The triple threat
It was former Michigan State football Coach Duffy Daugherty who once defended his run-oriented offensive approach by stating that “only three things can happen when you put the ball up in the air — and two of them are bad.”
Corona del Mar High senior receiver and cornerback Steven Hillgren, however, helped turn those odds in the favor of the Sea Kings this season.
The 5-foot-11, 168-pound standout caught 52 passes for 932 yards and 11 touchdowns to help Coach Dick Freeman’s squad advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Southern Division.
But Hillgren’s penchant for plucking spirals didn’t stop when the other team had the ball. Hillgren, who had nine interceptions as a junior, equaled that total in 2006, giving him an astounding 18 picks in his final 24 games as a prep.
His career interception total shattered the previous school record of 14, held by Warren Johnson (1988-89).
He also established a school single-season reception record.
His contributions also extended to special teams, where he amassed 518 yards on 14 kickoff returns — a 37-yard average — including a pair of touchdowns. He also produced 71 yards on 11 punt returns, all the while contending with pain from a bulging disc in his back.
For his efforts, Hillgren is the Most Valuable Player on the Newport-Mesa Dream Team, selected by the Daily Pilot.
Hillgren, who earned All-Newport-Mesa honors on defense as a junior, was just one of many stars who helped CdM contend for a Pacific Coast League title and earn its first win over Back Bay rival Newport Harbor in eight years.
Among the brightest of a talented Sea Kings lineup was senior quarterback Taylor Hughes. A Mater Dei transfer, Hughes became the CdM version of the Aviator, shattering school single-season records for completions (139), passing yards (2,204), completion percentage (59.4%) and touchdown passes (22), despite missing two full games with an injured throwing shoulder and half of another with a sore knee.
Hughes locked up Offensive Player of the Year laurels while helping the Sea Kings earn their second postseason win since 1995, a 44-40 first-round triumph over Estancia.
The Defensive Player of the Year, identified early in the season as Newport Harbor’s alpha male by Sailors’ defensive coordinator Tony Ciarelli, established a personal territory in the trenches that spilled over from the neutral zone to the opponents’ backfield.
Newport Harbor senior tackle Mike Calabrese, a repeat Dream Team honoree, made 17 of his 47 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including five sacks.
The 6-1, 224-pound combination of quickness and power added seven quarterback hurries to his eye-popping output. He caused three fumbles and recovered two to help the Tars (6-4) record three shutouts.
Sage Hill senior linebacker and tailback Don Ayres tops the list of repeat Dream Team picks as a three-time honoree.
Seniors Jarrett Daniel and Nick Frazier (Newport Harbor), Corona del Mar junior Erik Rask and Estancia senior Matt Redding are additional repeat performers on the Dream Team, comprised of standouts from five Newport-Mesa schools.
First-time honorees include CdM stalwarts John Joyce, Tom Folks, Ford Noe, Kevin Rask and Charlie Albright.
Additional Newport Harbor representatives include Frank Muscatello, Brian Beaudette, Charles Vickery, Bryce Jardine and Brandon Kula.
Estancia, which posted a 7-4 record and made the playoffs for the second straight season, is also represented by Rafael Alejandre, Mike Morley, Alex Machuca and Tim Morley.
Costa Mesa, which finished 3-7, places D.J. Lepper, Kirkland Huynh and London Sapolu on the squad.
Sage Hill, which lost in the first round of the Northeast Division playoffs to finish 6-5, is also represented by Braden Ross, and Jamie McGee.
Here’s a look at each of the honorees:
Steven Hillgren
WR/DB
Corona del Mar
Though lacking blue-chip physical prowess, Hillgren’s impact on the Sea Kings’ success was as dramatic as it was consistent.
Among his touchdown receptions were plays of 83, 82, 49, 40, 34, 29, 27 and 25 yards. He returned kickoffs 99 and 73 yards to paydirt.
With the postseason spotlight intensifying the action, Hillgren was prolific in the win over Estancia. His 83-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the second quarter erased the second of Estancia’s leads and his 78-yard kickoff return with 58 seconds left in the first half helped draw the Sea Kings within 28-24 and was later identified by both teams’ coaches as the biggest play of the game.
