PHOTOS: OC SPORTS ZONE All-Irvine football offensive team

Brandon Yue led Portola to the Pacific Coast League title. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

MVP:  Brandon Yue, Portola (Please click here for feature story and photo)

QB: Jaden Piazza, Northwood: He threw for over 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, a Northwood single season record, according to Coach Paige Nobles. “In yards passing, he was second in the PCL, eighth in Division 12 and 74th in the Southern Section,” Nobles said.

QB: Beck Moss, Irvine: “Beck did a great job coming in as a first year varsity starter,” said Coach Tom Ricci.  “He ran the offense by reading and changing plays based on what he saw. He threw for 2,193 yards and 19 touchdowns and broke the school record for completions in a season.”

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

QB: Brody Jones, Crean Lutheran: The sophomore earned first team all-league honors. “Brody was unquestionably the leader of the offense,” said Coach Randall Reynoso. “He totaled 1,494 passing yards and completed 60 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 200 yards and accounted for 19 total touchdowns. He will be a top player in the county to watch over the next two years.”

RB: Nova Kebeli, Portola: The sophomore running back had 155 carries for 965 yards (6-yard average) and 18 touchdowns rushing and one TD passing.  “He’s a tank in the backfield, who draws consistent attention from defenses and is tough to bring down….. Pacific Coast League offensive player of the year and is only getting started,” said Coach Peter Abe. “He’s a young back who is driven to be the best he can be for his team, earning respect from all he encounters for the sheer physicality he brings with his play.  He will be an important and exciting piece to the puzzle for the Bulldog the next few years.”

R: Kade Zimmerman, Irvine: “Kade led Division 11 in receving yards with 1,049 yards on 79 receptions,” said Irvine Coach Tom Ricci. “He broke three school records including yards in a season and receptions in a game.  He also patrolled the middle of the field on defense and had one interception for a TD and 36 tackles.”

R: Travis Arena, Northwood: He had 1,169 receiving yards (a Northwood single sason record) and 14 touchdowns, also a school record. “In receiving yards, he was first in the PCL, second in Division 12 and 23rd in the CIF Southern Section and 40th in California,” said Coach Paige Nobles. “As I said all along Travis Arena was one of the most dominating receivers in California.”

R: Trey Littlejohn, Northwood: “He had over 30 receptions for over 400 yards with a 12.77 yards per average and eight touchdowns,” said Coach Paige Nobles. “Trey is probably one of the smartest receivers to play the game.”

R: Joey Omar, Portola: “He’s a dynamic senior tight end with the size, hands, speed of other first team all-league receivers, combined with the strength and blocking ability that rivals many of the best offensive lineman we encountered this year,” said Coach Peter Abe. “Joey did it all for the Bulldogs as a two-way starter, playing linebacker on defense, and on every special team at some point or another. He never comes off the field. He was our third leading receiver with four TDs on the season.”

R: Matt Mahoney, Crean Lutheran: “Matt was our team MVP this season,” said Coach Randall Reynoso. “He never, ever came of the field. He tallied 677 yards on 45 receptions, two carries for 21 yards and seven touchdowns. He accounted for over 35 percent of our team all-purpose yards. He tied the single game receiving touchdown mark with four against Village Christian. On defense, he totaled 41 tackles, eight assisted, three interceptions and three pass deflections. On special teams, he had over 300 return yards. He earned first team all-league honors at wide receiver, and very easily could have won it at corner.”

L: David Chiu, Portola: He’s a two-way, two-year starter and a two-time first team all-league player. “This Big Dawg rarely comes off the field,” said Coach Peter Abe. “David plays with passion, urgency, and a heartfelt commitment to his protect his teammates. He always holds down the middle, often times taking on double and/or triple-teams the entire game to keep our team in position for success.  The right kind of aggressive play on the field, and an empathetic/caring teammate and friend off the field.”

L: Sam Gatta, Portola: “He’s big, physical and strong… great motor and always looking to make that next play, while taking someone else along for a pretty bumpy ride,” said Coach Peter Abe. “Sam has a great respect for the game, and always is striving to better himself to help advance our program.  He’s a consistent senior left tackle who has protected our quarterbacks blindside for the past four years. Behind the Great Wall of Sam, our offense line was able to control the time of possession most of the year. Looking forward to Sam might be able to do at the next level.”

L: Joseph Kim, Portola:  “He’s a senior offensive lineman that saw a much improved offseason lead to much improved results on the field as Joe consistently delivered against some pretty tough/physical defensive linemen and linebackers in the Pacific Coast League,” said Coach Peter Abe. “An under-rated, but extremely valuable piece to our offensive puzzle number 75 was always the first one to start with the ball in his hands. Joe was one of the primary reasons for our offensive consistency (at the center position) and special teams effectiveness (as a long snapper), truly earning his first team all-league recognition in 2019.”

L: Jake Oswald, Beckman: “Jake was indispensable on both sides of the line,” said Coach Marcello Giuliano. “We ran behind him more often than not, then he turned around and was a full-time player on D-line, leading all linemen in tackles and tackles for losses.  He was voted co-MVP and captain by his teammates because of his impact on and off the field.”

K: Jakob Trestik, Woodbridge: “Jakob has been one of our most consistent kickers in the history of the school,” said Coach Rick Gibson. “He handled punting and kicking for three years on varsity. His career totals were; 101-113 on extra points and 14 of 16 in field goals with a long of 43 yards. He averaged 39 yards punting this year with nine punts inside the 20. His excellence will be missed.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com