terms of just pure ability," Newton said.
Katoa was the catalyst for a Monterey defense that allowed only 12.17 points per game, second to Seaside (11.42) for the top mark in Monterey County. The Toreadores had the best point differential in the area in 2012, beating their opponent by an average of 24.67 points a game.
The senior led Monterey in tackles, had two interceptions and returned one of them for a touchdown, forced three fumbles and had 20 tackles for a loss, including six sacks.
Katoa played through injuries in multiple games en route to earning The Herald's All-County Football Team-Defense Most Valuable Player honor. Monterey played with a 26-man roster, which meant the team lacked the depth that most of their opponents carried.
"Having that amount of players makes it really critical when one of the starters gets hurt. It's hard when you get hurt and you look out there and your brothers are going to war," Katoa said. "I just had to get back out there and help."
It was Katoa's brother, Jordan, who would shift over when the senior linebacker had to leave the field.
"It was a great feeling" playing with my younger brother, Katoa said. "It kind of reminded me of when we played for the Seaside Raiders (youth football team) back in 2006 and 2007. ... He always fed off of me and we watched film before games and talked to my dad. My dad always had us together game planning."
While Katoa said football is a big part of his life, he said his family is just as important.
"I'm actually trying to get a part-time job right now to help my parents pay the bills," he said.
Katoa said both his immediate and extended family provided inspiration for him this season.
After graduating, he plans on moving on to college to play football and get a degree.
"I actually just took my SAT for the first time and I'm waiting for my grades to come in," he said.
Katoa said he has been looking at junior colleges. If he can't get into a university he would like to start at a community college and then transfer. He hasn't made any decisions, but Katoa expressed interest in going to City College of San Francisco.
"They really try to get student-athletes out there to help them get to where they want to go," he said, adding that he would like to "get away from this place" for a little while.
Newton thinks Katoa can make it to a Division I football team if he puts all of his energy into it.
"He's got to focus on his grades and clear up the distractions," he said. "He's got to choose his life and choose what's important and I think he's headed in the right direction. He's been good at school and he's really turning it around and we're pretty proud of him."
Newton has no doubt that Katoa's football skills are good enough to play at a higher level.
"When he's on and his head's focused, he's as good as they come," he said. "Right now he's behind on credits and we're just trying to make sure he graduates high school. Down the road, he's still going to play college football. He's going to play at a JC somewhere and hopefully in that kind of environment he thrives, and I think he has a very good chance to thrive in a college environment."
Newton said he expects Jordan Katoa to try to fill the hole his brother leaves in the middle of the Monterey defense next season.
"We're going to have to replace two three-year starters in Blake Flores and Shaunne and that's a big deal; it's going to be tough," Newton said. "You're not going to have a physical presence like Shaunne, there's no way. He was pretty imposing. So it's going to mean a lot to find someone to fill those shoes and it's going to be a lot of pressure on whoever that is."

Monterey Herald 2012 All County Football Team

LB Shaunne Katoa, Monterey:
A three-time member of The Herald's All-County team, the hard-hitting linebacker shut down opponents trying to run to the inside or outside with his tenacious pursuit. Katoa led the team in tackles for the second straight year, compiling a half dozen sacks and nearly 20 tackles for losses. He also had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and forced three fumbles.

OL David Maposua, Seaside:
A starter on the line on both sides of the ball, the 285-pound Maposua became the cornerstone of the offensive line in the second half. He was athletic enough to get downfield to throw blocks for receivers. 


LB Samson Tonga, Seaside:
The co-Pacific Division Defensive Player of the Year, Tonga averaged 11 tackles a game for the league-champion Spartans. The senior had a nonstop motor on defense. Tonga made plays in crucial moments — recovering two fumbles while forcing three.
DL Jonathan Tuiolosega, Seaside:
A quiet leader, the 285-pound senior was a big reason the Spartans allowed just 62 points in 10 regular-season games. Simply put, you couldn't move Tuiolosega, a heavyweight all-state wrestler. The senior stuffed the run, averaging nearly eight tackles a game. He also rushed for two touchdowns. 

2012 Palo Alto All Daily News Football Team

First Team
OL Isaiah Lauti (Serra, Sr.) Center anchored Padres' line
LB Peter Tuipulotu (Serra, Sr.) 70 solo tackles
LB Fia Malepeai (Serra, Sr.) 56 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks
P Tevita Takitaki (Carlmont, Jr.) Big-footed Scot, estimated 46.0 yard per punt

Second Team
OL Kiola Mahoni (Woodside, Sr.)

