Friday, Dec. 20, 2002 | 10:14 a.m.
Charles Tolbert
DL, McQueen, Sr., 6-0, 232
Noteworthy: An absolute monster on the interior of stellar McQueen defensive line ... first-team All-Northern Region choice at DT ... at a rock solid 6-foot, 232 pounds, nearly impossible to handle against the run ... college future likely at DE.
Said Lancers coach Ken Dalton: "He is one of two three-year starters on our team, and this is very special. This is a young kid that has a great passion for football. His desire is to continue to play football."
Trevor Puryear
DL, Reno Sr., 6-2, 210
Noteworthy: First-team All-Northern Region choice at DE considered the best at his spot in the area ... said to have set a new state record for sacks ... stats show an amazing 51 tackles for loss, including sacks ... major part of defense that led Huskies to Sierra Division title and Northern Region title game against McQueen.
Said Huskies coach Dan Avansino: "He is a guy that was completely ferocious on defense, just a banshee, just wild. No one could contain him."
Jeff Vanorsow
DL, Foothill Sr., 6-4, 220
Noteworthy: First-team All-South selection at DL, and all-around contributor to strong Falcons season ... recorded 11.5 sacks and nine other tackles for loss ... 60 total tackles on the year, and five pass breakups as well ... made strong case for selection in Sunrise Region semifinal against Desert Pines by blocking punt for TD, recording saving tackle on Jaguars kickoff return and chasing QB Marcel Johnson all over field ... Oregon State, UCLA, and Arizona in the recruiting hunt.
Said Falcons coach Ray Fenton: "He was a dominant force. We put him where we thought they were going to run. Defensively, he gave us the ability to pressure the quarterback without bringing anyone."
Curtis Coker
DL, Desert Pines Sr., 6-0, 288
Noteworthy: Anchor and emotional leader of offensive and defensive line for Jaguars ... received first-team All-South recognition for work at C and DL ... the immovable object in middle of the Desert Pines line ... totaled 60 tackles and six sacks on the year ... nearly every Southern coach mentioned his name among area's top linemen ... Desert Pines line consistenly opened holes for Offensive POY Cornell Johnson.
Said Jaguars coach Leon Evans: "He was huge. He was to our defense what Cornell was to our offense. He demanded double-teams all year and played in other people's backfield."
Chad Pool
LB, Las Vegas Sr., 5-8, 175
Noteworthy: About the smallest front seven defender in the South, and also the most universally respected and admired ... second consecutive All-State nod, and second straight Defensive Player of the Year honor from coaches ... tough ILB always around the ball and consistenly playing through injury ... recorded 24 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks ... likely a junior college prospect right now.
Said Wildcats coach Kris Cinkovich: "He was a tremendous leader and a tremendous winner. I don't know what else you can say. Any accolade he can get, he deserves."
Jordan Wilmore
LB, Palo Verde, Sr., 5-10, 176
Noteworthy: Quiet leader of Palo Verde defense that may have been best in the South ... undersized at OLB, but a consistent playmaker ... recorded 82 total tackles, including 18 for loss and eight sacks ... also recovered two fumbles ... anchored Panthers defense that allowed just 14 points in four games in strong Northwest Division.
Said Panthers coach Darwin Rost: "He was definitely the heart and soul of our team. You have to make the plays, and he did. I've never had a kid like that before."
Allen McIntyre
LB, Durango Sr., 6-0, 220
Noteworthy: Two-time All-State selection performed at a high level on both sides of the ball ... first-team All-South choice at OLB ... stats down in 2002, in part due to time missed with injuries ... recorded eight sacks and 60 tackles, and also recovered two fumbles ... offensively, stepped in to take over lead RB role when starter Ahmad Atkins went down with broken foot in preseason.
Said Blazers coach John Mausbach: "He was a big impact player and the kids rallied around him. He made teams do things they didn't want to do at times. He's one of the best outside linebackers in the state."
Cody McElroy
LB, Bishop Manogue Sr., 6-2, 205
Noteworthy: Outstanding multi-dimensional player from smaller northern school ... voted Northern Region Player of the Year for 3A ... unquestioned leader for dominant Miners team as Manogue handily won 3A championship ... college recruiters from Fresno State, Nevada-Reno and Oregon showing interest ... also a top-notch wrestler and baseball player for 3A power ... totaled 20 TDs for season.
Said Miners coach Joe Sellers: "He was our leader, played both ways and was quite a player. He wasn't a feature back for us -- he was a football player."
Ken Dalton
Coach, McQueen
Noteworthy: Led Lancers to one of most remarkable seasons in Nevada prep football history ... McQueen won 4A title with 14-0 record ... team recorded 680 points, thought to be a Nevada state record ... Lancers allowed just 35 total points ... fifth state title for Dalton in 21 years at McQueen ... 38 seniors on squad, 21 of whom started ... student-athlete commitment to program is second-to-none.
Bryce Cresto
P, Sierra Vista Sr., 6-0, 200
Noteworthy: Strong leg helped the Lions in the field position game ... averaged nearly 40 yards per punt ... also had good directional control ... main position was QB for Sierra Vista ... threw for nearly 1,000 yards ... also tossed 12 TDs for the Lions ... first-team All-South choice at punter ... Lions opened season with back-to-back wins.
Said Lions coach Ben Johnson: "He has great height to his kicks and he is also a very strong-legged individual. He just had a real good year kicking the ball."
Corey Patin
DB, McQueen Sr., 6-2, 185
Noteworthy: Deceptively fast playmaker controlled McQueen's secondary ... first-team All-North pick at DB, and second-team All-North choice at WR ... caught 26 passes for team-high 564 yards and nine TD ... set a McQueen record for INTs (9) at safety ... caught a 29-yard TD pass in Lancers' 38-7 victory over Desert Pines in NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Championship ... McQueen secondary limited Desert Pines to 109 passing yards in that game.
Said Lancers coach Ken Dalton: "He provided phenomenal production on both sides of the ball. He is very physically tough, one of the kids that everyone looks to."
Lee Dorsey
DB, Desert Pines Sr., 5-10, 187
Noteworthy: Anchored the southern champion Desert Pines defense from his safety position ... first-team All-South selection at DB ... racked up big numbers, totaling 107 tackles (58 solo) and a sack ... also took over placekicking duties for Jaguars late in the season, connecting on two FGs in Sunrise Region final victory over Las Vegas ... had 12 tackles in 4A state semifinal win over Cheyenne.
Said Jaguars coach Leon Evans: "He really is our unsung hero. He came up and supported well all year. He's a solid football player. He's a main reason why we were so succesful."
Marcus Dalton
DB, Palo Verde Sr., 6-0, 169
Noteworthy: Outstanding playmaker for stingy Palo Verde defense ... voted first-team All-South by coaches ... recorded 99 tackles ... also totaled four INTs, five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and a sack ... a major factor in Palo Verde winning first Sunset Region championship, and earning first berth to 4A state tournament.
Said Panthers coach Darwin Rost: "He was probably one of the hardest-hitting DBs I've ever had. He had a lot of big hits coming up from the free safety spot."
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