After Estancia scored midway through the third quarter to go ahead, 34-24, Hillgren and Hughes combined for a 49-yard touchdown pass 96 seconds later that helped make victory possible.
In addition to his nine interceptions, he made 42 tackles and was also a veteran team leader.
Taylor Hughes
QB
Corona del Mar
The 6-2, 176-pounder came to CdM in search of a featured role and neither he nor the Sea Kings were disappointed in the results.
He completed 139 of 234 attempts, while also producing 168 yards and a touchdown on 30 rushing attempts.
He threw at least one touchdown pass in all 10 games in which he played, but threw more than one in eight contests. He opened the season with three TD tosses in a win over eventual Orange Coast League champion Laguna Beach. He also had three touchdown passes against Troy, Irvine and Estancia.
His best statistical game came against Irvine, when he connected on 25 of 33 pass attempts for 329 yards and the aforementioned three touchdowns.
After throwing five interceptions in his first three starts, while still settling into the offense, he threw only six the remainder of the season.
Though introverted and a newcomer to his teammates (his parents moved to CdM from Yorba Linda), Hughes’ talents and confidence helped inject productivity into a CdM offense that lacked a consistently effective rushing attack.
Mike Calabrese
DT
Newport Harbor
After helping the Sailors win the CIF Division VI title in 2005, Calabrese helped them transition into the Pac-5 Division (formerly Division I) and the Sunset League, one of the top leagues in the section.
Calabrese’s impact was known immediately, as he dominated in a season-opening 20-0 win over Aliso Niguel.
His ability to blow past, as well as overpower would-be blockers made his No. 55 a frequent sight in opposing backfields, helping him earn Sunset League Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
Mike Redding
WR
Estancia
The 6-2, 205-pounder added 20 pounds of muscle between his junior and senior seasons and the added bulk helped him overpower most defensive backs he could not avert with precision route running.
He finished with 44 receptions for 1,045 yards — 23.8 yards per catch — and 12 touchdowns.
His TD receptions included plays of 69, 65, 63, 54 and 33 yards. He had four TD catches in the first half against Calvary Chapel, against which he had eight catches for 261 yards.
He also had 47 yards and two touchdowns rushing and was a consistent threat returning kicks.
On defense, Redding played safety and linebacker and amassed 49 tackles and one interception.
Braden Ross
WR
Sage Hill
The two-way senior standout is recognized for his offensive contributions, which included a Newport-Mesa-best 66 receptions for 1,092 yards.
The 5-11, 185-pounder also rushed for 248 yards on 37 attempts and produced 14 touchdowns for Coach Tom Monarch’s Lightning.
He also led the team with 91 tackles, including 45 solo stops. He intercepted five passes and had two quarterback sacks.
Rafael Alejandre
RB
Estancia
The 5-9, 185-pound senior tailback and linebacker relied on toughness to overcome a lack of imposing size.
He powered his way to 1,179 yards and eight touchdowns on 211 rushing attempts to key the Eagles’ ground game.
Alejandre rushed for 171 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-20 nonleague win over La Quinta.
His 51 tackles ranked fourth on the team and he had three quarterback sacks and one interception.
Coach Brian Barnes continually marveled at Alejandre’s competitive spirit, which also made him a valued team leader.
D.J. Lepper
RB
Costa Mesa
The 5-7, 160-pound senior made a mark in his only varsity season with the Mustangs, rushing for 930 yards and five touchdowns on 208 carries.
He also had six receptions for 67 yards and returned a kickoff 90 yards for another TD.
Mike Morley
QB
Estancia
A 6-2, 175-pound junior, he produced 1,650 yards and 19 touchdowns passing for the Eagles.
He completed 86 of 159 passes with 11 interceptions.
He also had 253 yards and 10 touchdowns on 80 rushing attempts, including 20 carries for 121 yards and three TDs in the playoff loss to Corona del Mar as the trigger man in the spread option.
