Prep football: Stewart Newport-Mesa District MVP in Year of the

running back

Barry Faulkner

Though the featured ballcarriers at four Newport-Mesa District high

schools combined for more than 7,000 rushing yards this season, only

Newport Harbor senior Andre Stewart took his football team the distance.

Stewart set school rushing records for single-season yards (2,404),

single-game yards (310), as well as single-season and career 100-yard

games (13, all this fall).

But that was merely the arithmetic.

The true sum of Stewart’s contributions can only be tallied when the

13-0-1 Sailors’ Sea View League and CIF Southern Section Division VI

championships are factored into the equation.

Utilizing a hard-driving style that belied his 5-foot-9, 160-pound

stature, Stewart steered Coach Jeff Brinkley’s ground-oriented attack to

the school’s second section crown in 69 seasons.

Stewart, the Sea View League Offensive Player of the Year, also started

13 games at cornerback for Orange County’s stingiest defense. But his

offensive efforts alone, including 26 touchdowns, are enough to earn him

Most Valuable Player honors on the Daily Pilot’s 1999 All-Newport-Mesa

District Dream Team.

Costa Mesa junior C.J. Zuniga, who rushed for 2,015 yards and scored 28

touchdowns to help the Mustangs earn a share of the Pacific Coast League

title, is the Offensive Player of the Year. Junior middle linebacker Alan

Saenz, a 6-1, 250-pound force in the middle for Newport Harbor, is the

Defensive Player of the Year.

Brinkley, who became the winningest coach in district history, en route

to his fourth CIF title-game appearance in eight seasons, is the Coach of

the Year.

Zuniga, a 5-10, 185-pound Arizona transfer, arrived at Mesa just days

before the start of fall practice. But, with two previous seasons of

varsity experience (at Rosemead High and Prescott High in Arizona) he

took little time to acclimate himself in the Mustangs’ backfield.

Including returns, he amassed 2,498 all-purpose yards and also became a

sporadic contributor on defense, where he intercepted two passes. He was

the Daily Pilot’s PCL MVP and the PCL coaches’ Offensive Player of the

Year.

Saenz, who led the Sailors with nearly 50 solo tackles, more than 70

overall, emerged as the top player on a defense which allowed only four

touchdown drives of more than 55 yards as a starting unit. Opponents

scored just 117 points, an average of nine per contest, on the Sailors,

who shut out four of their final seven opponents and did not allow a

single runner to surpass 100 yards.

Four members of the Newport Harbor offensive line, which helped Stewart

lead Orange County in rushing, are among the nine Sailors chosen to the

all-district offense.

Senior tackles Blair Jones and Robert Cole, as well as senior guard Nick

Haddy and senior center Luis Cruz, helped the Tars amass 3,797 rushing

yards, more than 81% of its total offense.

Jones, a 6-foot-8, 262-pounder and one of four all-district repeaters, is

the most coveted recruit during Brinkley’s tenure. His short list of

suitors include Washington, Cal, Michigan, USC, Oregon and Colorado.

Cole, a 6-5, 325-pounder, led the Tars with more than 110 pancake blocks,

before breaking his leg in the semifinal victory over Kennedy. He plans

to continue his career in the Ivy League.

Newport junior Chris Manderino, the Pilot’s Sea View League MVP for his

dual role as quarterback and outside linebacker, is selected on offense.

He threw for 912 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 213 yards and six touchdowns. He completed 54 of 124 and also returned an interception for

a touchdown as one of the key members of the defense.

Estancia senior Marshall Hendricks, who set the school single-season

rushing record with 1,477 yards on 200 carries, is one of the running

backs. He scored 18 touchdowns and amassed 1,963 all-purpose yards. In

addition to his rushing, receiving and return prowess, he had a

district-leading eight interceptions from his cornerback spot.

Grant Estabrook, a 6-2, 220-pound bruiser of a tailback, was CdM’s first

offensive option all fall. The Daily Pilot PCL Offensive Player of the

Year finished with 1,043 rushing yards on 267 carries. He also scored six

touchdowns to help the Sea Kings share the PCL crown.

Newport Harbor seniors Justin Jacobs and Billy Clayton are the two

receivers, while senior teammate Nick Langsdorf is the tight end.

Jacobs had a district-leading 21 receptions for 384 yards, while Clayton,

who missed nearly four full games with a thigh bruise, had 19 for 322.

Both scored seven touchdowns. Clayton, an all-district receiver as a

junior, had a team-leading six interceptions at safety. Jacobs had four

interceptions at cornerback.

Langsdorf caught only one pass, but his blocking prowess was invaluable.

He also started at defensive end.

Rounding out the offensive line is CdM senior Yale-bound tackle Sean

Fenton, CdM three-year starting guard Jason Kurtz and Costa Mesa senior

tackle Eric Connaty.

