South tackles North at OCC

Rick Devereux

It’s funny how things come full circle.

Trevor Theriot, Kasey Peters, Alex Orth and Kevin Welch started

playing football together on the same team in Junior All-America.

Theriot, Peters and Orth went to Newport Harbor High and Welch

went on to Corona del Mar where the two sides battled for supremacy

in the Battle of the Bay. Theriot, Peters, Orth and the rest of the

Sailors won all three contests the teams played on the varsity level

since they were on the teams as sophomores.

Now, before they go their separate ways to college -- Theriot is a

preferred walk-on at UCLA; Welch is a preferred walk-on at the

University of Indiana; Peters will play at Saddleback; Orth has yet

to make a decision -- the four will play on the same team one last

time. All four will represent the South squad in the 46th annual

Orange County All-Star game at Orange Coast College tonight at 7:15

p.m.

“I’m looking forward to playing with Kasey,” said Welch. “I’m

looking forward to playing with Tesoro quarterback [Nick Nelson],

too, but I played Junior All-American with Kasey.”

Welch, a three-time All-Newport-Mesa wide receiver selection who

finished with 735 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 39

receptions. He also registered three interceptions and 20 solo

tackles on defense as a safety.

“[Welch] makes some great plays on some throws in practice,”

Peters said. “He has made some one-handed grabs. It’ll be fun playing

with him because we used to play on the same team so long ago.”

Peters completed 156 of 274 pass attempts (57%) for 2,140 yards

and 23 touchdowns while leading the Sailors to the CIF Southern

Section Division VI championship game.

Even though Newport Harbor and CdM have a bitter rivalry, the

players know and respect each other.

“It’ll be fun to play with Kevin because we’ve been friends for a

long time, ever since elementary school,” Orth said. “This will be

sad because I really liked playing high school football.”

Orth was a top performer in the playoffs at receiver but will play

at strong safety tonight. He had 62 tackles, one fumble recovery and

three interceptions for the Sailors. He also had three blocked punts.

While Orth, Peters and Welch will be playing in their first

all-star game this year, Theriot was named the Defensive Player of

the Game in the Shrine Game June 25 where he had an interception and

a fumble recovery. He plans on playing running back and linebacker

tonight, which means he will play against former Shrine teammate

Xavier Hicks. Hicks played quarterback and defensive back for

Fullerton.

“I told [Hicks] to watch out for the interception,” Theriot said.

“He’s very athletic and a runs around a lot at quarterback.”

Theriot rushed for 1,328 yards and seven touchdowns on 222 carries

to lead the Sailors.