Edison’s O’Connor one of several locals honored in Sunset League

Edison High junior quarterback Griffin O’Connor earned the Sunset League MVP award, highlighting one of 13 Chargers making the first team after the football team claimed an undefeated league championship, won the CIF Southern Section Division 3 title and reached the CIF State Southern California Regional Division 1-A Bowl Game.

Edison (13-2, 5-0 in league) also had four other players come away with top honors in league. Senior defensive end Kenny Carmichael was the Defensive Player of the Year, senior free safety EJ Ginnis was the Defensive Back of the Year, senior center Michael Saffell was the Offensive Lineman of the Year and junior Jack Morrell was the Kicker of the Year.

Newport Harbor senior running back Cole Kinder was named the Offensive Player of the Year.

Marina senior running back Cooper Malerstein shared the Offensive Back of the Year award.

Marina senior Rand Keidel was the Punter of the Year.

O’Connor, Carmichael, Ginnis, Saffell and Morrell led Edison to a 44-24 win at La Mirada, giving Coach Dave White a section crown in his 31st and final season at the helm of the Chargers.

Edison lost to San Clemente, 39-35, in the SoCal Regional Division 1-A Bowl Game at Cap Sheue Field.

O’Connor set Edison single-season passing records for yards (3,600) and touchdowns (37).

O’Connor only threw six interceptions, and completed 207 of 353 passes.

He rushed 91 times for 415 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Carmichael finished with 19.5 sacks, an Edison single-season record, and 114 tackles.

The two-time first-team pick ended up as Edison’s all-time leader in sacks with 29.

Carmichael had 19 passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble.

Ginnis, a repeat first-team member, had 114 tackles and three interceptions, returning one 101 yards for a touchdown.

As a wide receiver, Ginnis finished with 54 catches for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Ginnis averaged 14.2 yards per punt return, and he returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown.

Saffell paved the way for Edison to average 268.8 passing yards and 138.1 rushing yards per game.

Saffell, who is heading to Cal, shared the Offensive Lineman of the Year honor last year.

Morrell converted nine of 13 field-goal attempts and 63 of 65 extra-point kicks.

Kinder had 257 carries for 1,852 yards and 27 touchdowns for third-place Newport Harbor (5-5, 3-2).

Kinder, who made the first team for the second straight year, totaled 29 touchdowns, two coming on kickoff returns.

Kinder finished his career with 4,041 rushing yards, a Newport Harbor record.

Malerstein rushed 73 times for 731 yards and four touchdowns for Marina, which ended its 60-game losing streak in league. The Vikings (4-6, 1-4) placed fifth in league.

Malerstein, a repeat first-team pick, split the Offensive Back of the Year award with Los Alamitos senior Keanu Norman.

Keidel averaged 36.9 yards per punt and 16 punts pinned the opposition inside the 20-yard line.

Edison’s other first-team selections included junior defensive end Parker Thomas, junior linebacker Mateo Gallego, senior linebacker Jonathan Moreida, junior receiver David Atencio, senior defensive lineman Spencer Bazer, sophomore linebacker Luke Hoggard, junior receiver McCade Barrett and senior cornerback Nick Warren.

Newport Harbor’s first-team members were senior offensive linemen Mike Jarboe, John Lamas and Tucker Knipp, as well as senior linebacker Gage Roberson and senior receiver Levi Hooper.

Huntington Beach saw senior defensive ends Derek Thomas and Payton Marlow, and senior noseguard Jonah Apelu and senior linebacker Chase Elliott make the first team.

Marina senior athlete Noah Holmes, senior offensive lineman Jake Arnold and senior defensive end Trevor Klasson received first-team honors.

Fountain Valley’s first-team picks were senior defensive end Angel Hernandez and senior tackle Scott Craig.

Parker Thomas finished with 73 tackles and 6.5 sacks.

Gallego totaled 90 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three interceptions.

Moreida amassed 160 tackles.

Atencio caught 44 passes for 704 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bazer had 118 tackles and 7.5 sacks.

Hoggard recorded 119 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Barrett finished with 29 receptions for 441 yards and four touchdowns.

Warren had 69 tackles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, returning one 72 yards for a touchdown.

Jarboe, Lamas and Knipp made it possible for Kinder to record two 300-yard performances on the ground.

Roberson had 77 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.

Hooper caught 22 passes for 277 yards and five touchdowns.

Derek Thomas produced 15.5 sacks and 71 tackles.

Thomas, a two-time first-team player, helped the Oilers (4-7, 2-3) finish fourth in league and make the CIF Southern Section Division 7 playoffs as an at-large team. Huntington Beach lost at Tustin, 42-27, in the first round.

Marlow had 46 tackles and three sacks.

Apelu registered 52 tackles and five sacks.

Elliott had 72 tackles and three sacks.

Holmes finished with 47 receptions for 950 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Arnold is a two-time first team selection.

Klasson totaled 86 tackles and three sacks.

Hernandez is a repeat first-team member for Fountain Valley (1-9, 0-5), which finished in last place in league.

The second team selections from Edison were senior offensive lineman Garrett Weichman, senior defensive lineman Melvin Bowden, junior running back Jack Carmichael, junior offensive lineman Griffin Kosick, junior linebacker Brandon Moradian, senior receiver Chad Fisser and senior defensive back Bowen Blake.

Newport Harbor’s second-team recipients were senior offensive lineman Blake Terry, senior linebacker Tom Phillips, senior offensive lineman Alex Casillas, junior linebacker Cole O’Neil, junior defensive lineman Spencer Blake and sophomore receiver Dayne Chalmers.

Huntington Beach had senior linebacker JJ Barajas, sophomore athlete Arick McLawyer, sophomore linebacker John Gosney and junior defensive backs Nick Napoli and Caleb Webb on the second team.

The second-team players from Marina were junior athlete Blaine Riederich, junior quarterback Ian Green, senior offensive lineman Kyle Tsu, senior defensive back Joshua Strom and junior receiver Brandon Savea.

Fountain Valley’s second-team pick was senior defensive lineman Matt Powell.

Los Alamitos senior Joey Noble was the Defensive Lineman of the Year.

— From staff reports