Steven Rivera is number one on Jim Singiser’s Top 5 list.
1. Steven Rivera (QB/SS/P): Only skill guy that I’ve coached that could be at the top of any list on either side of the ball. I’ve never seen anyone effect the game the way he did in all 3 phases in every week. He was also a Punter. 4yr starter, 4x All MVL, 3x MVL MVP, 3x All CIF. In 4 consecutive plays in 2011 he went: TD run, forced a fumble, TD Pass & Int.
2. Ronnie Williams (TE/LB): Most physically gifted player I’ve coached. Helluva TE & one of the best LB’s I’ve ever seen. Has every League, CIF & SGV award there is. All State 04’. Should have given him my stipend because he ran that 04’ team. Gave us an edge we needed & made a staff of young coaches more successful than their ability probably dictated.
3. Javier Lozano (OL/DL): Only player in our CIF division to be selected All CIF both ways. To this day the most dominant linemen on either side of the ball that I have ever coached & one of the best DL I’ve seen. 2x MVL Linemen of the Year, All CIF. 6’3/230 one of the few guys we’ve had that was not only tough but physically dominant as well.
4. Sergio Leon (WR/DB/PK): Three time three way All MVL, three time All CIF & All Valley. At one time held 14 team records on Offense, Defense & Special Teams. Had speed we don’t usually see & combined with his size he was usually the best athlete on the field every week.
5. Ernesto Camacho (QB) Three time MVL MVP, or Back of the Year. CIF MVP, All SGV. He has checked just about every box one can check in HS. For us (me & Coach Mac) there is little or no difference between #5-#10 in terms of production, accolades, etc. One thing this kid adds is the ring. For us to go 10-0 and win CIF once we put him in as starting QB gives him the nod. He did things at qb during that stretch we haven’t seen done before. We don’t get a ring if he wasn’t behind Center.
Opponents:
Ron Hillman (Ath, La Habra)
JT Shrout (QB, Hart)
Trent Irwin (WR, Hart)
Ikenna Ike (DT, Walnut)
Jesse Collier (RB, Warren)
Kenny Smith was not 3x MVL MVP as in 1996 Art Carmona from South El Monte won it as WR/DB
Correction
Tommy Duong I believe. Was the QB for the 1998 season I believe but was also a standout receiver prior.
Possible picks for D.J. Makinnion
Oscar Lopez
Sergio Perez
Tommy Tran
Eric Duenas
Matt Vogel
Willie Reyna
Danny Alcala
Kenny Smith
Not to knock Rivera or Camacho but they could not Kenny Smith’s jockstrap. He was that much of a stud.
RE: Kenny Smith. Kenny was a special athlete in both football and basketball. Smart, unselfish and TOUGH! As a sophomore he led the Knight to a perfect regular season, then played Upland in the qtr-finals. Upland-who would go on to win the 1st of their numerous CIF titles that year-had 2 Division I defensive ends who just punished Kenny all night. He took a serious beating that night, but when Saturday morning came around, he was at basketball practice ready to go. As a senior, he was the MVL Player of the Year in BOTH football and basketball-I do not believe that had ever happened before or since on the boys side. Only other Arroyo athlete to be that dominant in both football and basketball was Willie Reyna-who led Arroyo to their 1st CIF title in 1986 as a sophomore QB, and was the starting PG on 3 very good basketball teams as well. Dominic Salmon was also a very talented 2 sport athlete in football and baseball. Arroyo has been fortunate to have had a lot of very good football players over the past 40 years-with only 2 head coaches during that time! Stability and smart, dedicated coaches make a huge difference! All of these lists by the coaches have been very interesting to read-keep up the great work!
Kenny Smith is not to be forgotten. I realize that Singiser was not head coach during the Kenny Smith Era, but I believe he was on staff.
*Kenny Smith’s winning percentage as a three year starter is something to behold. He went 10-0 as a sophomore starter, then lost in a close game to a CIF Champion loaded Upland squad in the quarterfinals.
*Led Arroyo to the Semifinals in 1996 and 1997.
*Played defense senior year.
*I couldn’t confirm this for sure, but he may have been a 3x Mission Valley League MVP. In addition, he was selected as the 1997 1st team All SGV quarterback.
*Kenny Smith was Mission Valley League MVP in football and basketball. That’s quite an athletic achievement that not to many can claim. What an athlete!
*In 2013, Smith was inducted into the Minot State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Smith finished his two-year career as one of the top passers in school history, earning First-Team All American Honors in 2002 after throwing for 3,298 yards and 34 TDs. The Beavers finished 81 in the DAC-10 and 9-2 overall in 2002, winning the DAC-10 title and advancing to the NAIA National Playoffs.
He finished his career with 5,571 yards and 53 TDS, setting Minot State records in passing yards in a season (3,298), passing yards per game (299.3) and TDs (34). He also finished with three DAC-10 records: total offense (320.4), passing offense (310.4) and TDs.
We need a list from coach DJ Mackinnon.
My boy Effrain Oquedo?
Rivera is a no brainer at the top of the list! But no Effrain Oquendo? He’s gotta be on this list just ask Sumler! One of this best hits I’ve ever seen!
Keep the coaches coming!!
Awesome list!!! It feels like Dominic Salmon should be on this list tho…
Rivera was flat out awesome! Something about players that do it on both sides of the ball is special.
In addition to all those athletic markers, Rivera also manages to present a spot-on likeness to actor Erik Estrada. I’d bet that if he ever gets pulled-over by the CHP, the officer will simply apologize for detaining him and wish him a nice day.