He threw for 259 yards and four touchdowns in the season-opening win over Mark Keppel and followed that up with four TD passes and 148 yards in a win over Bolsa Grande.
He completed nine of 13 for 293 yards and four TDs in a league win over Calvary Chapel and added two touchdown passes to his aforementioned three rushing scores against CdM.
Kirkland Huynh
WR
Costa Mesa
A versatile 5-8, 153-pound senior, he led Coach Jeremy Osso’s Mustangs with 42 receptions for 492 yards.
He also rushed 27 times for 126 yards and had one interception.
Jarrett Daniel
WR
Newport Harbor
The 6-1,182-pound receiver had 28 catches for 386 yards and two touchdowns for Coach Jeff Brinkley’s Sailors.
He had a pair of interceptions and 19 tackles at cornerback and was also a kick returner for the Tars.
Frank Muscatello
OL
Newport Harbor
A 6-3, 382-pound right tackle with surprising mobility, he was a defender’s worst nightmare.
He helped the Sailors produce 58% of their 2,640 yards on the ground.
London Sapolu
OL
Costa Mesa
A 6-0, 245-pound two-way standout, he anchored the offensive line at right guard and did the same on the defensive side at end.
The son of former NFL All-Pro Jesse Sapolu, London is also following in the footsteps of older brother Luke Sapolu, a former Dream Team performer at Costa Mesa who started the last two seasons at center for Orange Coast College.
John Joyce
OL
Corona del Mar
An imposing presence at 6-7, 240 pounds, the senior tackle emerged as the Sea Kings’ best offensive lineman, according to Freeman.
He also saw duty on the defensive line.
Alex Machuca
OL
Estancia
The 5-11, 245-pound junior left guard anchored the blocking wall for the Eagles, who produced 1,193 yards rushing on their way to setting a school single-season record with 361 points.
He also contributed at defensive tackle.
Brian Beaudette
OL
Newport Harbor
The 6-0, 259-pound senior started all 10 games at right guard for the Sailors, where he teamed with Muscatello to form a powerful right side.
Nick Frazier
LB
Newport Harbor
He led the Tars in tackles for the second straight season, collecting 96 stops, 56 of which were solo tackles.
At 5-11, 211 pounds, his low center of gravity made him difficult for blockers to stop and his instincts and intelligence (he is drawing recruiting interest from Ivy League schools) also helped him consistently find the center of the action.
His statistics included three tackles for loss, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.
He was also a valuable contributor as the team’s punter and kicker.
Don Ayres
LB
Sage Hill
Though the 6-0, 185-pounder missed time with a shoulder injury, the three-time Dream Team performer collected 66 tackles, 33 of which were solo stops.
In addition to his defensive role at linebacker and safety, he led the team with 765 yards and 13 touchdowns on 155 rushing attempts. He also had 20 receptions for 288 yards and his leadership ability has helped the four-year varsity letterman build a successful program on the Newport Coast campus.
Erik Rask
LB
Corona del Mar
The 6-1, 185-pound linebacker and tailback went down with a season-ending knee injury in the eighth game. But he still wound up second on the team with 109 tackles.
He had 80 unassisted stops and four sacks.
Offensively, Rask rushed for 381 yards and four touchdowns on 59 attempts and added 52 receiving yards on four catches.
Tom Folks
LB
Corona del Mar
Another of the Sea Kings’ active and aggressive linebacking corps, the 5-7, 155-pound senior outside ‘backer had 104 tackles, 70 of which were solo stops.
He also led the team with 566 rushing yards and five TDs on 85 carries, the bulk of which came after Erik Rask was felled by injury.
Kevin Rask
LB
Corona del Mar
The junior middle linebacker in the Sea Kings’ three-five-three scheme, he led the team with 114 tackles, 77 of the solo variety.
With Rask in the middle, CdM allowed no more than one touchdown in five games.
Ford Noe
LB
Corona del Mar
A 6-1, 182-pound outside linebacker, he had 91 tackles, including 67 unassisted. He also produced two sacks and one interception.
In addition, he had 20 receptions for 386 yards.