Link

2012 All Orange County Team

First Team
JEREMIAH FROST
Edison
Offensive line
6-1, 340. Sr.
Edison had one of the biggest and most physical offensive lines in Southern California, and Frost was right there leading the charge. Frost's blocking helped the Chargers grind out drives and wear down teams during a run to the CIF-SS Southwest Division championship. The Sunset League coaches voted him the league's co-offensive lineman of the year.

MEKI TAFUNA
Villa Park
All-purpose
6-0, 220, Sr.
Tafuna played with passion, drive and willed his team to victory at times, including on the winning drive in Villa Park's 35-34 victory over Tustin in the CIF-SS Southwest Division semifinals. Tafuna was the Century League's player of the year after leading the Spartans to a league title. Tafuna contributed at running back and linebacker. He was among the county leaders with 1,429 yards and 28 TDs on 261 carries and he delivered ferocious hits on defense.

NATE TAGO
Tesoro
Running back
6-0, 210, Sr.
When the Titans needed to keep a drive going in crunch time, they turned to Tago and let him hammer away at an opponent. Tago proved he could get those tough yards inside the tackles and he could use his speed to break big runs. Tago, who was a first-team All-South Coast League selection, rushed for over 100 yards in 10 of 11 games, he had three games over 200 yards, including a 320-yard, four-TD effort against El Toro. He finished with 1,784 yards and 20 TDs on 248 carries.

Second Team
DL – David Maka, Tustin, Sr.

Third Team
RB – Tala Teaupa, Newport Harbor, Sr.

Link

Daily Herald All Valley

Elite 11

Pita Taumoepenu, 6-2 215 Sr. DL, Timpview (80 tackles and state-best 25 sacks)

All Valley Team
DL Levi Fiso, 6-4 310 Sr., Lone Peak
DL Riley Schwenke, 5-11 210 Sr., Timpanogos (43 t 11 sacks)

Link

All Arizona Football Team

First Team All Arizona

DL

R.J. Tui

Desert Edge

6-1

295

Senior

Division I
Second Team

DL

Kelepi Fifita

Central

6-1

275

Junior

Honorable Mention

DL

August Aiono

Gilbert

Senior

Division II
First Team

OL

Jon Sekona

Apollo

6-4

307

Junior

Division III
First Team

DL

R.J. Tui

Desert Edge

6-1

295

Senior

DL

Fa'asauga Tinoisamoa

Dysart

6-3

240

Senior

Honorable Mention

OL

Tevita Matu

Shadow Ridge

Junior

Link

Samson's strength a key for Seaside

You don’t have to tell Samson Tonga the biblical story of Samson and Delilah.
“My grandfather and his grandfather were both named Samson,” the Seaside High linebacker said. “My great-grandfather looked something like Samson. He had the long hair and was athletic. They kind of thought I’d look like that, too.”
Only Samson Tonga didn’t just rely on long hair to provide his strength. His power and stamina came the old fashioned way — a lot of sweat, a lot of work and a lot of extra hours dedicated to football on and off the field.
“After practice the linebackers would all get together and do extra stuff,” he said. “We’d also work out on weekends. We didn’t take days off. We were always pushing ourselves to do more. We’d lift weights. We’d do agility drills. We worked on speed, mechanics and coverage. And we did a lot of extra cone work.”
And when it was over the 5-11, 195-pound Tonga helped Seaside High make one of the most dramatic turnarounds of any Monterey County team in most any year.
It also was a big reason why Tonga was chosen by Salinas Californian sportswriters as our Defensive Player of the Year in Monterey County.
He played a key role in helping Seaside High go from 2-8 in 2011, allowing an average of 34.6 points per game, to going 10-0 in 2012 and giving up an average of just 7.5 points per game.
In seven of Seaside’s 10 regular-season games it allowed seven points or less while delivering three shutouts.

