Prep football: Three locals are South All-Stars

Barry Faulkner

Newport Harbor High senior standouts Chris Manderino and Alan

Saenz, as well as Corona del Mar senior Charlie Alshuler, have been

selected to represent the South in the Orange County All-Star Football

Game, scheduled, July 13 at Orange Coast College.

Manderino, who will walk on at Cal, was selected as a running back,

but could also see time at outside linebacker. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder

was the Newport-Mesa District Most Valuable Player and an All-CIF

Southern Section Division VI selection after leading the Sailors to

back-to-back section title-game appearances.

Saenz, a 6-1, 260-pound middle linebacker bound for the University of

Montana, was a two-time Newport-Mesa District Defensive Player of the

Year, who led the Tars in tackles the last two seasons.

Alshuler, a 6-2, 170-pound three-sport standout (basketball and

volleyball), was All-CIF Division IX last fall, after sharing the Orange

County lead with nine interceptions. He’ll fit into the South secondary

after playing primarily cornerback for the Sea Kings.

They are the only three locals named to the 36-player South roster,

which was selected from 39 South schools by Orange County sportswriters.

The Rebels will meet the top players from the North in the 42nd

edition of the summer showcase, organized by the Brea Lions Club, which

distributes the profits to several charities.

The North roster is scheduled to be announced next week.

Manderino, who began the season at quarterback, where he starred as a

junior, rushed for 2,141 yards on 353 carries and scored 31 touchdowns.

His rushing yards were third best among county ballcarriers and his 31

TDs set a district single-season record. He posted 11 straight

100-yard-plus rushing performances, after becoming the starter in Week 3.

His season high was 271 yards in a CIF Division VI semifinal victory over

La Mirada.

He was the MVP of the Daily Pilot’s All-Sea View League team as a

junior and was the league’s Offensive MVP last fall.

He also starred defensively for the Sailors, who won the CIF Division

VI crown with a 13-0-1 season in 1999.

Saenz, an imposing presence in the middle of Newport Harbor’s defense,

was a two-time All-CIF performer. In addition to his three interceptions

and three fumble recoveries, he made 79 tackles, including 64 first hits,

as a senior. For his efforts, he shared Sea View League Defensive Player

of the Year laurels with Irvine’s Joe Bollard.

Alshuler will help combat the North offense with his athleticism and

savvy. He was also all-district and All-Pacific Coast League last fall

for the Sea Kings, who reached the CIF Division IX playoffs.

The Sea View League will also be represented by Laguna Hills offensive

lineman Mike McClosky and Aliso Niguel tight end Brandon Alconcel.

University kicker Zach Sherwood joins Alshuler as the lone selections

from the PCL.

Other noteworthy South selections include USC-bound running back

Darryl Poston (Edison), Cal-bound quarterback Richard Schwartz (Edison)

and USC-bound quarterback Billy Hart (Mission Viejo).

The North, which won last year’s game, leads the series, 21-17-3.