Prep football: 2000 Dream Team: Big Manderino on campus

Barry Faulkner

- That Newport Harbor High senior Chris Manderino’s two-year tenure

as a two-way varsity starter coincides with the highest back-to-back

victory total in the school’s 70 varsity football seasons, is hardly

coincidence.

And, as if to further emphasize his cumulative worth, the 6-foot-1

205-pounder even changed offensive positions this fall, but still led the

Sailors to the CIF Southern Section Division VI championship game.

Having starred at quarterback for last year’s 13-0-1 CIF Division VI

champions, Manderino shifted to tailback at halftime of the second game

this year. He then proceeded to assault the school rushing record book.

His virtual refusal to be tackled by anything less than a posse of

defenders, jump-started an offense that eventually outscored the

Division’s most prolific scoring machine, top-seeded and previously

unbeaten La Mirada, 35-16, in a Dec. 2 semifinal.

And while his workload on offense was enough to force most mortals

into the training room to recuperate, Manderino was also a gargantuan

presence on defense as an outside linebacker.

Not blessed with overt athleticism, toughness and desire became his

calling cards. He separated his right shoulder in a first-round playoff

win over Westminster, but the injury went undetected by opponents and the

media, as he merely taped the shoulder down and piled up staggering

postseason statistics.

“He’s a tough nut,” Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley said of Manderino, who

tops the 2000 Daily Pilot All-Newport-Mesa District Dream Team as Most

Valuable Player.

Newport Harbor senior middle linebacker Alan Saenz repeats as

Defensive Player of the Year, while versatile Estancia senior Andy Romo

is the Offensive Player of the Year.

Brinkley, who guided the 11-3 Tars to their fifth CIF title game in

nine seasons, despite losing all but two returning starters on offense

and four on defense, is Coach of the Year.

Manderino, being recruited by Colorado State, Villanova and

Georgetown, finished with 2,141 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns on 353

carries. His single-season yards, third-best in Orange County this fall,

are third-most in school history and fourth-best in district annals. His

31 TDs are a district single-season record and his 39 career TDs rank him

second in school history (Steve Brazas scored 44) and third on the

all-time district list. Upon making his first start at tailback in Week

3, he reeled off 11 straight games of at least 100 yards, including

efforts of 226 against Corona del Mar, 256 against Dana Hills and a

career-best 271 against La Mirada. In four playoff games alone, he had

692 yards and 10 TDs on 93 carries.

On defense, Manderino amassed 75 tackles, second on the team. He

collected three sacks, two interceptions, recovered a fumble and blocked

a kick. One interception, as well as his fumble recovery, came in a 49-10

quarterfinal romp over Kennedy, against which he also rushed for 200

yards and scored five TDs.

Manderino, named the MVP of last year’s Daily Pilot All-Sea View

League team, was the league’s Offensive MVP this fall.

Saenz, being recruited by Division I-AA runner-up Montana and a

virtual lock to earn repeat All-CIF recognition, led the Tars in tackles

for the second straight year. The 6-1, 260-pounder has clean and jerked

325 pounds, which is not only tops in Harbor history, but would surpass

the American school-age record, had it been done in competition.

Though projected as a defensive lineman in college, Saenz overcame a

lack of impressive speed with bursts of quickness that allowed him to

explode through ballcarriers.

Among his 79 tackles, 64 were first hits and seven were behind the

line of scrimmage. He caused three fumbles, recovered three, made three

interceptions and had two sacks. He shared Sea View Defensive Player of

the Year laurels this season.

Romo, whose season was hampered by a nagging knee injury, still

managed to propel the Eagles to a school single-season record 312 points.

With the 6-2, 185-pounder operating primarily from a wing position,

the Eagles averaged 370 yards per contest en route to a 7-4 campaign that

ended in the school’s first playoff appearance since 1995. The win total

has been topped by only four other Estancia teams in 36 varsity seasons.

Romo rushed 145 times for 1,035 yards and 12 TDs, while also finishing

with a team-high 27 receptions for 315 yards and two more TDs. He also

returned a kickoff for a touchdown and intercepted a pass in spot

defensive duty.

The all-district offense includes quarterbacks Kenny Valbuena

(Estancia) and Morgan Craig (Newport Harbor), as well as CdM tailback

Blake Hacker and Newport fullback Travis Trimble.