Tim Morley
LB
Estancia
The 6-3, 200-pound senior outside linebacker was second on the team with 68 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.
He also played sporadically on offense and Barnes said his biggest contribution may have been as a leader with a tireless work ethic.
Brandon Kula
LB
Newport Harbor
Just a sophomore, this 6-0, 181 outside linebacker figures to be a fixture for the Sailors the next two seasons. He produced 61 tackles, second-best among Sailors. His tackles included 41 solo stops and three sacks.
Charles Vickery
DL
Newport Harbor
A 5-10, 214-pound senior noseguard, he shared the team lead with eight sacks and totaled 55 tackles.
His quickness also helped him contribute at fullback and tailback, where he collected 219 yards and two touchdowns on 48 carries and caught six passes for 38 yards and one TD.
He also blocked two kicks for the Tars.
Bryce Jardine
DL
Newport Harbor
He matched Vickery’s team-high eight sacks and 29 of his 51 tackles were unassisted. He also made three tackles for loss as a 6-2, 195-pound end.
Jamie McGee
DB
Corona del Mar
The Lightning’s junior quarterback earns his spot on the Dream Team as a safety.
He had eight interceptions and 79 tackles, 40 of which were solo stops.
Offensively, he completed 106 of 175 for 1,650 yards and 16 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also rushed for 202 yards and two TDs.
Charlie Albright
DB
Sage Hill
A 5-9, 159-pound senior, he amassed 96 tackles, fourth most on the team, and added four fumble recoveries and one interception.
His most noteworthy fumble recovery, which he returned 68 yards for a touchdown, proved to be the difference in the Sea Kings’ 14-6 upset of Newport Harbor in the Battle of the Bay.
He also caught 16 passes for 252 yards and booted five field goals.
Name
School
Year
Position
Height
Weight
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Steven Hillgren
Corona del Mar
Senior
WR/DB
5-11
168
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Taylor Hughes
Corona del Mar
Senior
Quarterback
6-2
176
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mike Calabrese
Newport Harbor
Senior
Defensive Tackle
6-1
224
OFFENSE
Mike Morley
Estancia
Junior
Quarterback
6-2
175
Rafael Alejandre
Estancia
Senior
Running Back
5-9
185
D.J. Lepper
Costa Mesa
Senior
Running Back
5-7
160
Matt Redding
Estancia
Senior
Wide Receiver
6-2
205
Braden Ross
Sage Hill
Senior
Wide Receiver
5-11
180
Kirkland Huynh
Costa Mesa
Senior
Wide Receiver
5-8
153
Jarrett Daniel
Newport Harbor
Senior
Wide Receiver
6-1
182
Frank Muscatello
Newport Harbor
Senior
Offensive Line
6-2
382
London Sapolu
Costa Mesa
Senior
Offensive Line
6-0
245
John Joyce
Corona del Mar
Senior
Offensive Line
6-7
240
Brian Beaudette
Newport Harbor
Senior
Offensive Line
6-0
259
Alex Machuca
Estancia
Junior
Offensive Line
5-11
245
DEFENSE
Nick Frazier
Newport Harbor
Senior
Linebacker
5-11
211
Erik Rask
Corona del Mar
Junior
Linebacker
6-1
185
Don Ayres
Sage Hill
Senior
Linebacker
6-0
185
Tom Folks
Corona del Mar
Senior
Linebacker
5-7
155
Kevin Rask
Corona del Mar
Junior
Linebacker
6-1
178
Tim Morley
Estancia
Senior
Linebacker
6-3
200
Ford Noe
Corona del Mar
Senior
Linebacker
6-1
182
Brandon Kula
Newport Harbor
Sophomore
Linebacker
6-0
181
Charles Vickery
Newport Harbor
Senior
Defensive Line
5-10
214
Bryce Jardine
Newport Harbor
Senior
Defensive Line
6-2
195
Charlie Albright
Corona del Mar
Senior
Defensive Back
5-9
159
Jamie McGee
Sage Hill
Junior
Defensive Back
5-9
150
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