Breakers’ Caron earns All-CIF football honor

Laguna Beach High’s Clayton Caron had a standout senior athletic

year become even more memorable when the Southern Section office

announced earlier this week that he had been named to the All-CIF

Division IX football team.

Caron was selected as one of seven lineman to the division’s

19-member defensive unit.

“I thought it was a really nice honor and I smiled all day when I

found out about it,” Caron said upon learning from Laguna Beach

Athletic Director Mario Morales of his selection to the Division IX

team.

He is the second Laguna Beach player to earn All-CIF in two years.

Last year, free safety Jason Boyd made the Division IX team.

Caron, a three-year varsity member, was a utility player on

defense and played at nearly every position.

He was a first-team All-Pacific Coast League selection, was named

Laguna’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, was one of three Black Watch

players of the year and earned a Captain’s Award.

Eight players from the Pacific Coast League made the All-Division

IX team, headed by league champion Northwood’s six selections.

University had one player named to the team.

The All-Division IX team was headed by Pacifica senior David

Heller, the offensive player of the year, Pomona senior Hisain

Abdullah, the defensive player of the year, and Frank Mazzotta of

division champion La Habra, was named coach of the year.

“This was just icing on the cake,” Caron said of the All-CIF

honor. “Personal awards are great, but the team captain honor meant

more to me than anything.

“We were a close-knit group this year and our coaches did a great

job of stressing working together as a family,” Caron said. “First,

we make the playoffs for the first time in a really long time, and

then this award to top it all off. It’s been a really great year.”