Lightning collect plaudits

All-Academy League football selections (sage hill)Sage Hill represented by 13 players on coaches’ All-Academy League football selections.Sage Hill School had 13 players named to the coaches’ All-Academy League football teams, including five repeat first-team selections.

Junior fullback/linebacker Don Ayers, senior tailback/cornerback Keya Manshadi, senior tight end/inside linebacker Nick Sohl, junior receiver/cornerback Braden Ross and junior center/outside linebacker Bryan Kornswiet all earned first-team recognition for the second straight year.

The Academy League does not designate offense or defense for its honorees.

Also on the first team were Lightning standouts Zach Milder -- a senior receiver/safety -- and sophomore quarterback Jamie McGee.

Ayres, who was a second-team pick in 2003, rushed for 1,018 yards and 15 touchdowns on 151 carries this season, helping the Lightning finish 9-2 and reach the CIF Southern Section Division XIII quarterfinals.

Manshadi rushed for 1,069 yards and 15 touchdowns on 146 carries and had 27 receptions for 416 yards and six touchdowns.

Ross led the team with 31 receptions for 409 yards and six touchdowns, while Milder caught 23 passes for 609 yards and nine touchdowns. He was also a second-team honoree in 2003.

McGee, who earned second-team honors as a freshman, threw for 1,491 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, completing 90 of 176 passes.

Seniors Morgan Brief, Brandon David, Michael Morgan and Kyle Ramer represented the Lightning on the second team.

Brief, a defensive tackle, was a first-team pick in 2004 and a second-team choice in 2003. David and Morgan, both two-way starting linemen, received second-team recognition in 2004.

Sage Hill sophomore inside linebacker Max Torres and sophomore cornerback Michael Higgins were additional second-team picks.

League champion St. Margaret’s swept the top individual honors. Senior Scott Edgcomb was the Offensive Player of the Year. Senior Andy Morrison was the Defensive Player of the Year. And the Tartans’ Brady Lock was Coach of the Year.20051222A21M8C63No Caption