Today we are continuing our preseason football coverage with a detailed review of the 1989 season. It's the fifth part in a series taking a look back at the past quarter century of prep football in the Golden State, beginning with the 1985 season. Football coaches can email ronnie@studentsports.com or call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4414 for details on how to make sure your program is included in our upcoming series of team previews for the 2009 season and considered for our preseason state rankings package.

By Ronnie Flores, Senior Editor

California Schools With the Most D1 Signers (1989-1990)

Muir (Pasadena) (7) - Dustyn Benedict (5-10, 175, DB) to UNLV; Stefan Crutchfield (5-11, 175, DB) to BYU; Andre Devizan (6-1, 185, RB) to Long Beach St.; Paul Joiner (6-2, 220, LB) to Cal; Elic Mahone (6-5, 220, TE) to USC; Mudie Mushonga (6-2, 240, DT) to Hawaii; Sam Williford (6-1, 190, DB) to San Diego St.
Banning (Wilmington) (5) - Sheldon Butler (5-11, 170, WR) to Cal St. Fullerton; Terrance Campbell (5-10, 175, WR) to Cal St. Fullerton; Curtis Daniel (6-2, 190, DB) to Michigan St.; John Ma'ae (6-1, 190, QB) to UNLV; Nizam Walter (5-11, 185, DB) to Vanderbilt.
Carson (5) - Nkosi Littleton (6-2, 225, LB) to UCLA; Bobby Perkins (6-1, 170, DB) to UNLV; Michael Ross (6-1, 175, WR) to Fresno St.; Tydus Winans (6-0, 170, WR) to Fresno St.; Armin Youngblood (5-11, 185 QB-DB) to Fresno St.
Mater Dei (Santa Ana) (5) - Kealii Clifford (6-2, 180, RB) to Oregon; Ryan Motherway (6-5, 265, OL) to UCLA; Dan O'Neil (6-2, 180, QB) to Oregon; Jay Shinnefield (6-3, 245, OL) to Army; Ryan Walton (6-2, 210, LB) to Northern Arizona.
Los Alamitos (4) - Hartwell Brown (6-4, 235, DL) to Stanford; Todd Gragnano (6-1, 180, QB) to Nebraska; Brian Havens (6-3, 230, LB) to Nebraska; Erik Mitchell (5-9, 160, RB) to Colorado.
McClymonds (Oakland) (4) - Gary Brown (6-0, 195, DB) to Utah St.; Darrell Hill (5-10, 185, DB) to Utah St.; DeWayne Patterson (6-2, 220, LB-TE) to Washington St.; James Ward (6-2, 198, LB) to Utah St.
Poly (Long Beach) (4) - Lawrence Calhoun (6-1, 195, LB) to San Diego St.; James Capps (6-1, 235, C) to Army; Shivondi Johnson (6-2, 210, LB) to Hawaii; Willie McGinest (6-6, 215, LB) to USC.
Pt. Loma (San Diego) (4) - Brett Callan (6-1, 195, WR) to Cal; J.J. Stokes (6-5, 215, WR) to UCLA; Dan White (6-4, 200, QB) to Penn St.; Mondela Wilkins (6-5, 230, DL) to Washington.

1989 Season Notes & Highlights: Elic Mahone from Muir High of Pasadena became part of two championship teams when he signed his football letter of intent with USC. The 6-5, 220 pounder's selection of the Trojans helped Muir finish with the state's top recruiting class. On the field, the all-state tight end helped the Mustangs win a CIF Southern Section Div. II co-championship with Santa Barbara.

The "Golden Tornadoes," as Santa Barbara is coined during playoff action, were able to advance to the section finals behind the play of quarterback Poncho Renteria, junior wide receiver Simon Banks and a heady defense. Santa Barbara came up with big turnovers in the 7-7 tie with the Mustangs, including a clutch interception by defensive back Bryan Stiles that save their championship season. Santa Barbara, also known as the Dons, was able to advance to the finals with a controversial win over Canyon of Canyon Country in the semifinals that ended with a destroyed trophy case in the Santa Barbara locker room that the Cowboys were utilizing.

The Mustangs felt they let that title game against Santa Barbara slip away, but the program felt better after Mahone and six of his Muir teammates signed with Div. I colleges, more than any other school in the state in what most recruiting experts deemed a "lean” class of prospects.

Perennial powers Carson, Banning and Mater Dei of Santa Ana were the other schools reported with at least five D1 signers. Carson, the preseason No. 2 ranked team in the state, failed to live up to expectations as they were stunned by Dorsey of Los Angeles, 26-15, in the L.A. City Section 4A final.

The Colts were reeling entering the championship game from the suspension of two starters, including top-notch junior defensive back Clayvand Thomas. The Dons, meanwhile, were surging as they dedicated their season to fallen captain Kevin Copeland and looked to avenge a controversial loss to Banning of Wilmington in the '88 semifinals.

