Photos: Catalina Foothills High School's top 10 football players
The Star is counting down the top 10 football players from each major Southern Arizona High School program. Catalina Foothills is the fourth in the series; Catalina was the previously highlighted school.
10. Nolan Swett, QB, 2004
As a senior at Catalina Foothills, Nolan Swett was named second-team All-Southern Arizona as a tight end in 2003. He was also productive as a junior, receiving an honorable mention for the All-Southern Arizona team. Swett went on to play at Division III Colorado College where he set all major career receiving marks at the school — touchdowns (31), yards (2,758) and catches (199). He was named a Division III All-American as a senior and is now an assistant coach at Division II Colorado School of Mines.
9. Vince Alentado, RB/LB, 2007
Running back Vince Alentado, with ball, was named to the first-team 4A Kino Region as a senior for the Falcons in 2006. In his career, Alentado had 161 receptions, 1,214 yards and four touchdowns, according to maxpreps.com. He also made an impact on the defensive end as a senior, leading Catalina Foothills in total tackles with 80.
8. Brian Riley, TE/DE, 2007
Tight end Brian Riley finished second in receiving for the Falcons in 2007, earning himself a spot on the All-Region first team. In addition to his 13 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown, Riley also had 43 tackles and a sack as a defensive end. After graduating, Riley signed at Northern Arizona and earned an All-Big Sky honorable mention as a redshirt freshman after making 10 catches for 191 yards and two scores. He only had three more catches in his Lumberjack career, though.
7. Rolly Escarcega, ATH, 2011
Both Rolly, with ball, and his brother Ernie Escarcega made their names at linebackers for the Falcons, yet Rolly gets the nod after leading Catalina Foothills to its first playoff win in school history in 2010. As a senior middle linebacker Rolly was named to the first-team All-Southern Arizona after leading the team with 97 tackles. As a junior he had 118 tackles, including 64 solo tackles and ran for 255 yards and three touchdowns in his career.
6. George Parker, DL, 2001
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound George Parker, at right in photo, was selected to the first team All-Southern Arizona team as a senior defensive lineman in 2000. He also was selected to the coaches' All-Region first team and was a second-team All-Southern defensive lineman as a junior. After graduating, Parker went on to play in the NAIA and made the GPAC first-team All-Conference as both a junior and senior at Nebraska Wesleyan. He recorded a team-high eight sacks and had 17 tackles for a loss for the Prairie Wolves as a college senior.
5. Shawn Kobylinski, ATH, 2011
Athlete Shawn Kobylinski was a force on both sides of the ball during his career at Catalina Foothills. Kobylinski was selected first-team All-Southern Arizona as a wide receiver in 2010 after making 22 catches for 607 yards. He also made the All-Region first team as a linebacker. Head coach Scott Cortese told the Arizona Daily Star in 2010 that Kobylinski "doesn't come off the field" and he was named team MVP.
4. Josh Brisco, RB/DB, 2002
In 2001, Catalina Foothills finally broke through and made the Class 4A State Playoffs for the first time after a 9-1 regular season but lost 24-17 to No. 13 Goodyear Millennium. Running back Josh Brisco, far left, led the Falcons' ground attack and earned himself All-State honors. Brisco went on to become a first-team I-AA Mid-Major All-American cornerback in 2006 for the University of San Diego Toreros. He then played with the Los Angeles Avengers in the Arena Football League and won three Finnish league championships with the Porvoo Butchers.
3. Jon Heitzinger, ATH, 2003
Catalina Foothills went 17-5 overall and 10-0 in the 4A Kino Region in 2000 and 2001. Running back/linebacker Jon Heitzinger, with ball, was a huge reason for Catalina Foothills' success, making an impact in all three phases of the game. Heitzinger made first team All-Southern Arizona as both a punter (2002) and linebacker (2001) and was also a second team All-Region running back (2002).
2. John Gianninoto, OL/DL, 2006
As a two-way lineman at Catalina Foothills, John Gianninoto signed with UNLV to become only the second Falcon to play Division I football. Gianninoto made the All-Southern Arizona second team as an offensive lineman in 2005 and earned All-State honors as well. His career as a Runnin' Rebel was just as productive, becoming an All-Mountain West Conference lineman and starting two seasons at center and one at guard.
1. Joe Brown, OL/DL, 1996
While Brown made an impact as a 6-foot-6, 260 pound lineman at Catalina Foothills, earning first team All-Southern Arizona as an offensive lineman and second team All-Region as a defensive tackle in 1995, his real impact came after his prep career. Despite fighting off injuries, Brown started at Ohio State University for three years and eventually spent three seasons in the NFL after going undrafted. Brown's selflessness and toughness really shows, though, in his decision to abandon his football career in 2003 to fight in the Iraq war.
During the next four weeks, the Star will count down the top 10 football players from each major Southern Arizona high school program:
During the next four weeks, the Star will count down the top 10 football players from each major Southern Arizona high school program:
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The best of Rincon/University High School football.