The Western Front

Western's football team fell short of the playoffs, but that didn't stop the team from collecting 21 all-PacWest and five all-Academic selections, including a second-straight coach of the year title for Rob Smith and offensive player of the year for Scott Mitchell.

Smith led Western to a share of the Columbia Football Association title, collecting his 81st victory as Viking head coach, tying him for first in Western's history.

Mitchell was the CFA's highest-rated quarterback and was second in total yards, throwing for 1,975 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also ran for 260 yards, the most ever by a Western quarterback.

Other first-team selections were safety and punt returner Erik Totten, rover Lance Gustafson, defensive end Dan Ball, center Nick Giralmo, running back Giorgio Usai, receiver Greg Dykstra and kick returner Martez Johnson.

Totten set return records with 612 punt return yards on 39 attempts. He also averaged 27.3 yards per kick return, with kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns.

Despite being injured for the end of the year, Usai led the CFA in scoring with 60 points. Johnson led the CFA in kickoff returns, averaging 29.6 yards each.

Totten also was named to the second team as a kick returner, as were kicker Josh Bailey, defensive end Steve Bernardy, guard Raymond Gombiski and offensive tackle Joaquin Paratore-McNabb.

Johnson also earned honorable mention at defensive back, as did guard Michael Ames, defensive tackle Scott Roberts, receiver Lewis Dawson, tight end Nick McClain, defensive tackle Trevor Misipeka and linebacker Lann Olson.

Bailey, Dykstra, Giralmo, linebacker Marty Juergens and Totten were selected for the Verizon All-District VIII Academic Team.