Copeland, a cinch to make the all-state team and sign with a D1 college, collapsed near the end of the first quarter of Dorsey's fourth game of the season against San Pedro at Daniels Field. The 17-year old Copeland was pronounced dead, at 9:20pm, approximately 40 minutes after he had collapsed, due to heart failure.

Banning, ranked No. 3 in the preseason, failed to live up to expectations as did Mater Dei, ranked No. 11 in the preseason. Neither club advanced past the first round of its respective playoff division.

The schools with four signers were Pt. Loma of San Diego, Los Alamitos, Poly of Long Beach and McClymonds of Oakland. The Jackrabbits of Poly could have had seven players sign to tie Muir, but defensive lineman Don Sasa and top-notch defensive back Jason Jones will likely go the junior college route while running back Andre Green, like Jones a three-year standout, will focus on track on the next level.

Preseason No. 1 De La Salle had two signers, including All-American OL Aaron Taylor to Notre Dame. On the field, the Spartans were returning 14 starters off a club that finished 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state in 1988. The program had entered the '89 season with victories in 57 of its previous 58 games. De La Salle, however, lost early in the season to St. Francis of Mountain View (18-16) and El Cerrito (14-13), stumbling out the gate with a 2-2 record. The Spartans were able to rebound and close out the season with their sixth CIF North Coast Section title of the decade.

After all the ratings jumbles, it was preseason No. 6 Fontana that emerged as the state team of the year in a close call over CIF Central Section Yosemite Division champ Bakersfield. For the second time in three years, the Steelers won the CIF Southern Section major division title with a perfect 14-0 record.

The '89 season also produced the state's first 4,000 yard passer, as L.A. Franklin's Santiago Alvarez concluded his season with a 313-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Panthers' L.A. City Section 3A title game win over Garfield of Los Angeles. In the final, the Panthers' defense slowed down 2,000 yard rusher Hilario Espinosa following an impressive 28-6 semifinal victory over defending 3A champion South Gate that ended the Rams' 25-game unbeaten streak.

Mr. Football State Player of the Year Ryan Hancock might have joined Alvarez as a 4,000-yard passer, but his team at Monta Vista failed to make the CIF Central Coast Section playoffs. In 10 games, Hancock passed for a then state regular season record 3,599 yards.

A Look Back at the 1989 Season
(All Selections Made by Cal-Hi Sports)

State Team of the Year: Fontana 14-0

Preseason No. 1 Team: Concord De La Salle 11-2 (No. 8 final rating)

Number of Undefeated Teams: 12 (44 in the regular season)

Highest Score (11-man only): Elk Grove 77, Yuba City 35

Eight-Man Team of the Year: La Canada Flintridge Prep 9-2

State Coach of the Year: Dick Bruich (Fontana) 14-0

CalHiSports.com Mr. Football State Player of the Year: Ryan Hancock (Monta Vista, Cupertino) QB

Junior Player of the Year: Napoleon Kaufman (Lompoc) RB

Sophomore Player of the Year: Chad Davis (Palm Springs) QB

Medium Schools Player of the Year: Eric Zomalt (Canyon Springs, Moreno Valley) RB-LB

Small Schools Player of the Year: Mark Hatzenbuhler (Galt) LB

State Quarterback of the Year: Hancock

State Running Back of the Year: Kaufman

State Offensive End of the Year: Michael Ross (Carson)

State Lineman of the Year: Aaron Taylor (De La Salle, Concord)

State Linebacker of the Year: Willie McGinest (Poly, Long Beach)

State Defensive Back of the Year: Bryan Adams (Bakersfield)

Individual Scoring Leader: Kaufman -- 234 pts. (39 TDs, 14 gms.) Jr.

Individual Rushing Leader: Marshawn Thompson (Bassett, La Puente) 2,294 yds. (12 gms.)

Individual Passing Leader: Santiago Alvarez (Franklin, Los Angeles) 4,019 yds. (14 gms.)

Individual Touchdown Pass Leader: Alvarez -- 52 TDs (14 gms.)

Individual Receiving Yardage Leader: Lamar Lovett (Franklin, Los Angeles) 1,357 yds. (100 rec., 14 gms.)

CalHiSports.com Nickname of the Year: Santiago "Chago" Alvarez (Franklin, Los Angeles) QB

Previous Seasons:

Season in Review (1988)
Season in Review (1987)
Season in Review (1986)
Season in Review (1985)

Note: The above list of reported signers includes players that signed with Div. I-A or Div. I-AA programs; does not include Div. II, Div. III or NAIA. For additions, comments or corrections, send email to ronnie@studentsports.com. To view our various state player of the year lists going back to the late 1800s, our all-time state rankings going back to 1975 and our various all-state teams (first team, second team, medium schools, small schools, underclass, sophomore) going back to 1980, consider ordering the seventh edition of the CalHiSports.com State Record Book & Almanac. For ordering info, call (800) 660-1334 Ext. 4431. If you love the content on our site, you'll love the book, so order your copy today.