The Register’s All-County football teams for 2016:
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
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LINEBACKERS
COLIN SCHOOLER
Mission Viejo, 6-1, 220, Sr.
The Register’s defensive player of the year
JOHN STAMOS
Villa Park, 6-3, 225, Sr.
Stamos earned his second straight spot on first-team All-County by doing it all for the Crestview League champion. “Stamos will be considered as one of the greatest to play at VP,” Spartans coach Dusan Ancich said of the Crestview League player of the year. “He does everything right.” The Navy commit racked up a team-leading 123 tackles, including two games with 20. He also played running back, rushing for 1,093 yards and 20 touchdowns and collecting 16 catches for 230 yards.
DILLON KEEFE
El Modena, 6-1, 190, Sr.
The athletic defender piled up 78 total tackles, three interceptions, two caused fumbles and a blocked field goal to lead the Vanguards to the North Hills League title and a trip to the Division 8 semifinals. He also rushed for 1,393 yards and 24 TDs and added 25 receptions for 356 yards. of the He was the North Hills League player of the year. “Dillon made plays all year long in all three aspects of the game,” El Modena coach Matt Mitchell said. “Dillon was a leader on and off the field.”
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
CEDRIC DASHIELL II
Buena Park, 6-2, 230, Sr.
The speed-rusher led the county this season with 22.5 sacks and finished his four-year varsity career with 53.5. He recorded a team-leading 115 total tackles to help the Coyotes capture their first outright Freeway League title since 1991. “Cedric has been ‘all in’ (with) his attitude and effort all four years,” said Anthony White, who resigned as the Coyotes’ coach on Dec. 14. Dashiell was co-player of the year in the Freeway League. Yale, Harvard and Brown have recruited Dashiell, who carries a 3.8 grade-point average.
KENNY CARMICHAEL
Edison, 6-2, 205, Sr.
He used relentless pursuit to rack up a school-record 19.5 sacks this season for the Sunset League and CIF Division 3 champions. Carmichael, selected Sunset League defensive player of the year, also set the school career record for career sacks with 29 in two seasons. “He practiced as hard as any player I’ve coached and it showed on Friday nights,” Edison coach Dave White said. “He has a motor.”
AUSTIN FAOLIU
Mater Dei, 6-4, 295, Sr.
Faoliu gave the Monarchs’ defense a strong push in the middle of the line, which often created openings for his teammates to make tackles. St. John Bosco thought so highly of the Arizona commit, the Braves double-teamed Faoliu in the CIF-SS Division 1 final with Wyatt Davis, their best offensive lineman. “He’s one of the best nose tackles we’ve had in my 28 years as head coach at Mater Dei,” Monarchs coach Bruce Rollinson said. “He was a dominating force week in and week out.” Faoliu was a first-team All-Trinity League selection.
ZACH RITNER
Capistrano Valley, 6-3, 235, Jr.
The powerful pass rusher recorded 18 sacks for a team that reached the CIF-SS Division 5 final with the lowest points allowed average in the county. He also caused three fumbles as the Cougars advanced to their first section final since 1990. He earned first-team All-Sea View League honors. “Zach was consistently in the backfield,” Capistrano Valley coach Ernie Bucher said.
JJ GLASS
San Juan Hills, 6-0, 270, Sr.
Glass collected 15 sacks and seven hurries in 11 games to help push the Stallions to a third-place finish in the South Coast League and a berth in the Division 3 playoffs. He was selected defensive MVP in the South Coast League. He also played on the offensive line. “Dominant on both sides of the ball and provided the energy for our team on a daily basis,” Stallions coach Aaron Flowers said. “Pleasure to coach.”
DEFENSIVE BACKS
EJ GINNIS
Edison, 6-0, 170, Sr.
Ginnis produced on offense, defense and special teams. “All he did was make plays,” Edison coach Dave White said. “(He’s) very passionate.” Ginnis, the Sunset League’s defensive back of the year, made 114 tackles to help the Chargers capture the CIF Division 3 and Sunset League titles. He also grabbed three interceptions, including one he returned 100 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against San Clemente in the CIF Regional final. Ginnis hauled in 54 receptions for 1,029 yards and 12 TDs. He also returned a punt for a touchdown.
BRANDON MCKINNEY
Orange Lutheran, 6-0, 180, Sr.
The Washington commit repeats as a first-team All-County selection. He led the Lancers with 71 total tackles, grabbed three interceptions, and had 25 receptions for 299 yards. He made clutch plays throughout the season. The first-team All-Trinity League selection sealed a victory in overtime against JSerra with a pass deflection on a 2-point conversion. He also returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a victory against Servite. “He was the glue that helped keep our defense together,” Coach Chuck Petersen said of McKinney.
QUENTIN LAKE
Mater Dei, 6-1, 173, Sr.
Opposing teams rarely seemed interested in challenging the UCLA commit, one of the best cover-corners in the county. Lake had two interceptions to help bolster a strong defense. He also served as a team captain for the Monarchs, who ended St. John Bosco’s four-year reign as Trinity League champion. “We had a lot of expectations and he exceeded all of those expectations,” Mater Dei coach Bruce Rollinson said of Lake.
OLAIJAH GRIFFIN
Mission Viejo, 5-11, 174, Jr.
Griffin locked down opposing receivers to help Mission Viejo capture an eighth consecutive South Coast League title. “Big time,” Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson said of Griffin’s cover abilities. The first-team All-South Coast League selection had two interceptions and five pass deflections. Griffin also had a team-high 39 catches for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns as a wide receiver. “Off-the-chart two-way player,” Johnson said. “Loves to play.”
RILEY O’BRIEN
JSerra, 5-11, 170, Sr.
The multi-talented Penn commit delivered big plays and toughness on both sides of the ball. The corner/safety recorded 90 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, a sack and seven pass deflections. On offense, he had 48 receptions for 637 yards and even threw two TD passes. O’Brien shared the Trinity League’s most valuable specialist award with Orange Lutheran’s Stan Berryhill. “I love the game of football so I had a blast being able to help my team in all of the many ways I did,” O’Brien said. “I couldn’t have asked anything more for my senior year.”
ALL COUNTY FOOTBALL
Contact the writer: dalbano@scng.com