Valbuena, a 6-4, 220-pound senior, capped a three-year varsity career

by throwing for 1,371 yards and nine TDs. Benefiting from first-year

quarterbacks coach Bill Lux, who starred at Costa Mesa in the late 1970s,

Valbuena completed 81 of 148 (nearly 55%) with only three interceptions.

He also rushed for 179 yards and two TDs and his scrambling ability was a

catalyst in second-half comeback wins over PCL rivals Costa Mesa and CdM.

Valbuena’s career numbers include 2,718 passing yards and 17 TD

passes.

Craig, a junior, took over for Manderino under center and made sure

Brinkley never regretted the change. He completed 111 of 184 (60%) for

1,308 yards and nine TDs, with only five interceptions. His 163 rushing

yards, most of which came in the playoffs, included three TDs, but his

decision making was even more impressive than his stats.

Hacker, whose late-season ankle sprain cost him a shot at J.R. Walz’s

single-season school rushing record (1,578 yards in 1993), finished with

1,401 yards and 10 TDs on 240 carries. Though only 5-6, 170 pounds,

Hacker’s strength (he is a league champion wrestler) and determination

helped him produce nearly half the Sea Kings’ 2,971 offensive yards. He

also caught eight passes for 37 yards.

Hacker was most healthy during a five-game midseason winning streak,

which helped the Sea Kings turn an 0-3 start into a CIF Division IX

playoff berth.

Trimble’s stats (113 yards and two TDs on 21 carries and five

receptions for 40 yards and another TD) are hardly eye-popping. But the

6-1, 225-pound fullback was all about popping defenders, as a devastating

lead blocker for Manderino.

Newport junior Brian Gaeta the only other two-way Sailor starter

besides Manderino, is recognized at receiver, where his 62 catches tied

him for fifth on the county list. He produced 792 yards and scored seven

TDs, one of which he produced returning one of his team-leading six

interceptions at cornerback. His 62 receptions rank third on Harbor’s

single-season list.

Estancia senior tight end David Stoddard also proved a noteworthy

receiving target. He caught 24 passes for an impressive 623 yards (nearly

26 yards per reception, best in the county). Among his six TDs (including

one interception return), were catch-and-run windfalls of 67, 55, 36, 22

and 20 yards.

Newport Harbor blockers comprise the majority of the all-district

offensive line.

Top Sailor trench warriors include senior tackle Scott Lopez, junior

tackle Robert Chai and junior guard Bryan Breland.

Lopez (6-2, 285), transferred from Santa Margarita to help fill

vacancies left by the graduation of the entire 1999 front wall.

Chai and Breland form a strong nucleus for next year’s CIF title run.

Rounding out the offensive line, are Costa Mesa senior Antony

Grubisich, CdM senior Dave Richardson and Estancia senior Cesar Romero.

Grubisich, recognized for his work at guard, was an all-district

performer last season at defensive tackle. His experience and power

helped the Mustangs roll up 349 yards and nearly 31 points per game.

Romero, a three-year starter, anchored the Eagles’ front wall at

guard, while the 6-5, 300-pound Richardson did the same at tackle for the

Sea Kings.

Costa Mesa senior Luis Avalos, whose eight field goals included a

season-long 40-yarder and a 22-yard game-winner in the final seconds of a

24-22 decision over Westminster, is the all-district kicker. He also made

36 conversion kicks in his third varsity campaign. An all-district

selection as a sophomore, he made 14 varsity field goals, including a

long of 44 yards in ’99.

Joining Saenz on the all-district defense, are repeat honorees Nick

Prosser, Garrett Troncale and David Rodriguez.

Troncale, a senior end from Newport Harbor, battled a nagging ankle

injury, but still managed to repeat as the district sack champion with

10. Both quick and strong, the undersized standout (6-1, 185) also

stuffed seven running backs for losses. In 25 varsity starts, he amassed

22 sacks.

Rodriguez (seven sacks) was also a productive pass rusher at end for

the Eagles, while Prosser led the Sea Kings in tackles at outside

linebacker. Prosser finished with three sacks and two interceptions.

Estancia High senior linebacker Fahad Jahid is an easy choice after

being named Pacific Coast League Defensive MVP by the circuit’s coaches.