Defense priority No. 1

“Before the season started we made a priority list of things to do,” Tonga said. “The No. 1 thing on that list was to bring back the Seaside defense. I’ve always admired some of Seaside’s outstanding defensive players. I wanted us to get to that level.”
The Spartans didn’t waste time getting to work. About a month after the 2011 season ended, they began working on the following season.
“We dealt with a lot of stuff (in 2011),” Tonga said. “But it just gave us fuel to get ready for next year. We started off-season training in January and things started clicking. You could see and feel the change immediately.” Tonga took on the role of the silent leader.“I felt like to make a point you have to lead by example,” he said. “I felt like someone had to step up and pull the defense together.”
Seaside’s stinging and swarming defense didn’t allow an offensive touchdown to rival Monterey High and kept MBL Gabilan Division champion Palma from scoring until it had a 25-0 lead late in the third quarter.
The Palma game was special, and not just because it was Seaside’s first win against Palma since 1981.
“That was our thank-you game to our coaches for pushing us to get better,” Tonga said.

From field to classroom

Tonga’s work doesn’t stop with the end of football. There’s still more to be done in the classroom, even though he carries a 3.7 grade point average.
“By the end of the year I want it to be 4.0,” he said. “My parents are pushing me to make sure education comes first.”
Not even Tonga knows yet where he might be playing next year.
“I’m going to apply to colleges and see what happens,” he said. “I’d like to play in California, maybe somewhere in the (San Francisco) Bay Area.”
Here is the rest of our All-County defense:

• LB: Shaunne Katoa, Monterey, senior — There was never much doubt about Kotoa’s talents after being named Defensive Player of the Year in 2011 as a junior. A three-year varsity starter, he was a first-team all-leaguer this year, despite playing injured part of the time.
“He had to deal with a lot of pressure,” Monterey coach Tom Newton said. “But he loves the competition. He really got up for the big games. He came up big in a lot of big situations this year.”

• LB: Matt Lualemana, Seaside, senior — The 5-11, 220-pounder was the second leading tackler on what was probably the No. 1-rated defense in the southern zone of the CCS.
“He was all over the field,” said his coach Al Avila. “At times he was like a strong safety. He played the pass and run effectively. He was our vocal leader. I tell everyone there were no two better linebackers than Tonga and Lualemana.” 
• DL: Johnathon Tuiolosega, Seaside, senior — The 6-3, 285-pounder was not only the mainstay of Seaside’s front line, but on occasion would play the role of Refrigerator Perry on short-yardage situations near the goal line. He scored four touchdowns. Not bad for someone named Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman of the MBL Pacific Division.“He physically dominated teams,” Avila said. “He was a linebacker’s dream. He’d take on all the blocks, and most of the time he was double-teamed.”

Link

Serra's Emerald Faletuipapai trying to lead Cavaliers to title

By Eric Sondheimer

December 10, 2012, 7:57 p.m.

If it's lunchtime at Gardena Serra and 6-foot-7, 360-pound offensive tackle Emerald Faletuipapai walks into a room, everyone hides his or her food.
"I eat anything and everything," he said.
Said Coach Scott Altenberg: "If there's food anywhere, it must be protected. He's in constant grazing mode."
Faletuipapai is so big that Serra had to order a special helmet to fit his head.
"It looks like a flowerpot," Altenberg said.
He also wears size 18 shoes.
Two of Faletuipapai's brothers played football for Serra. Emerald will be trying to earn a CIF state championship bowl ring Saturday when the Cavaliers (13-2) play Oakdale in the Division II game at 4 p.m. at the Home Depot Center.
Faletuipapai, who's Tongan, has a scholarship offer from Hawaii and is taking a recruiting visit to Houston. He's a leader on an improving offensive line that creates opportunities for versatile quarterback Jalen Greene.
Altenberg remembers Faletuipapai when he was a seventh-grader and served as a ball boy. "He was the hugest kid we'd ever seen," the coach said.
Said Faletuipapai: "They didn't know I was in middle school."
In 2009, Faletuipapai watched his brother Suli play on a 15-0 Serra team led by current USC receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee. Now it's his turn to play at the Home Depot Center.
"This year is a dream come true," he said.
Faletuipapai has many talents besides football and eating. He's in the school choir and plays guitar. He's the vocal person when the team sings before and after games.

Star Lotulelei named Walter Camp All-American

Utah senior defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was named as a first-team Walter Camp All-American on Thursday on the ESPN College Football Awards show.

