Cypress and Crean Lutheran football players earn top honors on All-Empire League team

Crean Lutheran senior Ty Benefield, a wide receiver/defensive back and kick and punt returner and Cypress junior quarterback Aidan Houston were named the most valuable football players of the Empire League, league coaches announced.

Benefield led the Saints to the CIF playoffs and a 10-2 record, the best in school history. Coach Rick Curtis Crean Lutheran team defeated Aliso Niguel 35-34 for its first playoff victrory since 2015

Houston led Cypress to the Empire League title and a trip to the CIF Division 4 championship game. The Centurions, coached by Rick Feldman, finished 13-1, losing to Downey 40-7 in the finals.

Offensive Player of the Year: Matthew Morrell – Senior WR – Cypress

Defensive Player of the Year: Trevor Monteleone – Senior DB – Cypress

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Vince McGlenn – Senior OL – Valencia

Defensive Linemen of the Year: Ben Faletoi – Senior DL – Tustin; Jesse Fluegge – Senior DL – Crean Lutheran

Offensive Back of the Year: Gavin Rogers – Senior QB – Crean Lutheran

Defensive Back of the Year: Jacob Wilkie -Senior LB – Cypresss

Special Teams Player of the Year: Connor Stephens – Sophomore K/P – Crean Lutheran

FIRST TEAM OFENSE:

Graham Austin Senior C Crean Lutheran

Cristian Viola Senior OL Crean Lutheran

Jake Ramirez Senior WR Crean Lutheran

Matthew Fonseca Junior OL Cypress

Hayden Frazier Junior OL Cypress

Blake Cousimano Senior WR Cypress

Elijah Gomez Senior OL Cypress

Jack Rios Senior OL Cypress

Malosi Siatunu’u Senior OL Kennedy

Devin Bell Junior WR Kennedy

Johnny Mora Senior OL Pacifica

Noah Salas Junior QB Pacifica

Eimisse Essis Soph RB Tustin

Nick Vizcarra Senior OL Tustin

Nijah Faletoi Senior OL Tustin

Ethan Draft Junior WR Valencia

Jacob Terry Senior RB Valencia

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE:

Ben Byszewski Soph DB Crean Lutheran

Carter Jones Soph LB Crean Lutheran

Andrew Duberow Senior LB Crean Lutheran

Rocco Burdett Junior LB Cypress

Nate Schneider Senior LB Cypress

Jesse Mauldin Junior DB Cypress

Rider Street Soph LB Kennedy

Nathan Rios Junior LB Kennedy

Ryan Rizk Senior LB Pacifica

Kaden Bell Senior LB Pacifica

Quincy Hankins Senior DB Tustin

Nicholas Sandoval Junior LB Valencia

Vincent Navarro Senior DL Valencia

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE:

Ben Buettell Junior WR Crean Lutheran

Kellen Cosenza Junior OL Crean Lutheran

Jake Daichendt Senior TE Crean Lutheran

Gavin Soza Senior OL Cypress

Devin Almazan Soph QB Kennedy

Mahseiah Banks Freshman WR Kennedy

Ryan Soto Soph OL Kennedy

Cobi Nguyen Senior WR Pacifica

Jun Ramos Senior RB Pacifica

Angel Gutierrez Senior WR Tustin

Seth Wander Junior RB Tustin

Jared Zamora Senior OL Tustin

Dylan Draft Junior QB Valencia

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE:

Mason McCullough Soph LB Crean Lutheran

Ben Abate Senior DE Crean Lutheran

Brayden Sjostrom Junior DB Cypress

Peyton Johnson Senior DE Cypress

Will Swift Senior DL Cypress

Bruno Caldarella Junior DE Cypress

Grant Maton Senior DL Kennedy

Brandon Taijeron Senior LB Pacifica

Marco Hernandez Senior DE Pacifica

Angel Hinojosa Senior DL Tustin

Steven Lopez Senior LB Tustin

Gabriel Jaramillo Senior LB Valencia

Keigan Munoz Junior DB Valencia

Adrian Hill Junior DB Valencia