The 6-2, 235-pound three-year starter, amassed a team-leading 110

tackles, while also rushing for 957 yards and eight TDs on 149 carries at

fullback.

Senior linebackers Louis Day (Mesa), Andy Rankin (Newport Harbor) and

Ivan Garcia (Estancia), are additional selections.

Day, whose aggressiveness allowed him to more than hold his own,

despite a slight frame (6-3, 170), had three interceptions and two sacks

as the Mustangs’ leading defender. He also caught 10 passes for 192 yards

at tight end.

Rankin, who gained 30 pounds in the offseason, rounded out a bruising

linebacking trio for the Tars. He made 65 tackles and had one

interception.

Garcia, who started as a sophomore, was extremely active as the middle

‘backer in the Eagles’ double-flex scheme.

Newport Harbor senior standouts Ian Banigan, an end, tackle Nick

Moghaddam and noseguard C.J. Collins join the defensive line.

Banigan, another transfer from Santa Margarita, collected nine sacks

and tackled seven additional ballcarriers for losses.

Moghaddam was in on seven sacks and Collins had three, while both also

helped the Tars surrender just 12.5 points and just fewer than 91 rushing

yards per game.

CdM senior cornerback Charlie Alshuler, who shared the county lead

with nine interceptions, anchors the all-district secondary.

CdM senior Eric Snell, a sure tackler who snuffed out many a big play

on run support, also had two interceptions. He was also all-district in

baseball last spring.

Newport senior cornerback Ryan Spruth was a dependable defender for

the Tars, whether he was challenged by the run or the pass. The preferred

target with Gaeta on the other side, he picked off two passes and his

development helped Harbor limit potent passing attacks from Kennedy and

La Mirada to extend its playoff run to the title game, 1 14-0 loss to

unbeaten Irvine.

CdM senior Rory McKeever, who booted a 69-yard bomb against

University, is the punter.

All-Newport-Mesa District Football

Most Valuable Player

RB-OLB Chris Manderino, Newport Harbor 6-1 205 Sr.

Offensive Player of the Year

RB - Andy Romo, Estancia 6-2 185 Sr.

Defensive Player of the Year

MLB - Alan Saenz, Newport Harbor 6-1 260 Sr.

OFFENSE

QB - Kenny Valbuena, Estancia 6-4 220 Sr.

QB - Morgan Criag, Newport Harbor 6-2 182 Jr.

RB - Blake Hacker, Corona del Mar 5-6 170 Sr.

FB - Travis Trimble, Newport Harbor 6-1 225 Sr.

WR - Brian Gaeta, Newport Harbor 6-2 180 Jr.

TE - David Stoddard, Estancia 6-1 185 Sr.

OL - Cesar Romero, Estancia 6-0 245 Sr.

OL - Robert Chai, Newport Harbor 6-4 265 Jr.

OL - Antony Grubisich, Costa Mesa 5-10 245 Sr.

OL - Scott Lopez, Newport Harbor 6-2 285 Sr.

OL - Dave Richardson, Corona del Mar 6-5 300 Sr.

OL - Bryan Breland, Newport Harbor 6-3 240 Jr.

K - Luis Avalos, Costa Mesa 5-6 160 Sr.

DEFENSE

LB - Fahad Jahid, Estancia 6-2 235 Sr.

LB - Louis Day, Costa Mesa 6-3 170 Sr.

LB - Nick Prosser, Corona del Mar 5-11 190 Sr.

LB - Andy Rankin, Newport Harbor 6-3 216 Sr.

LB - Ivan Garcia, Estancia 5-11 180 Sr.

DL - Garrett Troncale, Newport Harbor 6-0 185 Sr.

DL - David Rodriguez, Estancia 5-10 245 Sr.

DL - Ian Banigan, Newport Harbor 6-3 218 Sr.

DL - C.J Collins, Newport Harbor 6-1 230 Sr.

DL - Nick Moghaddam, Newport Harbor 6-4 260 Sr.

DB - Charlie Alshuler, Corona del Mar 6-2 170 Sr.

DB - Eric Snell, Corona del Mar 6-1 180 Sr.

DB - Ryan Spruth, Newport Harbor 5-9 162 Sr.

P - Rory McKeever, Corona del Mar 6-3 190 Sr.

Coach of the Year: Jeff Brinkley, Newport Harbor