Locals make All-CIF in football
Edison High junior quarterback Griffin O’Connor, senior defensive end Kenny Carmichael and Coach Dave White swept the top CIF Southern Section Division 3 honors after leading the football team to Sunset League and section titles.
O’Connor was the Offensive Player of the Year, Carmichael the Defensive Player of the Year and White the Coach of the Year. Edison (13-2, 5-0 in league) claimed the section crown with a 44-24 win at La Mirada.
Corona del Mar senior quarterback Chase Garbers highlights one of 11 Sea Kings making the Division 4 team.
Brethren Christian senior running back Jordan Leonard was on the Division 10 team, Los Amigos senior quarterback Steven Hernandez and senior offensive lineman Brian Ruiz were on the Division 12 team, and Laguna Beach sophomore all-purpose player Sean Nolan was one of five Breakers on the Division 13 team.
The other six Edison members on the Division 3 team were senior center Michael Saffell, who is heading to Cal, senior wide receiver Shaun Colamonico, junior running back Jack Carmichael, senior defensive back EJ Ginnis, senior linebacker Jonathan Moreida and junior kicker Jack Morrell.
O’Connor set Edison single-season passing records for yards (3,600) and touchdowns (37), while only throwing six interceptions. He completed 207 of 353 passes.
O’Connor carried the ball 91 times for 415 yards and 10 touchdowns.
O’Connor earned the Sunset League MVP award, shared the Daily Pilot Dream Team Offensive Player of the Year award, and made the All-Orange County second team.
Kenny Carmichael recorded 19.5 sacks, an Edison single-season record, and 114 tackles.
Carmichael, the Daily Pilot Dream Team Defensive Player of the Year, finished his career with an Edison-best 29 sacks.
Carmichael was the Sunset League Defensive Player of the Year and made the All-Orange County first team.
White’s 31st and final season in charge of his alma mater saw him win his 13th league championship and second section championship.
In White’s last game, the Chargers lost to San Clemente, 39-35, in the CIF State Southern California Regional Division 1-A Bowl Game.
White, who went 238-119-3 overall, was the Daily Pilot Dream Team and All-Orange County Coach of the Year.
Garbers, the Daily Pilot Dream Team Player of the Year, led CdM to its fifth straight Pacific Coast League title and first trip to the section finals since 2013.
The Cal-bound quarterback completed 254 of 370 passes for 3,895 yards and 47 touchdowns, with only five interceptions. The completions, yards and touchdowns are all CdM single-season records.
Garbers rushed 114 times for 582 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Garbers made the All-Orange County first team and earned the Pacific Coast League MVP honor.
The other CdM players on the Division 4 team were senior center Arwin Rahmatpanah, a two-time All-CIF selection, senior right guard Bryan Samudro, junior running back JT Murphy, junior receiver TaeVeon Le, senior defensive back Jaydin Moses, senior defensive linemen Teddy Barber and Bryce Clabaugh, junior linebacker Clyde Moore, senior linebacker Mickey Quinn and junior punter Max Casper.
The Sea Kings, who finished 12-2 and 5-0 in league, lost on the road to Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, 36-35, in double overtime in the section finals.
Leonard rushed 111 times for 1,205 yards and 19 touchdowns for Brethren Christian, which went 9-1 overall. He made All-CIF for the second straight year.
Hernandez and Ruiz helped Los Amigos split second place in the Garden Grove League at 3-2. The Lobos went 6-5 overall and lost at Rancho Mirage, 42-8, in the first round of the Division 12 playoffs.
Hernandez rushed 268 times for 1,906 yards and 20 touchdowns. He completed 35 of 77 passes for 414 yards and five touchdowns, with four interceptions.
Hernandez shared the Garden Grove League Offensive MVP award.
Laguna Beach’s other players on the Division 13 team were junior receiver Adam Armstrong, senior receiver Ryan Blaser, senior defensive back Bruce Knill and junior defensive lineman Zach Fields.
The Breakers went 8-5 overall and placed second in the Orange Coast League at 4-1. They reached the semifinals of the Division 13 playoffs, marking the program’s first semifinal appearance since 2012.
— From staff reports
— From staff reports