Five Spartan players highlight the Sun’s All-State prep squad

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Nov. 26, 1999 | 10:36 a.m.

After capturing this year's 4A state football title, Cimarron-Memorial High School has placed five players on the 1999 Las Vegas Sun All-State prep football first team.

Linebacker Taylor Miller, defensive back Kyler Rushton, running back Kellen Marshall and offensive linemen Jason Orians and John Hogsette earned a spot on the squad, which is selected by Sun writers with input from coaches and reporters from throughout Nevada.

In addition, Cimarron's Greg Spencer was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Spartans to their second consecutive state championship.

The two top individual honors went to Miller, the 1999 Defensive Player of the Year, and Chaparral running back Mario Hagan, the 1999 Offensive Player of the Year.

Southern Zone runner-up Las Vegas High, which went 9-0 during the regular season, wound up with four players on the all-state team: quarterback Anthony Marini, running back Coy Boykin, receiver Anthony Park and linebacker Jonathan Pollard.

Northern Zone champion McQueen, which lost to Cimarron in last Friday's 4A finale, placed three players on the first team: linebacker Matt White, defensive lineman Garye Twitchell and kicker Graham Siderius.

Also making the first-team offense were: Rancho receiver Rod Lukes, Hug tight end Dayton Hendricks, Wooster center R.J. Marsh, Tahoe-Truckee guard Brad Noel, Chaparral tackle John Ream, Valley punter Julio Moreno and Reed return specialist Brian Gorsett.

Rounding out the first-team defense were: Western lineman Marcus Levi, Cheyenne lineman Lynn McGruder, Bishop Manogue lineman Michael Yenick, Bonanza linebacker Adam Seward, Silverado defensive back DeJaun Ashley, Durango defensive back Jamaal Brimmer and Elko defensive back Ryan Still.

Of the 27 first-team members, 23 are seniors. Siderius, Moreno and Rushton are juniors, while Marshall is the squad's lone sophomore.

Levi, Lukes, McGruder and Noel are two-time first-team picks.