There are inspired performances and then there are inspirational people. Count Eastlake High School senior Dean Klaser among the latter.
Klaser, a member of the school’s football and baseball teams, earned recognition as the 2015 Dr. Pepper Most Inspirational Player Award winner. He received the award – and a $2,000 scholarship check – at Wednesday’s National Funding Holiday Bowl game between the USC Trojans and Wisconsin Badgers at Qualcomm Stadium.
The Badgers held off the Trojans, 23-21, to post a come-from-behind victory that was not certain until three seconds remained in the game.
Klaser, who plays on both offense and defense on the EHS football squad, was selected from a pool of San Diego County student-athletes for the award, which is supported by 100.7 JackFM and the Kiwanis Club of San Diego.
The Dr Pepper Most Inspirational Player program aims to recognize a San Diego County high school football player who, through their presence, actions and words of encouragement, serves as an inspirational example to their teammates.
Klaser, who plays both running back and defensive back for the Titans, was a lifelong football player who was being recruited by college scouts. In his junior year, Klaser rushed for 473 yards, scored 10 rushing touchdowns, caught two touchdown passes to go with 169 receiving yards and, defensively, made 34 tackles and two fumble recoveries for an Eastlake squad that competed in the San Diego Section Open Division playoffs.
At the end of last football season, Klaser was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. He underwent emergency surgery, followed by nine months of chemotherapy. This season, though he was not able to compete on the school’s football team, Klaser supported his teammates by attending practice and team functions. He has since been given a clean bill of health and continues to serve as a source of inspiration for his teammates and coaches.
Klaser told the media at Tuesday’s Holiday Bowl press conference that it was “It’s great to be healthy” again.
“It’s gone – it’s all gone,” he said demonstratively, smiling.
Lee Price, Klaser’s football coach at Eastlake, nominated him for the award because, in Price’s words, Klaser “is a wonderful role model for everyone on how to tackle life’s truly difficult problems.”
“Dean is extremely inspirational to everyone who knows him,” Price explained. “Being a football coach is very stressful and losing or making a bad decision can really make your life difficult, but when you see what Dean is going through, you realize how trivial most of our problems are. His strength and attitude is something I can look on to make me put things into perspective. Everyone can learn from him on how to carry on in the most trying of circumstances. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for him and I wish I was more like him.”
The Eastlake baseball team, which reached the San Diego Section championship game, dedicated its 2015 season to Klaser. The Titans also named him team MVP for his continued inspirational support.
A press release was used in preparation of this story.
The McNichols and Rypien Show, Boise State wins Poinsettia Bowl in 14th straight bowl appearance
The 2015 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl starred Boise State running back Jeremy McNichols and Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien.
McNichols set the tone from the start as he recorded three solo touchdowns in the first quarter.
McNichols rushed for a 29-yard score, walked-in a four-yard TD reception, and rushed for another one yard TD as Boise State (9-4) took a 21-0 lead over Northern Illinois.
By then, the game was already over after just one quarter.
A touchdown machine, McNichols currently leads the nation in rushing touchdowns this season with 20, though with more bowl games remaining, other running back leaders coukd surpass McNichols’ mark.
Rypien had a field day as well, completing 29 of 40 passes, throwing for 377 yards in the game and was named offensive player of the game.
Northern Illinois (8-6) showed some life after receiver Aregeros Turner returned a kickoff for 96 yards. But that was all the Huskies could score.
Boise State answered right back with touchdown reception by receiver Chaz Anderson to end the first half, followed by three more touchdowns and a field goal in the second half to blow out Northern Illinois 55-7.
Boise State’s 55 points established a new record for most points scored by a team in Poinsettia Bowl history.
The Huskies offense looked dismal throughout, passing for only 38 yards, recording negative five rushing yards, and only going 1-12 on third down conversions. Northern Illinois’ quarterback Ryan Graham was also sacked five times.
Qualcomm Stadium appeared empty with an announced attendance of 21,501. However, it was the fireworks show after the game that made up for the blowout margin. Coined as the “Stadium Spectacular,” the show featured new pyrotechnology that hasn’t been seen before in North America.
Thus, despite the ugly game, fans at least got to see something exciting.
— Trent Warren
2015 SDSU Team Awards
John Simcox Memorial Trophy
Most Valuable Player
Donnel Pumphrey
Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy
Offensive Player of the Year
Donnel Pumphrey
Defensive Players of the Year
Damontae Kazee
Calvin Munson
Dr. R. Hardy/C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy
Captain’s Awards
Jake Fely
Dakota Gordon
Pearce Slater
J.J. Whittaker
President’s Award
High Academic Achievement
Pierre Romain
Most Inspirational Players
Jake Fely
J.J. Whittaker
Most Valuable Special Teams Player
Rashaad Penny
Outstanding Freshman Award
Parker Baldwin
Offensive Lineman of the Year
Pearce Slater
Defensive Lineman of the Year
Alex Barrett
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year
Ryan Agnew
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year
Kyahva Tezino
Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year
Jeff Clay
