Nine local football players earn All-CIF honors
Corona del Mar High senior defensive end Parker Chase highlights nine local football players who have earned All-CIF Southern Section honors.
Chase is on the Southwest Division team with three CdM teammates: senior wide receiver Bo St. Geme, senior cornerback Brett Greenlee and senior middle linebacker Hoyt Crance.
Estancia has three players on the Southern Division team: senior Ronnie Urquiza, an H-back and linebacker, senior center Dorian Navarrete and junior kicker Chris Moya.
Newport Coast residents Preston Ellis and Charlie Beall, who as seniors played for St. Margaret’s, are on the East Valley Division team.
Chase, St. Geme, Greenlee and Crance led CdM to a third straight undefeated Pacific Coast League title. The Sea Kings (10-2, 5-0 in league) lost at Trabuco Hills, 28-10, in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs.
Chase, a two-time All-CIF selection, finished with a CdM single-season record 22 sacks. He also made 103 tackles, batted down four passes and recovered a fumble.
For his career, Chase is the Sea Kings’ leader in sacks (38.5) and tackles (213). He had five sacks in a game twice, tying a CdM record.
Chase earned the Pacific Coast League MVP and Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Defensive Player of the Year awards, and he made the All-Orange County first team.
St. Geme, who made All-CIF for the second time, finished with 56 catches for 837 yards and six touchdowns. He leaves as CdM’s career leader in receptions (154) and receiving yards (2,113), and he’s No. 2 in receiving touchdowns (17).
St. Geme made the Dream Team, All-Orange County third team and All-Pacific Coast League first team.
Greenlee, a two-time All-CIF pick, had four interceptions, returning two for touchdowns in the playoffs. Greenlee, who made the Dream and All-Pacific Coast League first team, finished with 23 tackles, two blocked field goals and a blocked extra-point kick.
Crance, the Pacific Coast League Defensive MVP and a Dream Team selection, totaled 84 tackles and two sacks.
Urquiza, Navarrete and Moya lifted Estancia to its third undefeated Orange Coast League championship since 2010. The Eagles (8-3, 5-0 in league) suffered a 13-9 loss to Santiago in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs at Jim Scott Stadium.
Urquiza, a Dream Team and first-team All-Orange Coast League pick, rushed 62 times for 303 yards and three touchdowns, and caught 10 passes for 79 yards.
As a linebacker, Urquiza had 90 tackles, one sack and two fumble recoveries.
Navarrete earned the Orange Coast League Lineman of the Year honor and he was on the Dream Team.
Moya, who shared the Orange Coast League Special Teams Player of the Year award, converted six field-goal tries.
Ellis and Beall helped St. Margaret’s win Academy League and CIF Southern Section East Valley Division crowns, and finish runner-up in the CIF State Division IV Bowl Game. The lone setback for the Tartans (15-1) came against Modesto Central Catholic, 31-19, in the state finale at the StubHub Center in Carson.
Ellis, a cornerback, intercepted nine passes and returned two for touchdowns. He made 72 tackles and was named Academy League Defensive Player of the Year.
Beall, the Academy League Kicker of the Year, converted 10 of 12 field-goal attempts and 81 of 88 extra-point kicks. He was selected to the All-Orange County third team.