Barry Faulkner
Costa Mesa High senior Keola Asuega and Newport Harbor High senior
Dartangan Johnson, two players known best for their offensive
contributions, will be counted upon to get defensive in the Orange
County All-Star Football Game, scheduled July 11 at Orange Coast
College.
Asuega and Johnson, star running backs last fall, are among four
Newport-Mesa standouts on the 36-player South roster, chosen by
sportswriters. Corona del Mar High senior Matt Cooper and Costa Mesa
senior Borotha Pov have also been selected to play for Los Amigos
Coach Roger Takahashi, who will guide the South against the top
players from schools located north of the Garden Grove Freeway.
Asuega, named Newport-Mesa MVP, All-CIF Southern Section Division
VII and MVP of the Golden West League, is expected to contribute
primarily at free safety for the South. The 6-foot, 210-pounder is
expected to play safety at Idaho State, where he will continue his
career next fall.
Asuega played only sparingly on defense last season for the
Mustangs, whom he helped lead to an unbeaten Golden West League
season and an 8-3 record. Instead, he alternated between fullback and
tailback, rushing for 2,023 yards and 21 touchdowns on 253 carries,
despite missing one game with a sore hamstring. Asuega's career
numbers include a Newport-Mesa record 49 touchdowns, four more than
Newport Harbor standout Steve Brazas amassed in 1982-83. Asuega's
3,932 career rushing yards rank No. 2 in Newport-Mesa annals behind
Costa Mesa's Binh "Runaway" Tran, who collected 4,333 yards from
1991-93.
Asuega, who rushed for at least 100 yards in his final nine games
last fall, posted 19 such single-game outputs in three seasons, also
a Newport-Mesa record. He scored at least one touchdown in 24 of his
28 varsity games and had 13 multiple-TD games for the Mustangs.
Johnson, the Sailors' all-time leading rusher, is expected to fit
into the South secondary as a cornerback. He started at safety and
tailback in 2002, amassing 1,392 rushing yards and 19 TDs in the
latter role. An All-CIF honoree as a junior, when he helped the
Sailors advance to the CIF Southern Section Division VI semifinals,
he earned Newport-Mesa Offensive Player of the Year laurels for the
second straight season as a senior. A 6-0, 195-pounder who plans to
compete for time at tailback next season at Santa Ana College,
Johnson finished with 3,397 yards on 560 carries and 35 of his 37
career TDs came on rushing attempts. His 18 career 100-yard-plus
games are also a school record.