Joining Saenz on the defensive unit are linebackers Mike Tunney (Newport

Harbor), Shaun Ferryman and Dave Weir (Costa Mesa), Brandon Johnson and

Nick Prosser (CdM) and Matt Mueller (Estancia).

Tunney, a senior, shifted outside after starting some in the middle as a

junior. He typified the solid play of the entire Sailor defense.

Ferryman, the all-district tight end as a junior, was a leading tackler

for the Mustangs as a returning starter at inside linebacker. He also

contributed on offense, catching 16 passes for 301 yards and three TDs.

Johnson, the Sea Kings middle ‘backer, stood out in the trenches,

including strong play at offensive guard.

Weir, an all-district safety last fall, was productive on both sides of

the ball. He was relentless at outside linebacker and accounted for 1,206

yards of offense at quarterback, including 812 passing.

Mueller, a middle ‘backer, was the leading tackler in the Eagles’ double

flex scheme, while Prosser was a consistent nuisance to opposing offenses

from his outside ‘backer spot.

Estancia senior end Kyle Westman and CdM senior tackle Jay Bottom, who

shared Daily Pilot PCL Defensive Player of the Year recognition, were

dominating defenders up front.

Newport junior end Garrett Tronacle, who led the Tars with 12 sacks,

combined with fellow defensive line honoree Andy Kalanz, a senior nose

guard, on the game-winning touchdown in Harbor’s 19-18 CIF title-game

victory over Irvine. Troncale, who blocked a potential game-winning field

goal late in a 12-10 regular-season victory over Irvine, stripped the

Irvine quarterback in the pocket and Kalanz recovered and returned it 4

yards to the end zone. Kalanz had eight sacks, including one for a

safety.

Costa Mesa junior Antony Grubisich, who played end and tackle, is

recognized for his run-stopping skills.

Estancia junior end David Rodriguez rounds out the defensive line, after

burning opposing blockers with quickness and strength.

The secondary is comprised of a trio of safeties.

Mesa senior Willy Franco was virtually a fifth linebacker in the

Mustangs’ secondary. He also led the team with 20 receptions at tight

end.

Senior Dayne Pfaff was Harbor’s fourth-leading tackler and also had five

interceptions.

CdM senior Adam Cooper was equally effective combating the run and the

pass. He also assumed double duty at tight end.

1999 Daily Pilot All-Newport Mesa District football

Most Valuable Player

RB - Andre Stewart, Newport Harbor 5-9 160 Sr.

Offensive Player of the Year

RB - C.J. Zuniga, Costa Mesa 5-10 185 Jr.

Defensive Player of the Year

MLB - Alan Saenz, Newport Harbor 6-1 250 Jr

Coach of the Year

Jeff Brinkley, Newport Harbor

OFFENSE

QB - Chris Manderino, Newport Harbor 6-2 195 Jr.

RB - Grant Estabrook, Corona del Mar 6-2 220 Sr.

RB - Marshall Hendricks, Estancia 6-1 180 Sr.

WR - Justin Jacobs, Newport Harbor 6-0 165 Sr.

WR - Billy Clayton, Newport Harbor 6-5 195 Sr.

TE - Nick Langsdorf, Newport Harbor 6-4 225 Sr.

OL - Blair Jones, Newport Harbor 6-8 262 Sr.

OL - Robert Cole, Newport Harbor 6-5 325 Sr.

OL - Nick Haddy, Newport Harbor 6-3 257 Sr.

OL - Luis Cruz, Newport Harbor 5-11 205 Sr.

OL - Jason Kurtz, Corona del Mar 5-10 195 Sr.

OL - Sean Fenton, Corona del Mar 6-4 255 Sr.

OL - Eric Connaty, Costa Mesa 6-2 290 Sr.

DEFENSE

LB - Mike Tunney, Newport Harbor 5-10 200 Sr.

LB - Shaun Ferryman, Costa Mesa 6-2 195 Sr.

LB - Dave Weir, Costa Mesa 6-0 185 Sr.

LB - Brandon Johnson, Corona del Mar 6-0 200 Sr.

LB - Matt Mueller, Estancia 5-7 175 Sr.

LB - Nick Prosser, Corona del Mar 5-11 175 Jr.

DL - Kyle Westman, Estancia 6-3 290 Sr.

DL - Jay Bottom, Corona del Mar 6-3 220 Sr.

DL - Andy Kalanz, Newport Harbor 5-9 190 Sr.

DL - Antony Grubisich, Costa Mesa 6-0 260 Jr.

DL - Garrett Troncale, Newport Harbor 6-0 185 Jr.

DL - David Rodriguez, Estancia 5-10 235 Jr.

DB - Adam Cooper, Corona del Mar 5-11 190 Sr.

DB - Dayne Pfaff, Newport Harbor 6-2 180 Sr.

DB - Willy Franco, Costa Mesa 6-0 190 Sr.