Mustangs’ Byrd, Waldron, Gomez collect top honors

Costa Mesa High senior running back Antwon Byrd was named the Orange Coast League Offensive MVP, junior linebacker Brian Waldron the defensive MVP and junior Luis Gomez the special teams player of the year after the Mustangs won back-to-back football league championships.

Seven other players made first-team all-league for Costa Mesa (5-6, 4-0 in league), which won its first outright league title since 2002 and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs for the second straight season under Coach Jeremy Osso.

Estancia senior running back Carlos Mendez highlights the Eagles’ four first-team selections. He rushed for a Newport-Mesa-best 1,109 yards and also eight touchdowns.

In 2007, Mendez shared the league’s MVP honor.

Byrd became Costa Mesa’s workhorse down the stretch. He started the season at receiver before moving back to running back, a position he started at as a junior.

Byrd finished with 931 yards and eight touchdowns on 148 carries. He delivered the most damage in league play, rushing for 517 yards and five touchdowns on 80 carries.

Waldron started the season at safety before moving to linebacker. He led the team with 96 tackles and he also had two interceptions and one sack.

In the league championship game against Laguna Beach in the regular-season finale, Waldron also provided a spark at quarterback. He scored two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, helping the Mustangs come from behind to win, 38-30.

Gomez returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in the Mustangs’ 17-14 loss to Santiago in the opening round of the playoffs. He had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a nonleague game against Ocean View.

As a punt returner, Gomez averaged close to 35 yards.

Costa Mesa senior center Juan Garces, senior linebacker/running back Robbie Gemayel and Gomez, a wide receiver and defensive back, are repeat first-team picks.

Senior linebacker Jeff Dye, senior cornerback/receiver Manny Gomez, senior right tackle Argenis Valencia, senior cornerback John Galvin and junior linebacker Nick Haynes also made the first team for the Mustangs.

Estancia senior receiver/cornerback Jason Moreno, senior left tackle Jose Padilla and sophomore defensive end Omar Gutierrez earned first-team recognition. Moreno is a repeat first-team selection.

Gutierrez finished with 10 sacks, tops in the Newport-Mesa area.

Making the second team for the Mustangs were senior left tackle Thomas Guzowski, senior right guard Camilo Enriquez, junior left guard Travis Whitlock, senior tight end Nick Pederson, senior defensive end Max Cederquist, senior nose guard Brandy Menke, and sophomore linebacker Thomas Munoz.

For Estancia, senior nose guard Agustin Ceja, senior defensive end/right tackle Michael Renteria, senior cornerback Joseph Franco and sophomore fullback George De La Torre made the second team.

— From staff reports