Lotulelei was one of six Pac-12 players named to the first team. Lotulelei becomes the eighth Ute to earn Walter Camp honors and the fourth to win first-team recognition. Previous Utah first-team Walter Camp All-Americans were offensive lineman Jordan Gross (2002), kicker Louie Sakoda (2008) and punt returner Shaky Smithson (2010). Second-team Walter Camp selections were quarterback Alex Smith (2004), defensive back Eric Weddle (2006), and offensive linemen Zane Beadles (2009) and Caleb Schlauderaff (2010). All of Utah’s previous Walter Camp All-Americans, with the exception of Sakoda, are currently playing in the NFL. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Lotulelei, a two-time first-team all-Pac-12 selection, finished the season with 42 tackles, including a team-high 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. The senior also had four pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. He leads the Pac-12 and is tied for second in the nation in fumble recoveries (4).

No longer overlooked

Cyrus Coen didn't receive any offers coming out of Pearl City, but the sophomore has turned into star linebacker at Washington State

By Billy Hull

The first thing to stand out from this year's All-Hawaii Grown team is the defense.

Seven of the 11 members chosen to the team still have a game to play as the bowl season kicks off next weekend.

All 11 ended the season as starters at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, with seven doing so at BCS schools.

But unlike Manti Te'o, the Heisman Trophy finalist from Notre Dame who was destined for greatness from the moment he arrived on the Punahou campus as a sophomore, some have come out of nowhere.

One of those guys is Washington State sophomore linebacker Cyrus Coen, a 2011 Pearl City graduate.

Coen had no scholarship offers coming out of high school. A broken foot cost him the final month of his senior season and he was left with few options.

"Probably not," Coen said when asked if he thought he'd play football in college. "One of my uncles used to go here and he called me and told me to give (walking on at WSU) a shot."

His "uncle" is Jack Thompson, known to many as the "Throwin' Samoan."

Thompson was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals after playing college ball at Washington State.

He convinced the now-previous coaching staff to give Coen a look as a walk-on and it took exactly one year before Coen earned a scholarship.

Coen responded with a tremendous season, finishing with 60 tackles. Twelve of them went for a loss. Coen also had three sacks and three interceptions as WSU's do-everything linebacker.

"You know what? I kind of surprised myself," Coen said. "I just thank the coaching staff for giving me the chance, and the one thing they always tell us is to work hard and do what you're supposed to do and I've been able to kind of stick to it and it's worked out."

Coen's first year as a full-time starter didn't go so well in terms of wins and losses, but it couldn't have ended any better.

Instead of finishing winless in the Pac-12, the Cougars pulled out a stunning overtime win in the Apple Cup against cross-state rival Washington.

"Oh man, it was one of the best experience's I've ever had," Coen said. "Ending on a good note … I'm excited for next season."

The win made a lot of the disappointments of coach Mike Leach's first season in Pullman fade away quickly.

Although the team isn't playing in a bowl game, Coen works out every morning with his teammates and again in the afternoon.

Next year's season opener is at Auburn on Aug. 31.

"If we can pick up where we left off, everything is uphill from there," Coen said. "We can't wait to get back out there. We're excited."

Eight of the 24 players selected to the All-Hawaii Grown team, including Coen, are freshmen and sophomores.

Coen edged out Eastern Michigan's Bryan Pali, a 2008 Kamehameha-Maui alumnus, for the final spot at linebacker.

Pali played in nine games for the Eagles and finished 41st in the country with an average of 9.22 tackles a game.

ALL-HAWAII GROWN FOOTBALL TEAM

Team selected from Hawaii athletes at mainland colleges

 

UNLV's John Lotulelei All MWC

First Team All MWC
Lotulelei (Kihei, Hawaii), announced yesterday as the Rebels' Defensive Most Valuable Player for 2012, currently ranks third in the Mountain West and 39th in the nation with 9.2 tackles per game and his total of 120 was the 10th-highest in UNLV single-season history. A team captain, he turned in a career-high 19 total tackles vs. Nevada, Reno and grabbed his first interception vs. Washington State.

Iolani's Foy, Punahou's Savaiinaea head ILH all-stars

Iolani quarterback Reece Foy was named Offensive Player of the Year and Punahou linebacker Isaac Savaiinaea was named Defensive Player of the Year for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, according to the league's website.

Punahou's Kale Ane was named Coach of the Year.

INTERSCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU ALL-STARS
Offensive Player of the Year: Reece Foy, QB, Iolani
Defensive Player of the Year: Isaac Savaiinaea,, LB, Punahou

Link

San Jose State's David Tuitupou All WAC

Second Team
DL-David Tuitupou, Sr., San Jose State